Sunday Times Magazine

Sunday

Times JUNE 9, 2013

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Police report confirms actress Jiah Khan’s suicide See story on page 14

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The house with ninetynine windows Though crumbling, the house of 99 windows stands as a symbol of status more than 100 years ago Page 4

The power to walk again Former Essequibo teacher Uttamkumar Isurdeen dreams of walking again after an accident leaves him paralyzed

Page 3

2 Times Sunday Magazine

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june 9, 2013

Times Feature

Remembering the legends of Upper Demerara

Part 1

By Dmitri Allicock

B

orn and growing up in the Upper Demerara area of Linden, I have come to appreciate the great achievements of those who have lived there and contributed significantly to society and representing Guyana internationally. Two such individuals are legendary Manly Binning and Walter Spence.

Manly Binning is remembered as a great father by his children. He was a brilliant co-worker and mentor to many workers of the Upper Demerara bauxite industry, and to all his extended family; one of the most important relatives that ever lived.

Manly was born with many exceptional talents.

He was intelligent, creative, imaginative, skilful, ambitious, and very hardworking. Manly stood out as a leader among his peers and is remembered for all his great qualities.

The importance of Manly Binning to his family heritage is revered. He was one of the few to document and record the lives of his family.

He travelled by boat, train or bus to visit relatives, where he conducted interviews and wrote down family history.

He documented, organized his work, and then protected it for the future generations that can now benefit from this precious information of family heritage.

He understood quite well the tangled web and interrelationships of heritage.

He realized that to fully understand his linage, he had to first document the many families in the area. He recorded not only his direct linage but preserved others as well. He wrote on the families of Spencer, Allicock, DeNieuwerkerk, Hill, Mansfield, Bremner, Fiedtkou, Van Cooten, Paterson, Blount, Binning, and others as he deciphered and understood the family linage. His exceptional vision is reflected in his work, which is why he is so dearly remembered by his love ones.

Manly V. H. L. Binning was born July 15, 1899, at Wiriburisiri Canalli, Upper Demerara River, and grew up in the Demerara River vicinity. He helped his father George Alexander Binning, who was at that time owner of a timber grant along the Demerara River. Manly, at 17 years-old, attended Queens College School for boys in Georgetown.

His first job was second engineer to Mr Dawson for

Manly Binning

Sprostons at Wismar. Later, he worked at the steam locomotive at Demba (Demerara Bauxite Company Limited), then at the “power house”.

He continued his career at the Demba Machine Shop where he became a foreman and reported to the chief engineer. He spent many years in that position.

During his time at Demba, Manly was a very adventurous man, and, always with a unique idea, he converted “Big Bertha”, an old steam engine to a pile driver and proudly named it “Lord Manly”. There were many other innovations on the job, which were contributed by Manly’s ingenuity. Some of his innovations earned him commendations from the chief executive officer of Demba.

He always seemed to have answers for problems concerning his field of work, and, of course, his household. He built his own washing machine, designed and constructed a horseracing machine, and a merry-goround for his family’s enjoyment.

There wasn’t a machine made that he couldn’t fix. He dabbled in the other sciences of life also. He followed a daily exercise regimen that included yoga and, even had a cure for in-grown toenails.

Manly Binning was married on June 22, 1933, to Gloria Millicent Smith and had 10 children: Rex, Wilma, Barbara, Norma, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, Verna, Regina, Deanna, and George. Later, after his wife died, he wedded Eslyn Davidson and had three more children: Colleen, Manly (Junior), and Alana, who were born in his late 70s.

Fishing was one of

Manly’s hobbies along with the making speed boats. His first boat was “Flash”, and that boat was unlike the modern speed boats of today.

His next boat was “Jet” and the last boat that he made, “Vamp”, was a much shorter boat than the first two.

The last years of his career with Demba, Manly was assigned to work with young men, training in various trades at the Demba Trade School. During that period, he worked with Mr Eloctte, John Hammond, and John B. MacRae, all from England.

Manly was liked and admired very much by all of his colleagues, including the students. After retirement in 1963, he donated his time to help out with the exams at the Trade School.

Even at almost 80 years old, he was still fixing things, and was fit as a fiddle. Manly left this life on February 9, 1986 and was buried on his home soil at Christianburg alongside the same Demerara River where he was born.

Deanna Peterson née Binning, Manly Binning’s last daughter from his first wife Gloria, has continued where her father has left off. She has the same burning passion for love of family and heritage. She represents him so well. She is hardworking, thorough, kind and possessed very important knowledge on the substance of family and heritage. Her father must be smiling proudly to see that Deanna has done so well and continued his legacy.

His work and contribution to his family and society is celebrated by all those who know of his contributions to his hometown.

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june 9, 2013

Times Sunday Magazine

3

Times Focus

INSIDE The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Former Essequibo teacher Uttamkumar Isurdeen dreams of walking again after an accident leaves him paralyzed ended. However, later, with a glimmer of hope he said he began recuperating with therapy he received from the Palms.

By Indrawattie Natram

T

he "news" that he would be permanently disabled due to a diagnosed spinal compression after being the victim of an accident has not destroyed the hope Uttamkumar Isurdeen of Pomona Housing Scheme has that he will be given the power to walk again. A hope fuelled by positive thoughts, manifested in his dreams at nights, and the constant support of family and friends.

Speaking to Guyana Times Sunday Magazine from his bed, 28-year-old Isurdeen, a father of a four-year-old boy, revealed what hurts him most is not being able to fulfil his obligations as a father, husband to his wife Komawattie and son to his mother Indera Ramlall.

Optimism despite the odds

Isurdeen said that he went to a few doctors who stated that he won't be able to ever walk again. He also underwent a few surgeries, and a few spinal specialists were consulted on his condition.

However his prognosis hasn’t changed.

But Isurdeen remains undaunted. He said he still has that strong belief within him that he can walk again. He is no longer bed-ridden, able to an extent to use the washroom on his own, and now moves around with a walker.

He wants to walk again and be the father he always wanted to be, and the best husband.

"I must walk. I dream every night I can walk again. I dream that I am going for interviews for jobs," he insists.

Ordeal

Recalling that fateful Saturday, February 27, 2010 when his dreams and hopes for the future were snatched away, an emotional Isurdeen believes he had received numerous signs during the day of the impending tragedy.

He said first of all, he was offered a drop with his friend, but the bus in which the accident occurred honked its horn and stopped for him. Despite his initial refusal to go with the bus, they waited on him, and, not wanting to disappoint the driver, he took the bus instead. In addition, that was the first time he would sit in the front seat of a bus. And even more signs, he said, were his son was crying all the time that day and his wife didn't want him to go to work.

But Isurdeen recalled that he was determined to go home to Essequibo for the holiday weekend to spend it with his father, so that Saturday he went to work;

Forgoing the wheelchair for a walker, Isurdeen is determined to be able to walk on his own again

New hope for surgery

Pg 6

Re-visiting Martin Carter on his birth anniversary

Designer chic Pg 10

Leonardo Pg 12 DiCaprio spotted with Victoria's Secret model

Artist Derek Browne

Pg 21

Messages of hope

Isurdeen disclosed that he has to undergo a comprehensive rehabilitation package available in India, which is his only hope of walking again. He is certain that the package will make him walk again.

"I will have to go for three months to do this course. I know I will walk," he dePg 23 clared.

The course requires some $16,500 US dollars (approx 3.4 million GYD) exclusive of air fares. Isurdeen noted that as it is, he does not have sufficient funds, and is soliciting help from individuals or com- him relive his normal life. She is also appealing to panies willing to help him. the general public to help her financially to assist The young and ambitious father re- her son in living his life. peatedly states that he wants to walk and earn again, to provide for his wife, children and parIsurdeen sits in a ents, as any other man his wheelchair after the age would do. accident which left Isurdeen, a former him unable to walk teacher at Western Hogg Island School, is now always in despair at not being able to provide for his family any more. His only hope, he said, is the comprehensive rehabilitation package programme that he believes would change his present existence.

A normal day for him, he lamented, is boring: just lying on his bed most of the time. A visibly distressed Isurdeen said he silently sits and prays for a change in his future. He stated that he was good in his past, and would have never imagined that his future could change in the blink of an eye.

He said his wife takes care of him before she leaves for work, and he admires the courage and determination of both his wife and mother.

His mother Indeera said she admires her son's enthusiasm and cheerful spirit. She said she will try everything – and it is also her dream – to make her son walk again and make

Moruca Expo 2013

Isurdeen at his Essequibo Coast home

at that time he was employed with Victoria, an East Coast construction company. It was pay day for him and he had gone to collect his money so that he and his wife of two years could make the Essequibo trip home.

On his way back from his work he caught a bus and was heading to his Cummings Lodge, East Coast Demerara home when he became involved in an accident. He said the bus had hit a car and toppled several times. He vividly remembers being pinned down by the accident.

He later awoke at the Georgetown Public Hospital with severe pains, and had attempted to get up and walk but was unable to. Desolately, he said that was the moment reality hit him and he knew something was definitely wrong with him, and he was going through a change in his life.

After spending 11 days in the hospital, Isurdeen was unable to move or do anything for himself, and remained bed-ridden.

After several examinations by doctors, he was diagnosed with a ‘clinical history of blunt trauma to his back’. He is now unable to feel from his knees down to his feet, and is also experiencing numbness.

During his hospitalization, he said, he had given up hope and thought that his life would have

4

Times Sunday Magazine

june 9, 2013

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Times Feature

Though crumbling, the house of 99 windows stands as a symbol of status more than 100 years ago

I

n the 1800s and early 1900s, to construct a house with 100 windows and furnish it with a more than 14-foot dining table were ways of showing to society one’s high status.

This was true of the Hicken family of Berbice. They built a massive house with 100 windows and furnished it with a dining table stretching over 14 feet in length.

David Fraser, 76, and heir of the house, said in an interview that he had read a bit on the building from some aged records that are totally destroyed now. He was unable to learn all the details about the history of the house, but whatever information he was able to gather he shared with Sunday Magazine.

“My father worked with the Hicken family for many years. Edgar later married my father’s sister. The Hicken family also had a company I worked with in 1958. Our family was close to the Hickens and so they gave me the house out of goodwill,” Fraser said, in outlining how he inherited the house.

The house has 3 bedrooms, a dressing room, and a magnificent dining hall where governors would dine regularly.

Fraser disclosed that he found out the owner of the house, Edgar Hicken, was a non-Guyanese businessman who was involved in cattle rearing and cotton farming. The house was constructed more than 102 years ago and took about two years to construct. Fraser pointed out that it took so long to build because the road where it is located in East Lothian, Berbice, was in a deplorable condition especially during the

The house with 99 windows

rainy season. The edifice, he recalled from the records, was designed by a French architect.

The house was originally built with 100

windows, but that would later become 99, which remains the same today. Fraser noted that he would like to dispel the popular misconception that Guyana’s former president Burnham was the one who ordered the window to be blocked.

Fraser said from what he could remember from the records, the governor of that time visited the area and saw the house.

While the governor apparently had no problem with the huge house, the number of windows the house had was an issue. The governor's house also had one hundred windows.

As the story goes, the governor ordered the Hicken family to board up one window in the house. Fraser does not know the reason for the governor to have demanded such an action, but assumed that he may have wanted his house to be the most majestic one at that time.

The house is now deteriorating and

since Fraser is afraid of the crime situation where he is living, he is hesitant to have it restored. Fraser does not live in the house anymore but resides in a home adjacent to it. Many have approached him to purchase and restore the house but he has politely refused for personal reasons.

Fraser is still contemplating though what should be done with the historical landmark, and welcomes anyone who would like a tour of the house with 99 windows.

There are other surviving houses built in the 1800s that also have 100 windows. One such is State House, which was built during the 1820s. It was built on land belonging to the Anglican Church in British Guiana.

Several governors, including Governor Lyght and Governor Barclay, resided there.

(Photos by John Greene) (Cover photo: The green house (left) next to the now historic landmark is Fraser's home today)

→

Arrow points to the window that was ordered blocked by a past governor when he visited

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june 9, 2013

Times Sunday Magazine 5

Times Women

Guyanese chef and entrepreneur Nisa Walker on her love for her career and how it helped create a business she enjoys

F

ormally trained in the culinary arts in the U.S. and having to put aside her passion for cooking for a while because of family responsibilities, Guyanese culinary expert Nisa Walker has returned to a burning stove to create delectable dishes and bring contented smiles to those who indulge regularly at her café called Oasis Cafe, nestled along Carmichael Street in the city.

Nisa left Guyana when she was 19 for Europe where she spent about five years. She then migrated to the U.S. and resided there for about nine years, where she married her British husband.

“I went to culinary school in the U.S. about 22 years ago but didn’t work because I spent the first few years taking care of my family,” the mother of two disclosed.

“But when the children got older I got restless. My passion is cooking and creating dishes that will make people happy. I had my own catering business in New York. It wasn’t very advertised, only through word of mouth would people find

“Women should pursue something they are passionate about” out about it. At events that I catered for I would put out my cards and that’s how people came to know about my company,” she recalled.

Nisa’s love for cooking was instilled by her mother who taught her how to cook.

This passion helped Nisa to excel at Home Economics in school and so her journey with the culinary arts began.

The chef knew that she would one day return to her homeland. When her husband, William Walker, visited Guyana for the first time, Nisa said he imme-

Nisa and her family

diately fell in love with the country. He approached her about living in Guyana but Nisa was slightly hesitant at first. After a few visits and seeing how her children love being here, Nisa decided it was time to return.

Upon returning, they spotted the cafe’s Carmichael Street location, once an Internet café, and decided to open a place where persons can relax and read a book while enjoying a high-quality cup of coffee.

“When we returned to Guyana we couldn’t find a good cup of coffee. We’re big fans of coffee, and that’s when we decided we’ll open Oasis Café and offer something new and fresh to the Guyanese public. It was difficult at first when we came back here to start the café.

Sourcing certain ingredients and trying to find out what people wanted were a bit challenging. From day one I plunged right into the kitchen. My days initially Chef Nisa preparing for a night of fine dining at Oasis Paradiso

started at 4 in the morning at the café. I would then leave the café and rush to the market. I would come back and start cooking again. Sometime I would even help out at the register. We started off small but it became bigger than what we anticipated. It showed us how people craved for something new and fresh and we were happy to have offered that service,” she noted.

Although faced with certain challenges, Nisa’s love for cooking motivated her to keep succeeding. Recalling the challenge at first to source certain ingredients here, she remembered when she tried to make her croissants – after 13 attempts she was finally able to perfect them.

In developing her expertise, Nisa reads a lot on the internet and researches successful restaurants around the world. She also spends much of her time experimenting with recipes at home and at work. Nisa enjoys creating different things and coming up with her own concoctions.

Humanitarian efforts

Another highlight of Nisa’s life was returning to buy the home she grew up in at Vreed-en-Hoop, West Bank Demerara. It was a great feeling, she noted, to live at that home once again. But among the happiness came sadness when she saw the plight of some women living in her area.

Nisa stated that she saw the depression some women were experiencing because of domestic abuse.

Most of them were young mothers who looked very aged because, she believes,

they were living in abusive relationships. This prompted Nisa to start a women’s group called ‘WINNERS’ (Women in Neighbourhoods Needing Every Reasonable Support).

She welcomed the women at her home and taught them how to bake, cook, and make craft. She worked

with some 22 women, training them for free and even invited motivational speakers, gynaecologists, and nutritionists to speak to them regularly.

“It was all funded by my husband and I. Unfortunately it’s not active now because it was an impossible task to juggle the group and café. Also, I didn’t get anyone who wanted to head the group so it just fell through. However I’m hoping that I can start back this group because I’m very passionate about it.

Although I don’t head any group now I’m still involved in the charitable work of the United Women for Special Children,” explained Nisa.

Through Oasis, Nisa has also been promoting the local arts. She has welcomed artists to display their artwork on the café’s walls and has also invited local bands to play on various nights.

She and her husband also sponsor various sports events.

“We like to encourage young ones to pursue their dreams and help in whatever way we can. So we’re hoping to expand our efforts in this area. Also, I’m planning to offer cooking classes – but this is in its planning stage. I have been approached about doing a cooking show so I’m also thinking about that,” the culinary expert outlined.

At present, the culinary pro is working on restructuring some of her recipes, making them healthier. She observed that Guyanese are becoming health conscious and she would like to contribute to their healthy lifestyle.

“Seeing how happy I make people with my cooking really motivates me.

Also, the positive feedback we get from persons who come from overseas to enjoy our products is also very motivating. It doesn’t feel like work because I love doing it. I also have a very supportive staff that share a similar passion for cooking and are very coordinated, which makes my work somewhat less stressful.

On Fridays I work like 18 hours because I’m in the kitchen cooking everything from scratch for our Oasis Paradiso nights which was started a year ago. It’s an elegant evening of dining and has been a hit so far.

Although it’s a lot of work, I’m not deterred but rather determined because I love making people happy,” she declared.

Nisa urges women to pursue something they are passionate about. She pointed out that if they love what they are doing they will want to continue to better themselves, and this will ultimately lead to successful careers.

6 Times Sunday Magazine

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june 9, 2013

Times Book World

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

By Petamber Persaud

M

artin Carter initiated a number of issues, and started an ongoing dialogue by way of his prose and poetry in the manner and with a purpose of a consummate artist, going further than most writers of merely acting as a mirror or barometer of the society.

In a letter introducing the first issue of the New World Quarterly, Carter harped on the need for ‘serious examination of ideas’ and objectivity, going on to declare, “…I do not know why only so few revolt, either by word or by deed against …acute spiritual discomfort.”

Many of those socio-political issues relevant locally and universally revolved around a central theme: ‘all are involved’. This ‘all are involved’ theme is married to the essential Martin Carter - his conjunctions.

In an interview with Professor Frank Birbalsingh, Carter had said, “the word “and” is very important to my way of thinking, that is to say, something and something, not something and then

something else”, referring to his poem, ‘Conjunction’, with its opening line ‘very sudden is the sought conjunction’.

There are many other conjunctions in the thought processes of Carter including “the middle where we meet is not the place to stop”. This ‘all are involved’ theme has engaged the attention of a number of thinkers, scholars and writers who have booked their thoughts in useful publications on Martin Carter.

“Martin Carter: University Of Hunger Collected Poems & Selected Prose”, edited by Gemma Robinson and published by Bloodaxe Books, is the most recent addition to the growing scholarship on the leading poet of Guyana and foremost Caribbean writer of the second half of 20th century.

This extensive work contains a 36-page introduction

by Robinson and more than 70 pages of notes that “provide bibliographic details and commentaries relating to the specific phrases in the poetry and prose. Collations of lexical differences are given when there are multiply versions of a poem.”

Gemma Robinson, a lecturer in the Department

Martin Carter (left) and then President Cheddi Jagan look at the Order of Roraima medal the poet received in 1994

of English Studies at the University of Stirling, whose research focuses on Guyanese writing, is a leading authority on the work of Carter.

“Poems by Martin Carter” edited by Ian McDonald and Stewart Brown, pub-

lished by Macmillan, (2006) is another recent addition to growing and glowing tributes to Carter. This book is an insightful reworking of the prize-winning book, “Selected Poems”.

It is not McDonald’s first public appreciation of Carter. In 1989, McDonald as chairman of Demerara Publishers Ltd., was instrumental in publishing Carter’s “Selected Poems”, which won the Guyana Prize for Literature in same year of publication. McDonald was also involved along with others, including Vanda Radzik, in the publication of the revised edition of that title by Red Thread Press (1997).

McDonald as editor of Kyk-Over-Al, in June 2002 devoted a combined 49/50 issue of the journal to the life and work of Carter. Titled Martin Carter Tribute, this 400-page publication is exciting and informative.

“All Are Involved: The Art Of Martin Carter” edited by Stewart Brown, published by Peepal Tree Press, 2000, is a massive book of essays on Carter by leading scholars, colleagues and writers, including Edward Baugh, Ken Ramchand, Gordon Rohlehr, Kamau Brathwaite, Stewart Brown, David Dabydeen, Fred D'Aguiar, Kwame Dawes, Michael Gilkes, Stanley Greaves, Wilson Harris, Roy Heath, Kendel Hippolyte, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Eusi Kwayana, George Lamming, Ian McDonald, Mervyn Morris, Grace Nichols, Rupert Roopnaraine, and Andrew Salkey.

“This book sets out to celebrate Martin Carter's life and work, and to establish a context for reading his poetry. It locates the several facets of Carter's work in the historical and cultural circumstances of his time, in

Guyana, in the Caribbean.”

Stewart Brown lectures at the Centre for West African Studies at the University of Birmingham.

He has edited several anthologies of Caribbean writing and published many books and essays on aspects of West Indian culture.

“Web Of October: Rereading Martin Carter” by Rupert Roopnaraine, published by Peepal Tree Press (1988) and copyrighted to the author(1986), is one the first published studies on the work of Carter. The blurb reads, “the essay’s functions are multiple: to draw attention to Carter’s poetic art, to rescue his work from too narrowly political readings and to explore the relationships between language, art, politics and philosophy.”

Two of the abovementioned books were published

by Peepal Tree Press, whose founder, Jeremy Poynting,

is responsible for promoting and enhancing Guyanese literature in recent times.

The above publications offer varied and various insights into the work and life of a national poet whose writings traced the struggles and triumphs of Guyana from colonialism to independence and postindependence. What is important however is that his work has already included you into the ongoing dialogue of ‘all are involved’.

Martin Carter was born June 7, 1927, in Georgetown, British Guiana. His father, Victor Emmanuel, was an avid reader, and his mother, Violet Eugene Wylde, loved books and enjoyed reciting verses.

In 1953, he married Phyllis Howard, a union lasting some four decades, even though many times during a night he would disturb their sleep because he found a right word or phrase to insert in his writing.

His “Poems of Resistance” (1954), some pieces which he wrote while incarcerated by the British for his radical political affiliation, established his Caribbean and international reputation.

In 1989, “Selected Poems” won the Guyana Prize for Literature in the category of best book of poetry.

Twice he was honoured by the government of the day: in 1970 he received the Cacique Crown of Honour and in 1994 the Order of Roraima.

Martin Wylde Carter died at his home in Lamaha Street on December 13, 1997, amidst political turmoil.

Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@ yahoo.com

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june 9, 2013

Times Sunday Magazine 7

Times Feature

Young Professionals

Star of the week

Dr Shilindra Rajkumar

By Vahnu Manikchand

S

pecializing in general, plastic and reconstructive surgery, Dr Shilindra Rajkumar is responsible for giving burn victims the confidence they need by repairing their wounds.

The doctor is currently in charge of the Burns Unit at the GPHC along with another doctor, as they both take on the daily challenge of reconstruction.

Dr Shilindra Rajkumar One hour before stepping into the operating theatre, Dr Rajkumar noted that their work mostly entails the management of burns and chronic wounds.

“When the regular surgeons cannot handle complicated wounds, the patients would be referred to us and we will operate on them”. He noted that they also do a bit of plastic surgery such as cosmetic surgery, tummy tucks and breast reductions however they do not encourage since they are more committed to do things that benefit patients.

Rajkumar began his surgical career as a bones and orthopaedic surgeon, which he performed for over a year before he went on to pursue a diploma in surgery.

At the time, the Burns Unit was managed by a Chinese doctor, who had to return to China for two months.

Rajkumar said that he was asked to fill in and manage the department.

“Initially I came for two months and when the Chinese doctor returned, I started to operate with him and expand in my work”, he stated. “At that time I was not really interested in plastic surgery because I was a general surgeon. However as we start doing more interesting cases, general surgery became boring, and that was the turning point for me.”

The doctor said that that he wanted to do something different since there was no challenge in general surgery and I wanted to do something that people don’t do around here and to do something creative like this [reconstructive surgery].”

After some five years as a plastic and reconstruction surgeon, the doctor has preformed approximately 500 reconstructive operations, which are being done about three times weekly at GPHC. Rajkumar grew up in the Cinderella county of Essequibo then moved to Georgetown when he was nine-years-old. He then proceeded to Queens College where he wrote CXC and A level examinations. He then pursed Biology at the University of Guyana and then graduated in medicine in 2003 to started working as a general surgeon. He also earned two fellowships in burns and general plastic surgery in Canada.

“As a plastic and reconstruction surgeon it is exciting and a challenge at times to get things done…we see things a little differently from the general surgeons and we pride ourselves with the fact that we can picture things... and can actually figure something out and be three steps ahead of what regular surgeon can see…we can say what can be before we do it.”

Doctor Rajkumar noted that his department is challenging at times since they get some severe burn cases and know what to do and what they are capable of doing, but they do not have the equipment to do it.

“But it is my dream,” he declared, “to get this place to a more state of the art facility and to make it the best burn centre in the country; and we are working on it slowly.”

A

ssad Fudadin is a Guyanese left-hand middle-order batsman whose talent was identified early. He was picked for the West Indies Under-15s in 2000 and then spent a couple of years with the Guyana U-19 before going on to represent West Indies at the U-19 World Cup in 2004, where he made three half-centuries to help his side make the final. He soon established himself in the Guyana senior side and was their leading run-getter in the domestic first-class tournament in 2009-10. That effort earned him a spot on the West Indies A side which toured England in 2010 besides fetching him a developmental contract from the board.

He was called up to West Indies squad for the Test series against Australia in March 2012 and toured England in May of that year, being picked for his debut in the third Test at Edgbaston.

This year, Fudadin plans to use the upcoming series between West Indies “A” and Sri Lanka “A” to bring a new approach to his batting. The pro cricketer was chosen in a 13-member squad for the first four-day ‘Test’ between the two sides. Fudadin’s ultimate goal is to perform and secure a regular place in the West Indies team. Besides cricket, Fudadin enjoys solitary time reading inspirational stories about past athletes and how they were able to triumph over their struggles.

8 Times Sunday Magazine

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june 9, 2013

Times Kids Page

T

he Macaroni Penguin (Eudyptes chrysolophus) , is often considered the most numerous species of penguin on the planet. They live in the Sub-Antarctic regions of the world ranging from South Georgia Island, the Falkland Islands and about 50 other islands of the Scotia Arc. Macaroni Penguins spend most of their time during the colder winter months hunting fish, squid, krill and crustaceans in the cold oceans. When the summer approaches and temperatures at the South Pole increase, they make their way to land in order to breed.

The macaroni penguin is about two feet tall and weighs around 10 to 11 pounds, making it one the biggest and heaviest species of penguin.

There are about 18 million macaroni penguin individuals, but macaroni penguin population numbers have declined severely over the past few decades.

Colouring Fun

The objective of the game is to fill all the blank squares in a game with the correct numbers. Every row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Every 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

Did you know?

T

he macaroni name was given to them by British explorers during the 18th century because their colourful head feathers resembled those worn in the hats by young men at time who were called macaronis.

The line in the song Yankee Doodle, "Stuck a feather in his cap and called it Macaroni," stems from the same fashion movement.

The male Macaroni Penguin broods and guards the chicks for 23 to 25 days while the females bring food daily.

please see solution on page 22

Dot to Dot

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june 9, 2013

Times Sunday Magazine 9 Ship flags Ships started using flags at sea to signal to each other and to warn of infectious disease.

By Laurie Triefeldt

By definition A flag is basically a piece of cloth (typically oblong or square) that is flown from a mast or pole. Symbolic colors and designs make flags works of art.

First flags The historical origin of flags dates back to around 1000 B.C., when the Egyptians used primitive versions of flags — some were made of wood or metal.

Early flags were used for identification or to signal others.

Although the most popular use of flags today is to identify the world’s countries, the use of national flags didn’t become commonplace until the 18th century.

Early Americans The first flags used in North America arrived with European explorers and settlers. The Vikings arrived around 1000 A.D. Columbus raised a Spanish flag in the New World in 1492.

John Cabot claimed the Americas for England in 1497, and Jacques Cartier hoisted the French flag in 1534.

Flags are usually associated with geographical regions and countries (today, every country in the world has a flag), but they are also used as symbols for many other venues and as decoration for homes. The study of flags is called vexillology.

Heraldry

Heraldry is the study and use of symbols or pictures that represent a family or institution. Painted on shields or flags, coats of arms were first used in the early 1100s as a way for knights on the battlefield to identify themselves.

Kinds of charges

A charge is the symbol found on a shield. Charges were usually animals or plants.

When people married, their family shields were often combined into one.

French (1604-1763)

French (1625- 1665)

Red Ensign (1707) British colonies

Spanish (1492)

British (1606) The Dutch flew their flag on the banks of the Hudson River and founded the town of New Amsterdam.

Grand Union (1775-1777) Continental Colors

After the American Revolution, a new flag was needed. No one knows for sure who designed or made the first flag of the U.S.

The flag of Nepal (right) is the only world flag that is not rectangular or square-shaped.

T

As is military custom, the American flag is lowered daily. No part of the flag should touch the ground as it is folded into the shape of a tricorn hat.

STEP 1: Hold the flag waist-high and parallel to the ground. Bring the striped half up over the blue field.

Fold again lengthwise, with the blue field on the outside.

1777

At war The military has made historic use of flags to identify and rally its troops. The use of flags as field signs (as flags and on clothing) probably began in China or India.

1795 This flag had 15 stripes and 15 stars.

C

I

E

J

O

U

D

K

P

V

Q

W

F

G

L

M

R

X

S

Y

Z

By 1700, the traditional skull and crossbones known as the “Jolly Roger” came into use. If the flag was red, it signaled that no mercy would be shown. Many pirates created their own symbols.

The ship’s sailmaker was usually responsible for sewing the flag.

Weather flags The Coast Guard uses warning flags to signal when weather conditions become dangerous.

Small craft advisory

Royal Siam Armed Forces (1892–1936)

War Ensign of Germany (1938-1945)

STEP 2: Make a triangular fold by bringing the striped corner of the folded edge to meet the open (top) edge of the flag.

Turn the outer (end) point inward to form a second triangle.

STEP 3: Fold the point in to form another triangle. Continue until the entire length of the flag is folded.

STEP 4: When the flag is completely folded, with only a triangular blue field of stars showing, tuck the last bit into the other folds to secure it.

Gale

Hurricane warning

Sport flags

Some sports use flags as signals.

For example, a yellow penalty flag is used in several field sports, including American football and lacrosse. In auto racing, flags are used to indicate track condition and to communicate important messages to drivers.

Slow vehicle

SOURCES: World Book Encyclopedia, World Book Inc.; www.worldflags101.com; www.kids-world-travel-guide.com; www.vexillologymatters.org; www.facts-about.org.

1818 1818 Two examples of the flag reverting to 13 stripes with 20 stars for 20 states.

Storm warning

Start

On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress resolved that the flag of the United States have 13 stripes, alternate red and white; and that the union be represented by 13 white stars in a blue field — symbolic of a new constellation.

1777

B

N

Military flag-folding

Adding stars (and stripes) to the American flag

Congress did not establish an official arrangement of the stars — a variety of designs were used.

A

People who study flags are called vexillologists.

Cadency symbol of second son

United States Cavalry

Another system, called semaphore, uses two flags to spell out messages. Navies still use flagspelling codes because – unlike radio signals – flag codes cannot be picked up by enemies who are out of sight of the signaling ship.

H

A ship carrying the flag of an admiral is called a flagship.

Cadency symbols were used on coats of arms to indicate the family status of the bearer.

Ottoman Empire (1793-1923)

In 1968, Neil Armstrong erected an American flag on the moon.

The word “flag” is derived from the old Saxon word “fflaken,” which means “to fly” or “to float in the air.”

Cadency symbol of oldest son

Viking (1000s)

Did you know?

Today, a system of international maritime flags (each representing individual letters of the alphabet) is used as signals.

Faster car

Caution

Debris

Stop

Leave track

Unsportsmanlike conduct

Finish

1861

1863

1912 to 1959

This Civil War flag has 34 stars.

Confederate flag (red bar added in 1865)

The 48-star flag served for 47 years.

10 Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Fashion

M

wanza Glenn is a self-taught fashion designer, whose designs are inspired by the performing arts, including dancing and acting.

He embraces fashion through the silhouettes, volumes, and shapes of designs he creates.

Mwanza is well known for his glamorous afrocentric designs.

Since launching his first collection in 2010, the designer enjoys creating avant-garde and couture pieces. He was a participating designer in the Caribbean fashion show, Mission Catwalk, held in Jamaica this year.

Speaking with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Mwanza stated although he did not place in the competition, the experience in itself was unforgettable. He was amazed at the quality of work from designers from various countries and has learnt a lot about the fashion industry.

He is also determined to develop his designing talent because he would like to become one of the best designers coming out of Guyana.

Mwanza is currently marketing his collections and is working tirelessly on a collection for a future fashion project.

Designer Mwanza Glenn

For more information on these designs call the designer on 672-6203 or visit Wanza’s Designs on Facebook.

E meli Sandé is an English-born Scottish recording artist and songwriter. Raised in Alford, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, she first became known to the public eye after she was featured on the track "Diamond Rings" by the rapper Chipmunk (2009). It was their first top 10 single on the UK Singles Chart. In 2010, she was featured on "Never Be Your Woman" by the rapper Wiley, which became another top ten hit. In 2012 she received the Brit Awards Critics' Choice Award. She has written for a number of artists, including Alicia Keys, Cher Lloyd, Parade, Susan Boyle, Gabrielle, Preeya Kalidas, Rihanna, Leona Lewis, Alesha Dixon, Cheryl Cole, Tinie Tempah, Ella Henderson and Mutya Keisha Siobhan. In 2010, she signed a publishing deal with EMI Music Publishing. She later announced that Virgin Records had given her a record deal. Sandé released her first solo single "Heaven" in August 2011. Sandé has three number-one singles across the United Kingdom and Ireland with "Read All About It" with Professor Green, "Next to Me" and "Beneath Your Beautiful" a collaboration with Labrinth. Her album “Our Version of Events” spent 7 non-consecutive weeks at number 1 and became the best-selling album of 2012 in the UK, with over 1 million sales. She won two BRIT 2013 awards for Best British female and Best British Album. Her "Next to Me" won two Ivor Novello Awards for Best Song Musically and Lyrically and PRS for Music Most Performed Work in 2013. In May 2013, she performed at the White House in Washington, DC, USA, as one of the featured artists at the award ceremony when President Obama presented Carole King with the Library of Congress Gershwin Medal.

guyanatimesgy.com june 9, 2013

Star Times Hollywood

Times Sunday Magazine 11

12 Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Hollywood

Bieber signs Miss World 2013 to be held Justin up for space trip without bikini competition J T he organizer of Miss World 2013 beauty pageant declared on Thursday, June 5, that the beauty pageant would ditch bikinis amid protests launched by hard-line Muslim groups in Indonesia. According to Adjie S. Soeratmadjie of the RCTI, official broadcaster and organizer of Miss World 2013 in Indonesia, the contestants will be required to wear long Bali sarongs, instead of bikinis.

Soeratmadjie said, "There will no bikini in this year's Miss World pageant to respect our traditional customs and values. This is a sensitive issue in Indonesia. We have discussed it since last year and they have agreed."

Miss World Organization's chairwoman Julia Morley confirmed the decision to axe bikini from this year's competition. "I don't think Indonesia is the only country that has that culture. But we like to work in the manner respectful to every country, and I cannot see why when you go to somebody's country you should not behave respectfully," she told Associated Press.

Morley added that "Indonesia is designing for us a very beautiful one-piece beachwear, and I'm very happy with them." She also said that this year's

pageant would include a special beachwear fashion show.

About 90 percent of Indonesia's population is Muslim, while the rest are Christian, Hindu and Buddhist.

Although many of them are moderate, a few hard-line groups have been vocal to express their disagreement towards the idea of flaunting women's body.

Council of Ulema, or MUI, said via its cleric that they would send a letter to the president to request the pageant to be canceled. "That contest is just an excuse to show women's body parts that should remain covered," Mukri Aji of

MUI's West Java branch told the news outlet.

Last year, Lady GaGa was forced to cancel its sold-out concert in Jakarta because of huge protest from hardliners. Habib Salim Alatas of the Islamic Defenders Front, said at that time, "Her style is vulgar, her sexual and indecent clothes will destroy our children's sense of morality.She wears only panties and a bra when she sings." Beyonce Knowles and The Pussycat Dolls also toned down their sexy clothing when they performed in the most populous Muslim country. (AceShowbiz)

ustin Bieber is the latest celebrity to sign up for a trip to space.

The 19-year-old and his manager Scooter Braun will fly with Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic.

Sir Richard Branson tweeted from his official Twitter account: "Great to hear @justinbieber & @ scooterbraun are latest @ virgingalactic future astronauts. Congrats, see you up there!"

Justin Bieber joins the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio and Ashton Kutcher, who have paid $250,000 deposits to be on the priority list when the flights happen.

Bieber re-tweeted Richard Branson's congratulations, saying: "I wanna do

a concert in space."

NASA replied, "Maybe we can help you with that."

Passengers on the aircraft will be sent 62 miles up in altitude and experience a few minutes of weightlessness. (Glamour)

Taylor Swift to start writing new album

S

hortly before her live "Red" single performance at the just concluded CMT Music Awards in Nashville, country music superstar Taylor Swift disclosed in a backstage interview that she's just about ready to start working on her follow-up to her Billboard chart-topping album "Red". That project will then become the 23-year-old entertainer's fifth studio album.

"It's starting, the anxiety is starting, and when the anxiety starts, the writing happens right afterwards usually," Swift revealed.

Describing her songwriting process, she continued, "I like to write for two years before I finish an album," explaining further that "whatever I write the first year is going to get thrown away because I'm going to sound [like what I've done before.]."

Fans of the "I Knew You Were Trouble" singer may think it's still quite early for Swift to be already thinking of her next album, considering her album "Red" hasn't even run its full course yet.

Swift even released a new single yet again from the LP, premiering an adorable music video of "Everything Has Changed" featuring her tour partner Ed Sheeran.

Apart from her CMT Music Awards performance, Swift is also coming off a memorable duet with Mick Jagger on The Rolling Stones' Chicago concert.

The young country-pop star revealed the collaboration was "everything you think it would be but better," adding, "They handwrite notes thanking you for being there...you get pictures with them." (AceShowbiz)

Leonardo DiCaprio spotted with Victoria's Secret model

I

t was a setting worthy of the ‘Great Gatsby’ himself.

After a week in which Leonardo DiCaprio was seen strolling the Seine with his mother and catching the tennis action at the French Open, on Thursday he and longtime pal Lukas Haas turned up at the Chateau de Versailles – and Di Caprio also had some female company.

She is a Victoria Secret's model, 20-year-old Hamburgborn model Toni Garrn.

According to several eyewitnesses, Haas, DiCaprio and Garrn, arriving in the same van from Paris around 6:30 p.m., quietly walked the chateau grounds and garden, and she took pictures.

"It was like a first date," says one eyewitness. "You do a touristy thing. You go out with a girl and your friend ... and she was clearly taking pictures of her new boyfriend."

She and Haas entered the grounds together, then DiCaprio, 38, was at her side for an abbreviated 20-minute guided tour in the company of Versailles officials.

The couple were dressed casually, with Garrn in a white top, denim cut-offs and ankle boots. DiCaprio wore a purple T-shirt, black slacks and his now familiar flat cap, a style the French call "torpedo."

During the visit, the couple emerged briefly on one of the chateau's balconies, snapping a portrait together. (People)

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Times Sunday Magazine 13

Star Times Bollywood

G

urmeet Choudhary is an Indian television actor and model. He is famous for his popular roles in ‘Ramayan’, ‘Geet - Hui Sabse Parayi’ and ‘Punar Vivah’. In 2006, Gurmeet debuted as a negative character in Indian television's first 3D TV series, ‘Mayavi’, a Tamil production

by GV Films for Jaya TV which was later dubbed for the Telugu and Malayalam television. His next appearance on television was as Shri Ram, for the religious series ‘Ramayan’.

He later participated in a reality series ‘Pati Patni Aur Who’ with his wife Debina Bonnerjee. He got his big break with STAR One channel's series ‘Geet - Hui Sabse Parayi’, where he essayed the role of a business magnate Maan Singh Khurana. He appeared in Zee TV's show ‘Punar Vivah’ as Yash Sindhia. He also participated in dance reality show ‘Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa Season 5’ as a contestant on Colors TV with choreographer Shampa Sonthalia and is the winner of that show.

14 Times Sunday Magazine

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Times Bollywood

report Madhuri, Juhi launch Police confirms actress 'BELIEVE' campaign Jiah Khan’s suicide T T

he team behind “Gulaab Gang” has launched a campaign to celebrate the heroism of women.

Named 'BELIEVE', the campaign will bring highlight the individual acts of bravery by women in India and celebrate unsung heroines.

Speaking about the initiative, Gulaab Gang actress Madhuri Dixit told IANS : "As a creative artist, my job has been to inspire audiences with art and films I'm part of.

"The campaign allows me to present before you stories that are inspiring for us all. I look forward to saluting the unknown heroines of the country."

The 'BELIEVE' initiative will invite women to submit their stories of personal triumph in the face of adversi-

ty. The entries will be analysed by a panel of eminent personalities from varied walks of life, who will select 20 stories of inspiration to be adapted into short films.

Juhi Chawla, who also stars in Gulaab Gang, said: "BELIEVE ties in beautifully with the theme of the film.

In life too, women managing homes, families and careers, face challenges and discrimination every day.

"It's always inspiring and uplifting to know a real story of real women who have overcome hardships, extreme hardships and come out as winners," she added.

Directed by Soumik Sen, “Gulaab Gang” is loosely based on Uttar Pradeshbased social activist Sampat Pal and her Gulabi Gang, which works towards liberation of women in the state.

Producer Anubhav Sinha has said that the film is an attempt "to inspire women to fight for their freedom from social injustice or stigma."

"Women continue to be oppressed, marginalised, and violated every single day.

"However, despite adverse climes that women in this nation are subject to, we see shining examples of some who have blazed [a] trail and against all odds have emerged victorious to show us that the term 'weaker sex' is an absolute mistake," said Sinha. (Digital Spy)

he preliminary postmortem report of Bollywood actress Jiah Khan on Tuesday said that she died due to hanging. The police also claimed that there were some marks on Jiah's neck. Her body was taken in an ambulance to Dr RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital in Juhu for post-mortem.

Earlier, the Mumbai Police questioned Bollywood actor Aditya Pancholi's son Suraj, who was said to be close to the late actor, in connection with her suicide, they said on Tuesday.

According to a senior police officer, Suraj was a close friend of Jiah and they had a telephone conversation

Monday night before the actress allegedly hanged herself at her Juhu residence.

Jiah was laid to rest on June 5. (India Today)

RK to play a brooding ‘Bond’

A

fter the phenomenal response to “Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani”, Ranbir Kapoor is evidently on a roll. The actor who will soon finish shooting for Abhinav Kashyap's “Besharam”, and move on to Anurag Kashyap's “Bombay

Velvet”, which is a magnum opus to be extensively shot in Sri Lanka, has already finalised the details of his next film.

From what we have gathered, the actor will play a brooding thief in Vikram Singh's “Roy”, somewhere along the lines of James Bond. But this Bond is less physical and more mentally intense.

Workshops for the role are expected to start soon.

According to the source, RK's character will be seen wearing sophisticated suits and jackets which will be paired with stylish aviators.

Roy will also see Jacqueline Fernandez in a double role.

Australia, where almost 80 per cent of the film will be shot, has been locked down as the filming location. The makers are looking at a release date somewhere in June 2014. (Mumbai Mirror)

Vidya Balan: 'I'm going to act until I'm 83'

V

idya Balan has said that she wants to continue acting into her old age.

The actor can currently be seen in the comedy romance “Ghanchakkar” opposite Emraan Hashmi.

She told IANS: "I would love to act till I am 83...

Thank God, it worked out for me as an actor because I see myself as an actor, primarily. I think there are enough opportunities.

"I have reasons to believe that there will be exciting roles for me at every stage of my life and I am willing to embrace different roles at different stages of my life.

I don't see myself taking a break."

Balan added that her marriage to UTV owner Siddarth Roy Kapur will not affect which roles she decides on in the future.

"Both of us respect what the other does. I may choose a role which I feel very strongly about, and he

may decide to produce a film which he feels very strongly about. You just respect each other's profession."

The 35-year-old was a member of this year's 66th Cannes Film Festival jury, which also included Steven Spielberg and Ang Lee. At the event, she said that she was "proud" to be representing Indian cinema in its centenary year.

(Digital Spy)

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Times Sunday Magazine

15

Times Healthy Living

Eight Things You Didn't Know About Toothpaste

F

aced with dozens of different products promising to make your teeth fresher, whiter and cavity-free, it’s no wonder you wander aimlessly down the toothpaste aisle. But it’s never too late to get your pearly whites in tip-top shape, so read on to find out how.

1. It’s all about the fluoride.

With a host of ingredients in toothpaste, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s essential. But no matter what your individual needs are (i.e., tartar control, whitening, breath-freshening and so on), dental hygienists a g r e e that fluoride is a must.

According to the Academy of General Dentistry, brushing with fluoride toothpaste twice daily can reduce tooth decay by as much as 40 percent. “Even in areas where there is water fluoridation, the added fluoride in toothpaste has been shown to be very beneficial,” says Caryn Loftis-Solie, RDH, president of the American Dental Hygiene Association (ADHA).

2. Look for the seal of approval.

While it’s tempting to save some cash with a generic brand of toothpaste, you may actually be getting an ineffective—and potentially harmful— product. “You should always look for the ADA Seal when choosing a toothpaste,” says Clifford Whall, PhD, director of the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance Program.

“Only those products have the scientific data to back up their claims and have been proven to meet our criteria for safety and effectiveness.” With 50-plus approved toothpastes on shelves, it’s easy to find a tube that’s right for you and your budget.

3. Whitening toothpastes work— at least to a certain degree.

Countless products promise a whiter smile, but do they really deliver?

“Whitening toothpastes— like all toothpastes—contain mild abrasives to help remove surface stains on your teeth,” says Dr. Whall. “The shape of the particles used in whitening products, though, is modified to clean those stains away better, so you’ll see a noticea b l e

difference in how your teeth look.” However, according to Dr. Whall, these products don’t contain bleach, making it impossible for them to brighten your smile as dramatically as professional whitening treatments.

4. Less is more.

Despite what you see on commercials, a brush full of toothpaste won’t clean your pearly whites any better than half that amount, according to E. Jane Crocker, RHD and president of the Massachusetts Dental Hygienists’ Association.

“All you need is a pea-size amount of toothpaste—yes, I mean the little green vegetable!” Not only will that get the job done effectively (by cleaning and removing plaque, stains and food debris), you’ll also extend the life of your tube.

5. How you brush is more important than what you brush with.

You can buy the best toothpaste and toothbrush on the market, but if you aren’t brushing correctly you won’t see results. “To do it properly, you need to position the brush at a 45 degree angle so that you get some of the bristles in between the tooth and the gums,” says Dr. Whall.

“Move the brush in small circles in those areas, and then continue on to the rest of the teeth. This process should take about one to two minutes to complete.”

6. Organic toothpastes can be just as effective as regular.

If you’re willing to spend a little more to go green, natural and organic toothpastes can be a good eco-friendly alternative to commercial brands—provided they contain fluoride. “Natural and organic toothpastes that include fluoride in their ingredients are as effective as regular toothpastes with fluoride,” says Crocker.

You’ll also be avoiding artificial preservatives, sweeteners and dyes.

7. What’s inside your toothpaste might surprise you.

You may not recognize the names listed on the side of the tube, but ingredients like seaweed and detergent can be found in many fluoride toothpastes.

According to the ADA, common thickening agents include seaweed colloids, mineral colloids and natural gums. And for that quintessential foaming action, most products rely on detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate—also found in many shampoos and body washes—that are deemed 100 percent safe and effective by the ADA.

8. Pastes or gels— they all do the trick.

You may have heard that one works better than the other but, according to the experts, they all clean teeth equally well. “Other than flavour, texture and how it makes a person feel, there aren’t any major differences among the various forms,” says Crocker.

“I think it comes down to personal preference, which might come through trial and error. I encourage my patients to use whichever product encourages them to brush.”

Kidney Disease

By Hillary Ramroop

D

id you know that our kidneys have a higher blood flow than the heart, brain or liver?

This is because the kidneys are actively involved in vital bodily processes such as getting rid of toxins from the blood, controlling the amount of salt, water and minerals in the blood, regulating blood pressure, and managing the production of red blood cells.

The kidneys, which are about the size of a computer mouse, are located in the back of your abdomen just roughly above your waist.

According to Web M.D., if the kidneys are damaged, wastes and fluids build up in the body, causing many issues such as swollen ankles, poor sleep, vomiting, weaknesses, persistent itching, and shortness of breath.

If left untreated, the kidneys can stop functioning, which can be fatal.

Acute kidney injury (acute renal failure) occurs when the kidney does not function for several hours or even a few days. This usually happens if there is traumatic injury with blood loss, reduced blood flow to the kidneys, blockage of urine flow, shock, or damage due to toxins and drugs. Unfortunately, in the early stages of kidney damage, there are no symptoms, and the body accumulates harmful toxins, waste, and excess water. Some simple tests that can be used to detect early kidney disease are urine, blood and X-ray tests, so consult your doctor to be tested.

Chronic kidney disease occurs slowly and usually lasts longer than 3 months.

Some causes are due to high blood pressure, type 1 and 2 diabetes, kidney stones, lupus, long-term exposure to drugs and toxins, the use of analgesics like Tylenol, Motrin and Advil for long durations, bladder and kidney cancer. Possible risk factors for developing kidney disease include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, family history, high cholesterol, obesity and old age (older than 65).

Detection and treatment of kidney disease are vital in preventing kidney failure, in which dialysis (performs the function of the kidneys to get rid of waste) or a kidney

transplant is required.

It is important to seek help if you experience any of the following symptoms: increased water retention in your legs (swollen) or in other body parts, puffy eyes, shortness of breath, reduced energy levels, feeling lightheaded or drowsy, pain in the bones or joints, or itching.

Some steps to take to reduce the loss of kidney function

Decrease your consumption of protein, reduce the intake of salt, losing weight and reduce the intake of potassium, because kidneys cannot remove potassium; if there is too much, that can cause abnormal heart beats.

Some foods with high potassium are bananas, oranges, potatoes, and nuts. Also, if you have kidney disease, restrict the amount of phosphorous intake, which can cause bone disease. Some foods with high phosphorus include eggs, beans, dairy products, and cola drinks.

Try to avoid taking aspirin, Motrin and other analgesics, laxatives, Alka Seltzer, and herbal medications.

16 Times Sunday Magazine

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june 9, 2013

Times Home & Cooking

Fabulous Faucets Most persons agree that it is the details that can make – or break – the look of home spaces. If you're building, remodelling or renovating your bathroom with the current trends, then gather some ideas here for your bathroom faucet, and go ultra modern and ultra chic.

Spicy baked drumsticks Ingredients: Olive oil cooking spray 3/4 cup dried multigrain breadcrumbs 2 tsps herb and garlic salt

2 tsps Mexican chilli powder 2 tsps finely grated lemon rind 8 large (175g each) chicken drumsticks Steamed vegetables, to serve

Method: Preheat oven to 180°C/160°C fan-forced.

Spray a large baking dish with oil.

Combine breadcrumbs, salt, chilli powder and lemon rind in a large bowl. Add chicken. Toss to coat. Place in prepared dish. Spray with olive oil.

Bake for 1 hour, turning halfway, or until chicken is browned and cooked through.

Serve with vegetables.

Heavenly Candy Bar Cake Ingredients: 9 fun-size or 21 mini chocolate-coated caramel and creamy nougat bars 1/2 cup butter or margarine 2 cups sugar 1 cup shortening 3 large eggs 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Chocolate-Marshmallow Frosting Garnishes: chopped frozen fun-size chocolatecoated caramel and creamy nougat bars, candy corn Method: Melt candy bars and butter in a heavy saucepan over low heat about 5 minutes, stirring until smooth. Set aside.

Beat sugar and shortening at medium speed with an electric mixer about 3 minutes or until well blended. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating just until blended after each addition.

Combine flour and salt. Stir together buttermilk and baking soda. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture, alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed just until blended after each addition. Stir in melted candy bar mixture and vanilla. Spoon batter into 3 greased and floured 9-inch cake pans.

Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until a wooden pick comes out clean. Cool in pans on a wire rack 10 minutes; remove cakes from pans, and let cool completely on wire rack. Spread half of Chocolate-Marshmallow Frosting evenly between cake layers. Spread remaining frosting evenly over top and sides of cake. Garnish, if desired.

Opt for a colourchanging LED waterfall faucet and you will be awed each time you use it

Called a Millennium Faucet, it can be paired with a trendy bowlshaped sink to become like a work of art

Greatest Cooking Tips Amp up flavour without the salt shaker The USDA recommends limiting sodium consumption to less than 2,300 mg (1 teaspoon salt) per day. But keeping within that guideline can be tricky even if you make most of your meals at home. Replace some of the added salt in a recipe with sodium-free flavour-boosters like a squeeze of lemon or lime and/or chopped fresh herbs. Keep an eye on sodium in convenience products like canned broth, tomatoes and beans too. Often there is a lower-sodium option available, so check the nutrition panel to compare among brands.

Home Help

Enjoy wash up time with the Single Handle Special Frisbee Design waterfall bathroom vanity sink LED faucet

Ditch the polish and just use a damp cloth for the furniture. A damp cloth also holds the dust rather than just spreading it around.

Line the tops of your kitchen cupboards with newspaper to prevent grease. Replace them regularly.

To make oven cleaning easier, first heat a bowl of water on high for 20 minutes - the steam loosens dirt.

Freshen sinks by popping two fizzy indigestion tablets and 250ml of vinegar down the plug hole.

Dry wet shoes quicker by putting crumpled balls of newspaper inside them.

To make ironing easier, place a sheet of kitchen foil on the board under the cover, which helps reflect the heat.

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Times Sunday Magazine 17

Times Sunday Puzzle

A word I know, Six letters it contains Subtract just one, And twelve is what remains. see solution on page 22

see solution on page 22

see solution on page 22

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june 9, 2013

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Times Creative Writing

The Closing Door Poems

Keep thou an open door between thy child's life and thine own.

T

here was once a little girl (her best and sweetest name was Little Daughter), who had a dear little room, all her own, which was full of treasures, and was as lovely as love could make it.

You never could imagine, no matter how you tried, a room more beautiful than hers; for it was clean and shining from the snowy floor to the ceiling, which looked as if it might have been made of a fleecy cloud. The curtains at the windows were like the petals of a lily, and the little bed was like swan's down.

There were white pansies, too, that bloomed in the windows; and a dove whose voice was sweet as music; and among her treasures she had a string of pearls which she was to wear about her neck when the king of the country sent for her, as he had promised to do some day.

This string of pearls grew longer and more beautiful as the little girl grew older, for a new pearl was given her as soon as she woke up each morning; and everyone was a gift from this king, who bade her keep them well.

Her mother helped her to take care of them and of all the other beautiful things in her room. Every morning, after the new pearl was slipped on the string, they would set the room in order; and every evening they would look over the treasures and enjoy them together, while they carefully wiped away any specks of dust that had gotten in during the day and made the room less lovely.

There were several doors and windows, which the little girl could open and shut just

as she pleased, in this room; but there was one door which was always open, and that was the one which led into her mother's room.

No matter what Little Daughter was doing she was happier if her mother was near; and although she sometimes ran away into her own room and played by herself, she always bounded out at her mother's first call, and sprang into her mother's arms, gladder

than ever to be with her because she had been away.

Now one day when the little girl was playing alone, she had a visitor who came in without knocking and who seemed, at first, very much out of place in the shining white room, for he was a goblin and as dirty as a lump of coal. He had not been there more than a very few minutes, however, before nearly everything in the room began to look more like him and less like driven snow: and although the little girl thought that he was very strange and ugly when she first saw him, she soon grew used to him, and found him an entertaining playfellow.

She wanted to call her mother to see him; but he said: "Oh no! We are having such a nice time together, and she's busy, you know." So the little girl did not call; and the mother, who was making a dress of fine lace for her darling, did not dream that a goblin was in the little fresh room.

The goblin did not make any noise, you know, for he tiptoed all the time, as if he were afraid; and if he heard a sound he would jump. But he was a merry goblin, and he amused the little girl so much that she did not notice the change in her dear room.

The curtains grew dingy, the floor dusty, and the ceiling looked as if it might have been made of a rain cloud; but the child played on, and got out all her treasures to show to her visitor.

The pansies drooped and faded, the white dove hid its head beneath its wing and moaned; and the last pearl on the precious string grew dark when the goblin touched it with his smutty fingers.

"Oh, dear me," said the little girl when she saw this, "I must call my mother; for these are the pearls that I must wear to the king's court, when he sends for me."

"Never mind," said the goblin, "we can wash it, and if it isn't just as white as before, what difference does it make about one pearl?"

"But mother says that they all must be as fair as the morning," insisted the little girl, ready to cry. "And what will she say when she sees this one?"

"You shut the door, then," said the goblin, pointing to the door that had never been closed, "and I'll wash the pearl." So the little girl ran to close the door, and the goblin began to rub the pearl; but it only seemed to grow darker.

Now the door had been open so long that it was hard to move, and it creaked on its hinges as the little girl tried to close it. When the mother heard this she looked up to see what was the matter. She had been thinking about the dress which she was making; but when she saw the closing door, her heart stood still with fear; for she knew that if it once closed tight she might never be able to open it again.

She dropped her fine laces and ran towards the door, calling, "Little Daughter!

Little Daughter! Where are you?" and she reached out her hands to stop the door. But as soon as the little girl heard that loving voice she answered, "Mother, oh! Mother! I need you so! My pearl is tarnishing and everything is wrong!" and, flinging the door wide open, she ran into her mother's arms.

When the two went together into the little room, the goblin had gone. The pansies now bloomed again, and the white dove cooed in peace. But there was much work for the mother and daughter, and they rubbed and scrubbed and washed and swept and dusted, till the room was so beautiful that you would not have known that a goblin had been there - except for the one pearl which was a little blue always, even when the king was ready for Little Daughter to come to his court, although that was not until she was a very old woman.

As for the door, it was never closed again; for Little Daughter and her mother put two golden hearts against it and nothing in this world could have shut it then.

Alone

From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were; I have not seen As others saw; I could not bring My passions from a common spring.

From the same source I have not taken My sorrow; I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone; And all I loved I loved alone.

Then—in my childhood, in the dawn Of a most stormy life—was drawn From every depth of good and ill The mystery which binds me still: From the torrent, or the fountain, From the red cliff of the mountain, From the sun that round me rolled In its autumn tint of gold, From the lightning in the sky As it passed me flying by, From the thunder and the storm, And the cloud that took the form (When the rest of Heaven was blue) Of a demon in my view.

Edgar Alan Poe

If I Had But Two Little Wings If I had but two little wings And were a little feathery bird, To you I’d fly, my dear!

But thoughts like these are idle things And I stay here.

But in my sleep to you I fly: I’m always with you in my sleep!

The world is all one’s own.

And then one wakes, and where am I? All, all alone.

Samuel T. Coleridge

Send your creative writing to sundaymagazine@guyanatimesgy.com

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june 9, 2013

Times Sunday Magazine19

Times World

Malnutrition as a Growing Problem

E

very year, malnutrition is responsible for at least 3.1 million deaths in children under the age of five, which is roughly 45 percent of deaths among children.

Though centres in various countries have been set up, their lack of success in eliminating malnutrition can be attributed to both insufficient hygienic quality and lack of resources at the centres.

A set of reports were published Wednesday by Lancet, which “re-evaluate the problems of ma-

ternal and child [malnutrition] and also examine the growing problems of overweight and obesity for women and children, and their consequences in lowincome and middle-income countries.”

The study goes on to state that roughly 15 percent of deaths in children under the age of five could be avoided by providing children and pregnant women with the appropriate vitamin A and zinc supplements.

Professor Robert Black of Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of

Public Health stated, "Malnutrition can haunt children for the rest of their lives.

Undernourished children are more susceptible to infectious diseases and achieve less education and have lower cognitive abilities.”

Black goes on to explain that the first two years of the child’s life are the most important years to provide a child with proper nutritional value, and that if this was done, the mortality rate from malnutrition would decrease drastically. (By Megan Byrne.

Dailymeal.com)

How did the turtle get its shell?

A study of a 260-million-year-old fossil could help settle a debate about an evolutionary novelty

Y

ou'd be forgiven for thinking that Rudyard Kipling worked this out a century ago. It turns out that it's a tough one for biologists to crack.

Many think that the turtle's shell developed from bony scales that fused with its ribcage, similar to what happened with armadillos and some lizards. Others think that the shell developed from the ribs themselves, which gradually grew broader and straighter until eventually forming an exterior shell.

Scientists found little evidence either way. The oldest known turtle fossils, which are about 210 million years old, already had a fully formed shell, leaving palaeontologists with few clues as to how it developed.

But now, an analysis of the fossilized remains of a creature that roamed what is now South Africa some 260 million years ago supports the second story.

In a study published in the journal Current Biology, scientists at Yale University, the Smithsonian Institution, and the New York Institute of Technology examined 45 specimens of Eunotosaurus, an extinct genus of primitive reptile.

They found that many features of Eunotosaurus – its distinctive T-shaped ribs, its elongated vertebrae – mark it as an ancestor of the turtle.

“Now we’ve got an intermediate shell, a transitional form that bridges the gap between turtles and other reptiles and helps ex-

Yellow-spotted Amazon River turtle

plain how the turtle shell evolved,” said lead author Tyler Lyson, a curatorial affiliate of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History and a Smithsonian postdoctoral researcher, in a Yale press release.

The idea that Eunotosaurus is a turtle ancestor is not new. After it was discovered in the late 19th century, some scientists speculated that it belonged to the same order as modern turtles. There was very little hard evidence for this claim, however, and support for it eventually vanished as more and more scientists became convinced that turtle shells developed armadillo-like, via external scales.

But then, five years ago, a 220-million-year-old fossil unearthed in China revealed the existence of a turtle-like reptile with a fully developed underbelly shell and

broad, flat ribs – and no bony scales. This animal, called Odontochelys semitestacea, showed that shells can form without scales. This discovery prompted researchers to revisit Eunotosaurus.

“Our data supports Eunotosaurus as an important link in that evolutionary chain that eventually produced modern turtles,” said New York Institute of Technology anatomist study co-author Gaberiel Bever, in an NYIT press release.

"This is an earlier version of the turtle."

Not all scientists will be convinced by the team's evidence, however.

Eunotosaurus lacks some essential turtle features, such as a hard underbelly.

"This is a highly contentious area," Dr. Lyson told the Los Angeles Times. "I'm sure I won't convince everybody, but I think it's a really good step forward."

The companies we keep – singular and plural English speakers have been wrestling with singulars and plurals for centuries – and the grammar rules don't always help

"E

veryone was here, but he has gone home."

This sentence, etched into thought during my school days – Mrs. Barletta's sixth grade, perhaps? – is my earliest memory of an example of how the rules of English grammar don't always make sense, and how there are some things that you just can't say within those rules.

Indefinite pronouns – everyone, anyone, and the like – take a singular verb, so that "everyone was here" makes sense, even though "everyone" refers to quite a number of people. But then, for the second part of the sentence,

if you don't want to repeat "everyone," you need another pronoun – a word that stands in for another noun or pronoun.

That other pronoun, according to the rule, has to be singular, and in those days when I first heard it, it hadn't yet been deemed "sexist" to insist further that it had to be "he."

Oh, come on, you may counter, in real life, what people would say is, "Everyone was here, but they have all gone home."

Indeed. And the concern isn't necessarily sexism in the language.

A few years ago, Anne Curzan of the University of Michigan, a linguist and a member of the usage panel

of the American Heritage Dictionary, had this to say in an interview published on a Vocabulary.com blog: "English speakers have been using the singular they for centuries," she said. "I've done research on the history of gender constructions in English, and you can find the singular they back into at least Middle English. English speakers and writers have been using this solution for years."

But then, at the end of the 18th century, grammarian Lindley Murray advocated using the singular generic he instead.

"And that got picked up in other grammars," Ms. Curzan said. "So we had a

rule prescribing singular generic he until the 1980s, when feminists urged a different solution, the result being he or she. But in the spoken language we say they all the time."

As I try to whip other people's prose into shape for the printing press, where a different standard prevails, I'm struck by how much editorial energy goes into issues not just of gender but of number.

Is a company or other organization an "it" or a "they"? It's not that hard to write, "Apple has its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif."

But is there any doubt in your mind that, every

day, millions of people say things like "Apple has their headquarters ..."?

It occurs to me to call what's going on here an "offstage antecedent," an implied concept that "the rules" may not help express. In the original "Everyone was here" example, the offstage antecedent is some undetermined number of people, even though "everyone" is determinedly singular.

Similarly, "Apple" is singular, but we know a company is a group of people, inherently plural.

And so we end up, in the spoken language at least, with singular nouns and verbs but plural possessives ("their headquar-

ters"), and constructions such as, "I called the store this afternoon and they said they won't be able to deliver the fridge until Wednesday." The one who hears this does not imagine a conference call involving the speaker, the receptionist at the store, and a couple of beefy guys with hand trucks.

This kind of construction may eventually affect the rules of Standard English. But for now, I have to accept that as an editor, I sometimes am presented with a singular problem. (Source: Verbal Energy. ‘The companies we keep – singular and plural’ by Ruth Walker. June 4, 2013)

20 Times Sunday Magazine

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june 9, 2013

Times Tech

A

re you tired of watching Dad fumble around with his old, clunky Blackberry or that midcentury looking Nokia? Drag him out of the twilight zone with the iPhone 5, iPad or, if he likes a challenge, a MacBook.

With their amazing operating system and apps any of these devices will have the lure to get Dad into the 21st Century.

The iPhone 5 incorporates the best of everything: you have your cellular capabilities, your iPod features and best of all, with the iOS it’s like having access to the world in the palm of your hand. The iPad with Retina Display is the fastest tablet available. Its speed, coupled with the best app ecosystem around, makes it an undeniable first choice. For the dad who is not extremely tech-savvy, the iPad Mini is a brilliant economical, introductory device.

Finally, he can understand the magic of technology. i D e vices are much better than the traditional shirt, tie or power tool type of gifts we usually get dad.

They are the best devices to keep him organized, with built-in apps like Calendar and Reminders so he can always be one step ahead. He'll always be entertained with access to his favourite shows and movies from apps like Netflix and iTunes. Sports and all other news updates are easy with Sports News, BBC and so many more apps.

Catching up with his buddies that are too far away to have a beer is easy with FaceTime and Skype, which are all accessible.

If your dad already has an iOS device, help him get more out of it with cool accessories, like the iPad Smart Case. The Smart Case can be used at his desk or on his lap, holding the iPad at an adjustable angle and making it easy to view the screen; makes it great for watching TV, using FaceTime and general interaction with the iPad. The design of the new Apple Ear Pods is defined by the geometry of the ear, which makes them more comfortable. The speakers have been engineered to minimize sound loss and maximize sound output to create impressive high-quality audio. With Remote and Mic also included with a builtin remote that lets you adjust the volume, control the playback of music and video, and answer or end calls with a pinch of the cord, this device makes a perfect gift.

The incredibly thin Apple Wireless Keyboard sits

on your desk surrounded by nothing but glorious space. It’s cable-free, so you’re free to type wherever you like. The wireless keyboard is a great option for those projects that calls for a lot of attention and typing when a virtual keyboard just isn’t enough.

T h e Apple TV is one of the most amazing accessories available for iOS devices. Apple TV is a tiny entertainment powerhouse that plays the content you love from iTunes, N e t f l i x , Hulu Plus, YouTube, and your favourite sports leagues on your widescreen TV. This energy efficient device is small enough to fit comfortably in the palm of your hand, and the included Apple Remote makes it access your favourite entertainment.

Give dad the power to purchase anything in the iTunes Store, App Store, iBookstore, and Mac App Store with an iTunes gift card. He can buy all the music, movies, apps, and books he likes.

No matter the price denomination of the gift card, your dad will appreciate the freedom to personalize his iOS device with the apps he really wants, and his iPod with the music that moves him.

Global Technology Inc. is the only authorized Apple reseller in Guyana.

Our showroom allows

patrons to interact with Apple devices before they make a purchase. Additionally, at Global Technology you will have your oneyear Apple warranty, and product support for the life of the device.

In celebration of Father’s Day, any purchase made in store before June 30, 2013 gives customers a chance to win a brand new iPhone 5.

Tech byte

Porsche unveils 50th anniversary special-edition Porsche 911 50th Anniversary Edition

T

hree months ahead of the 50th anniversary festivities planned around its 911 sports car, Porsche pulled the wraps off a special-edition 911, commemorating 50 years of fast living.

Mechanically identical to the 400-horsepower, rear-

wheel-drive Carrera S, the car is nevertheless clad in the body of the all-wheeldrive Carrera 4S, which brings broadened rear haunches and beefed-up tire track.

Special badges below the engine hatch and on the tachometer, door sills and

headrests are augmented by special 20in five-spoke alloy wheels modelled on those from Porsches of the mid1960s.

A rather obvious touch, but no less classy for it: the special edition will be limited to a run of 1,963 cars, echoing the year in which the 911 bowed at the Frankfurt motor show – the setting, fittingly, for the 50th Anniversary Edition’s formal debut in September.

At US$125,050 inclusive of US$900 destination charge, the 911-50 commands a US$25,200 premium over the Carrera S, which is priced from US$99,850. (BBC news auto)

Bicycle wheels turn colourful, animated displays

M

onkeyLectric may have come up with the ultimate way to make your bicycle stand out on the road. The company's new Monkey Light Pro is a set of LED bars that attach to a bicycle wheel and can be programmed to play colourful animations.

While it isn't the first light-up bicycle wheel system around, and MonkeyLectric itself has produced other models in the past, none have been as elaborate as this.

The Monkey Light Pro features four bars sporting a total of 256 full-colour LEDs, which fit together inside the spokes and display bright images over

The Monkey Light Pro in animated action: the dog chases the cat as you ride

the entire wheel when it's in motion. Riders can upload still graphics or short animations via Bluetooth

and watch them light up on both sides when the bike reaches 10 to 40 mph (15 to 65 km/h). (Gizmag)

guyanatimesgy.com

june 9, 2013

Times Sunday Magazine 21

Times Art

Artist Derek Browne

T

hrough his art, U.S.-based Guyanese artist Derek Browne wants to spread messages of hope, and show that unity and order can be attained in this world torn by chaos.

In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, the artist said he was born in the village of Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara, but grew up in Georgetown where he attended Smith Church Congregational and Bedford Methodist Primary schools. Browne also attended Central High School where he had begun his formal education in art, and from there went on to the Burrowes School of Art, situated in Eccles, East Bank Demerara at that time. He later migrated to the U.S. and is currently residing in Queens, New York.

Recalling his initial interests in the arts, Browne stated, “As far back as I can remember being an infant, I had begun showing interest in drawing and playing musical instruments.

During the course of going to primary

and secondary schools to be educated, all I ever thought about was becoming an artist and musician. So I guess by nature, I was born an artist.”

The artist’s first major painting was titled “Carambola in Season”. It was a picturesque painting featuring a few bunches of ripe five-finger fruits with leaves hanging from branches.

It was an image captured from a tree growing in his backyard. This artwork was one of two that shared the first prize in painting at the National Exhibition of Visual Art held at the Umana Yana in 1981. This painting is now part of the National Collection at Castellani House.

Another notable work is “Market Splendour” which was the sole first prize winner at the National Exhibition of Visual Art in 1982.

That painting is also now part of the National Collection.

“Much of my artworks I like to term ‘pictorial designs’ – they maybe floral, abstract, posters, things from nature... I also like landscapes. I am

not really a figure painter. I have gotten a few commissions for these and have sold some of my art,” he explained.

Browne declared that through his art he would like to “show humanity that unity and order can be attained in this chaotic world that we live in...” adding that, “aesthetic order is the objective” in all his art.

Browne views himself more as a designer. When executing an artwork, he allows himself to be guided by the principles of design.

Other than art, Browne also loves music. His main instrument is the guitar. Additionally, he is an avid gardener and creates scenic landscapes. Browne is an artist of different dimensions.

When asked about his inspiration, Browne noted that in “the Fine Arts he is not inspired by humans, but feels divine inspiration.”

Currently, the artist is gearing up to throw a grand one-man exhibition of his art.

"Love Birds"

"Jammin' In Unity". The artist leaves it to the viewer to figure out the theme of this artwork which he views as having a deep meaning.

"A Tropical Scene". A commissioned piece that hangs on one of his U.S. client's walls

"Dark On Light"

"People At Work" was inspired by Browne's observation of a roadwork crew digging.

"Moonlight And Roses, A Dedication To Womanhood"

22 Times Sunday Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

june 9, 2013

Times Heritage

The History of Highbury P

lantation Highbury is now the site of a monument commemorating the arrival of the first group of Indian indentured labourers to Berbice, British Guiana. Two hundred and fifty labourers had sailed from Kolkata (then Calcutta) India on The Whitby to arrive in the colony on May 5, 1838. Four had died along the 96-day journey.

According to some accounts, many of those who returned to India after their indentureship period at Highbury had ended, returned with substantial wealth; paving the way for the Indian indentureship era in Guyanese history, and, according to most scholars, saving the colony from ruin and abandonment.

After the labour vacuum left by freed slaves began to have a disastrous effect on colonial industry particularly the sugar industry, the owners of Plantation Highbury along with a few others including John Gladstone, from Liverpool, England, sent to India for workers to tend their investments.

Henry Davidson, Aeneas Barkly, whose only surviving son Henry Barkly would become the 4th governor of British Guiana (1849-1853), and D.C. Cameron, were the British owners of the plantation. Aeneas Barkly died during the apprenticeship period, and his son Henry took over his father’s affairs.

One hundred and seventeen labourers, including 11 females, ar-

rived at Plantation Highbury on the East bank of the Berbice River to begin their period of indenture on the colony. Their indentures were dated from Dec. 29, 1837.

According to some accounts, by January 1839, a visit by a Justice Macleod to Plantation Highbury found that 15 males and two females had since died, and some 10-15 were on the “sick list”. The surviving labourers were described as “cheerful and contented”. By November 1839, mortality rates at the plantation included 17 males and one female, with 12 on the sick list. Others had run away several times, despite reports of the good treatment of coolies on the plantation.

Official colony records stated that 22 persons from the original first batch had died on Plantation Highbury, either from drowning, excessive drinking, dysentery or gangrene, to name a few, while two had run away. Colony records also note that the Highbury Pln labourers reared the most livestock than anywhere else on the colony; both for their own food and to sell.

In January 1843, Davidson wrote to Lord Stanley that “the first-class ship “Louisa Baille”” was returning to India with a batch of former indentured workers from Highbury estate. This was after a flurry of letters from colony governor Henry Light to Lord Stanley in England, conveying the increasing uneasiness of the workers who were still in

the colony awaiting their journey back home after serving out their contracts.

Colony records estimate that 81 Highbury labourers returned to India on the “Louisa Baille”, while nine chose to remain on

not the original name of the estate, nor were its British owners its original landlords. The estate initially belonged to the Berbice Association, a Dutch association formed in 1720 similar to the East India Company (of Hindustan) to

A replica of the Whitby at Highbury during this year’s May 5 commemorations

the colony. There were also eight women, seven boys and two girls on the return trip, of which all but two children were born on the colony. Between the 81 labourers, the group was returning with some $8,536, while four of the nine remaining had no savings at the time.

But Plantation Highbury was

expand cultivation within the colony and which was a substantial slave owner on the colony.

The Berbice Association, though with allegiance to Holland, were proprietors who governed the territory and could sell lands, described as lots or grants, to private owners willing to establish plantations. The association also retained lands on which they established what they called “model estates”. These model estates, known as “Society’s ground” or “Society’s Plantations”, are also referred to as “Colony Estates” on some maps.

When the colony was captured by the British, there were

Preserving our heritage through pictures Catholic Church, Plaisa[u]nce Village, [East Coast] Demerara.

British Guiana (Postcard) nd jss.org

four such estates under the association, and an agreement was made between the two sides that these were to be treated as private rather than government property.

These four estates were called Dageraad, St Jan, Dankbaarheid and Sandvoort, and remained association property until November 1818 when they were sold to Cameron, Davidson and Barkly, partners of the English company Davidson’s, Barkly & Co. The partners in this purchase then divided the properties among themselves. Cameron, along with a friend, took Sandvoort, then a large coffee estate in Canje.

Sandvoort would later be divided into two; of which one half was converted into a sugar estate named “Lochaber” after the Scottish headquarters of the Camerons.

The other three plantations remained with Barkly and Davidson, though Dageraad, a sugar plantation, after a period was handed over to the government as a leper asylum or colony.

St Jan, originally a coffee plantation, and Dankbaarheid , a sugar estate, were united and renamed Highbury, after Barkly’s place, Highbury Grove, in Middlesex (then an English county) near London.

In addition, according to the book “Frustrated Peasants, Marginalized Workers: Free African Villages in Guyana” by Wazir Mohamed, sometime between 1847 -1848, 100 acres of Crown Land in Highbury were communally purchased by former slaves. Between 1853 and 1880, writes Walton Look Lai in his book “The Chinese in the West Indies, 1806-1995: A Documentary History”, Highbury Plantation also indentured Chinese workers.

Today Highbury is a small village at the culmination of an annual trek by those commemorating the arrival of East Indians in Guyana.

Brain Teaser Answer

Dozens SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

CROSSWORD

guyanatimesgy.com

june 9, 2013

Times Sunday Magazine 23

Times Travel & Tourism

Boats in Moruca ready to transport visitors to the expo

T

he committee of the Moruca Expo 2013 is inviting tourists, locally and internationally, to join in celebrating the rich heritage of the indigenous people of the Moruca village.

The festivities this year will commence on July 27 and will be filled with new games and entertainment. Many can also take the opportunity to visit the various communities in the area and surrounding villages, and soak in the colourful culture of the people.

Some features which will be highlights of the event are the upright bicycle race, road run competition, archery, slingshot, paddle and craft making, face painting, viewing the Piaiman Pot, strong man competition, strong woman competition, fish trap demonstrations, H’aichisiro (pepper sauce eating) competition and the widely anticipated Miss Moruca Pageant.

The village of Moruca, in Region One, is a centre of dazzling beauty and community cohesion. It maintains a police station, hospital, post office and a cluster of shops, and speed boat services.

The village is home to a number of Guyana’s fascinating ecotourism wonders:

numerous bird species, endangered turtles, glimpses of other wildlife species native to the collection of communities that constitute the Moruca sub-region, and meandering waterways that harbour little marvels of their own.

An ideal location to visit after the expo is Santa Rosa. It is located in Moruca and is a collection of small islands that are distinct in the rainy season when the savannah floods, but linked by paths and bridges in the dry season.

The boat ride into Santa Rosa from Charity is comfortable and well worth the time. Sail up the mouth of the Pomeroon, up the coast, then back inland up the Moruca river through a tunnel of trees with immense roots later opening into savannah with floating reed beds and trees where the boatmen speed over vegetation mats.

The beautiful village of Moruca is quiet and peaceful and ideal for nature walks, swimming, canoeing and boat rides.

Breathtaking boat rides in and around Moruca would help you connect with the people and nature. The people are welcoming and nature is lush so mark your calendar for the upcoming Moruca Expo.

Tourists crossing the Kumaka bridge, Moruca, to join in the expo celebrations

Moruca residents observe a game of archery at last year's expo

The crowd gathered at last year's pageant at Moruca Expo

Having fun during a boat race on the Moruca river

24

Times Sunday Magazine

june 9, 2013

guyanatimesgy.com

Times Last Laugh

The Kitchen can be an Unfriendly Place

By Melvin Durai

F

eeling brave the other day, I ventured into the kitchen and attempted to cook something.

That was a big mistake, because I wasn’t alone. My wife, Malathi, was watching me closely -- like an examiner at the driver’s license centre – waiting for me to do something incredibly stupid.

She didn’t have to wait long.

"Why are you using frozen vegetables when we have so many fresh vegetables?"

"I always use frozen vegetables."

"Don’t you know that fresh vegetables are more nutritious than frozen vegetables?"

"I ... well ... uh ..."

I felt like an accused murderer who had just been declared insane.

Malathi: "Your honour, my husband is definitely insane. He used frozen vegetables to make a stir-fry meal. Do you need any more proof?"

Judge: "No, you’ve proved your case well. It’s too bad you married a guy who’s clueless in the kitchen."

Malathi: "Trust me, your honour, that’s not the only room he’s clueless in."

I don’t know why Malathi brought up nutrition. Had

she ever seen me snacking on bean sprouts? Had I ever eaten a cucumber for dessert? In my world, such foods barely exist. I hurry past them in the grocery store as though they’re carrying something contagious.

Needless to say, I was soon fired from my temporary job as cook, dismissed without a single pay check.

Malathi took over the cooking, tossing all sorts of fresh veggies into a hot wok and probably wishing she could toss me in there, too. The bag of frozen veggies was returned to the freezer, where it will likely remain until at least 2005, the next time I try to cook something.

Let this be a warning to all men: If you live with a woman, the kitchen is dangerous territory. You’d be safer in the Australian outback, wrestling with crocodiles. At least when they snap at you, it won’t hurt your pride.

Before you even think about cooking, ask yourself an important question: Wouldn’t you rather save yourself a lot of trouble, as well as embarrassment, by choosing a better alternative, such as starvation?

Just look at all the tools and gadgets in the kitchen and admit to yourself that you have no idea what some of them do. No, the big slotted spoon isn’t used to keep knives from sliding down

the drain. And the flat wooden spoon isn’t used to swat the flies. It’s used to swat the husband.

Don’t even bother with all the seasonings and spices. How can men be expected to understand coriander, cumin, oregano and thyme, when we’re still trying to figure out salt and pepper?

My wife has so many spices in so many bottles, I’m beginning to think she’s a collector. Some seasonings seem so similar (try saying that 50 times). We’ve got not just garlic powder, but also garlic salt, and soon we’ll be getting garlic breath.

And what about the refrigerator? If you can identify everything in there, you deserve a presidential medal of honour. Aside from occasionally fishing out the ice cream, I’m afraid to look through our freezer. It has far too many UFOs (unidentified frozen objects). Some have been frozen since at least the Mesozoic Era. You see, my wife has a problem, one that more people should have. She hates to waste food. When we have leftovers, she says, "We shouldn’t waste this," and she packs it up and sticks it somewhere in the refrigerator, where it will easily be found one day by archaeologists.

Well, at least they’ll know we were concerned about nutrition.

The Rivals

A professor was one day walking along a very narrow path when he came face to face with a rival. The path was too narrow for two to pass.

The rival, pulling himself up to his full height, said haughtily, "I never make way for fools!"

Smiling, the professor stepped aside and said, "I always do."

A Quick IQ Test

A quick test of intelligence. Don't cheat! Because if you did, the test would be no fun.

There are no tricks to the test.

Read this sentence: FINISHED FILES ARE THE RESULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTIFIC STUDY COMBINED WITH THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS. Now count the F's in that sentence. Count them ONLY ONCE: do not go back and count them again. See bottom of page...

The Bicycle Rider

A man was attempting to ride his bicycle from Phoenix to the Grand Canyon. He made it across the desert without incident, but when he reached the mountains, the steep grade wore him down. So, he decides to hitchhike.

Sometime later, a car approaches and offers the cyclist a ride, but admits, "Your bicycle won't fit in the car."

So, he opens his trunk and takes out a piece of rope. Then, he ties one end of the rope to the bicycle and the other end to his bumper.

"You've got a horn on your bike... If I go too fast, honk your horn and I'll slow down."

This scheme worked well for several miles, until another car zooms past. Not to be outdone, the driver takes off in pursuit with the bicycle in tow.

Both cars fly through a speed zone and a trooper's radar gun clocks them travelling at 120 mph. The trooper radios ahead to another officer and says, "You've got two vehicles headed your way and they're both doing over 120 mph."

"10-4 good buddy," replies the fellow trooper.

The first trooper hesitates a moment, then adds, "And, you're not going to believe this... there's a guy following on a bicycle and he's honking to pass!"

Bad soloist

An anthropologist was assigned to Borneo, where he found a guide with a canoe to take him up the river to the remote site where he would make his collections.

At noon on the second day of travel up the river they began to hear drums."What are those drums?" asked the anthropologist, knowing he was in cannibal country.

The guide turned to him and said "No worry.

Drums OK, but very bad when they stop."

They both went ghostly pale when the drums suddenly stopped.

The guide crouched in the belly of the canoe and covered his ears.

"Do as I do! Very important!" intoned the guide with great urgency.

"Why? What does this mean?" asked the panicked anthropologist.

"Drums stop! Next come guitar solo!"

The Mosquitoes

Two boys from the city were on a camping trip.

The mosquitoes were so fierce the boys had to hide under their blankets to keep from being bitten.

Then one of them saw some lightning bugs, and said to his friend: "We might as well give up; they're coming after us with flashlights!"

Answer to IQ Test

ANSWER: There are six F's in the sentence.

A person of average intelligence finds three of them If you spotted four, you're above average.

If you got five, you can turn your nose at most anybody.

If you caught six, you are a genius.

There is no catch. Many people forget the "OF"'s. The human brain tends to see them as V's and not F's.

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