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An overview of the first fifty years Page 3

2 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 24, 2016

Times Feature

he late Guyanese linguist Dr. Desrey Fox, often remarked that she enjoyed listening to Guyanese quarrelling in creole because they can become so very creative and expressivein their manipulation of the English language. This has been made possible because of a history of forced and voluntary migration over the centuries. The change from not understanding their captors or employers to pidgin (a “linguistically simplified” way of communicating when users of two or more languages don’t understand each other) to creole has undergone transformations, adaptations and innovations, and continues to do so today. Indeed, whether in quarrel or in friendly conversations, Guyanese Creole expressions are an innovative collection that has been passed down generations – though some may have become archaic or obsolete today as new expressions and ideas develop,often simply because language, like time, changes. If you have ever confessed to “working your liver-string out”then you know you may have also told yourself that you “hollered your

The late Dr. Desrey Fox

liver-string out” (and no one is listening to you –think of your kids). So many Guyanese may have heard and/or used the expression – but what exactly is a “liver-string”? Richard Allsopp, in his “Dictionary of Caribbean English Usage” (1996) defines a “liver-string” as a Guyanese “inoffensively jocular”, term that means an (imagined) vital source of human energy. So if you worked, or hollered, your liver-string out then you have essentially exhausted yourself. Allsopp also notes that in Tobago, “liver” means belly. Another apparently uniquely Guyanese expression is “eye-pass”, and, as Dr. Fox would have noticed while listening to quarrels,

a very dangerous thing to do that could have serious repercussions on the one doing the perceived “eyepass”. For Guyanese, to eye pass another is to show deliberate and brazen, insulting behaviour to an older person or someone socially equal or superior; to be rude, Allsopp states. Sometimes it may be expressed as “eyes-pass”: “She eyes-pass me if she tink she kyan come hay and taak to me like dat…” Another expression is “take your eyes and pass” (me/someone) or “take your eyes pass” (me/someone): “Doan tink yuh kyan tek yuh eyes and pass me…” or “mek your eyes pass” (me/ someone). In fact there are seemingly several other uses for the eyes in Guyanese Creole: there is “eye-water” (tears); “eye-turn” (dizziness); “cut up your eye at (me/someone) – a gesture of contempt described by Allsopp as “shown by looking at the person and closing [the] eyes while turning [the] face sharply away.” Then there is “eye up”, usually where a man watches a woman amorously; or even in the sense of “don’t eye-up meh food” (don’t keep looking at/coveting

what I am eating). In addition, you must have heard of “me and she eyes mek four” to mean they both looked at or saw each other the same time; or “four-eye”, a derogatory term for someone who wears spectacles. And let’s not forget “full yuh eye” (to satisfy oneself or be satisfied by someone else’s looks etc. says Allsopp) or the phrase “eyes don’t meet” to describe estrangement: “Since they had the row their eyes don’t meet.” A more archaic term is “bless my eyes”, which meant how fortunate it is to see someone or something again. It seems we may be able to write a book on the use of “eye (s)” in Guyanese Creole because there are still more language uses for this body part. Still in use is the Guyanese noun “kangalang” that Allsopp describes as a “good-for-nothing, ne’er do well person”, guaranteed to cause derisive laughter from everyone but the person being called such. According to Harold Bascom in his “101 Words that tell you're a Guyanese” (2015), a “kangalang” is how Guyanese may describe “a male with a reputation of a streetfighter…a bad-man”. You can’t miss the extreme variation in meaning there. Between Allsopp’s and Bascom’s definitions there is an obvious transformation of that expression. While some older Guyanese may use the expression “haul yuh tail”, the more vulgar version, relating to a donkey (which can’t be printed because of its still socially unacceptable profanity) also means “get out of my sight” or “move from around me”. “Carry your tail”, “move your tail” or “get a cut tail” are all more socially acceptable variations of the more

vulgar form – the latter which we’re sure Dr. Fox would have heard while listening to Guyanese quarrel. “To get a cut tail” means to get a severe whipping or “licks” in Guyanese parlance. The word “bad” has also seen creative use in creole such as “bad-name”, “badmouth”, “bad-talk” and “bad-mind”. A “bad-name” is a bad reputation; to “badmouth” someone is to bring misfortune on them, and to “bad-talk” someone is to spread malicious gossip about them. “Bad-mind” or “bad-minded” is to be unkind, vindictive or envious. A “brygah”, notes Harold Bascom can have several connotations, including someone who is “a phony ‘big shot’” or someone who plays both sides for his own gain. It is not just a creative exchange of words in a Guyanese quarrel, there can also be accounts of one that escalates further: “Trevon chuck Marlon suh Marlon go fuh scramble he.Den Trevon uncle run up and tell Trevon fuh humble heself…” Sometimes an argument can often lead to a

“scramble”, which means s o m e o n e was roughly grabbed, or there was a fight, especially if someone also “get chuck” (is pushed). Before that worsens someone may suggest the other “humble” him/herself, (sometimes with the “h- dropping”) which means he/she should take it easy, calm down, or try to be respectful. An alternative is a “beat up”, where someone gets a sound thrashing. “Beatup” also describes something that looks well-used to the point of almost destroyed. It also describes someone, a woman especially, who looks haggard and older then she is: “I see Nalini last week. I ent see she since I ent no wen but she look bad, real beat-up.” There are many words and expressions that can be traced to Guyana’s slavery, indentureship and colonial heritage, and this merging has led to the creole that has become one of our common bonds. However, while it is not just Guyanese but the entire Caribbean that has its myriad unique forms of expression based on the English language, the debate about the use of Creole English or Caribbean Creole remains an ambivalent issue among the region’s linguists and society.

Bascom’s book cover detail

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APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

Times Feature

An overview of the first fifty years By Lennox J Hernandez

pon Independence in May 1966, this country issued its first set of Guyana postage stamps (along with the existing 1954 British Guiana stamps overprinted with the words “Guyana Independence 1966”). The postage stamps of Guyana during its first fifty years as an independent country may be divided into three distinct periods: (1) May 1966 to early 1981, when the vast majority of stamps portrayed our history, society and culture; (2) mid-1981 to late 1989, when the Post Office printed few new stamps and resorted to overprinting and surcharging earlier issues; and (3) late 1989 to the present, when many new stamps were issued, with relatively little of Guyana highlighted.

Celebrating Guyana (1966-1981)

Soon after the introduction of postage stamps in 1840, countries began using them to portray details about the country in particular.

15 stamps featuring our flora, such as the pitcher plant of Mt Roraima. Early commemoratives include the November 1967 and January 1968 issues featuring Millie, the macaw that had gained some notoriety in Canada when sent as part of our exhibit to the 1967 Montreal Exposition – Millie had learnt to swear in English and French and had to be returned home! Guyana’s early stamps also celebrated our religious diversity, for example: Phagwah (February 1969) Youman Nabi (April 1972) and Deepavali (October 1976) while Easter and Christmas stamps were issued almost every year. Though our postage stamps were (and still are) printed overseas, local artists, including Marjorie Broodhagen, Cletus Henriques and Ron Savory, designed a number of our early issues. Two of Broodhagen’s works are the 4th Anniversary of the Republic (1974) issue, and the August 1974 Guyana Girl Guides 50th Anniversary issue. Henriques designed at

1997 CBJ 50th year Parliament

Overprinting and Surcharging (1981-1989)

During the 1980s Guyana was experiencing a financial crisis; the Post Office implemented an austerity programme, printing few new stamps, resorting instead to locally overprinting and surcharging numerous earlier issues (including British Guiana stamps) to celebrate events and to change postage values. (Any printing

1969 Phagwah

Quite appropriately then, the first Guyana stamps depicted the country’s map and new flag, and it’s new Coatof-Arms. The second issue (October 1966) commemorated the Bank of Guyana Building that was opened in October 1966; followed by the February 23, 1967 issue honouring the unique and highly-prized British Guiana 1c Black on Magenta stamp of 1856. On March 4, 1968 our first set of definitive postage stamps (for regular use) were issued. This comprised 15 stamps, featuring local fishes, birds and animals, such as the piranha, the harpy eagle and the ocelot. Our second set of definitives was issued in 1971-76 –

least three issues: the 10th Independence Anniversary (May 1976), the 1976 Deepavali Festival, and that celebrating the 2nd World Black and African Festival of Arts and Culture held in Lagos, Nigeria in 1977 (the last was issued after Henriques’ death in 1976). The first Guyanese to be honoured on a Guyana postage stamp was the first executive President, L F S Burnham, who was portrayed on the 5c stamp of the first Republic Day (February 23, 1970) issue, and again on the April 27, 1978 issue, which celebrated the 25th anniversary of his entry into Parliament.

over the original design of a stamp is an “overprint” while an overprint that changes the value of a stamp is called a “surcharge”.) The first Guyana stamp to be overprinted was the 1975 10c Namibia Day stamp that featured the African Freedom Fighters’ Monument in Kingston, Georgetown; overprinted “1981 Conference” with a new value of $1.05, it was issued on May 04, 1981. This overprinted stamp had a second surcharge later in 1981, and again in 1983. Because of overprinting and further overprinting, some Guyana stamps have gone through several “lives” as “new” and separate issues, prompting philatelic writ-

ers such as James Buchan (Gibbons Stamp Monthly of March 1998) to comment adversely on Guyana’s “liberal use of the overprint.” Take the 1972 1c Pitcher Plant of Mt Roraima stamp, for example; in 1982 the stamp was converted to an airmail stamp with the overprint “AIR / Princess of Wales /1961-1982” and the value changed to 220c; then, in 1984, the 1982 overprint was partially obliterated and the stamp overprinted with “ITU DAY / 1984” and surcharged with a new value of 25c. Non-postage stamps such as revenue stamps, and the National Defence Bonds (Saving) Scheme stamps were also overprinted for postage use during this time – the latter was overprinted in 1982 and carried the patriotic slogan “Essequibois ours.” Towards the end of this period a new trend emerged: celebrating events very distant to Guyana. For example, 38 stamps were issued in April 1989 to commemorate the Gold Medallists at the 1988 Winter Olympics, held in Calgary, Canada; these were overprints on the 1978 10c archonias Bellona (a butterfly) stamp. A very appealing set of new stamps issued during 1985-87 is the “Orchids from Reichenbachia by Sanders” a selection of 1886 watercolour paintings of orchids from around the world, then being classified and recorded by leading 19th century botanist, Heinrich Gustav

Reichenbach in Germany. About 300 stamps in the set, these would make a fascinating thematic collection. Among the new stamps at this time also, are the November 1985 issue to celebrate Clive Lloyd’s Testimonial Year, and the December 1986 issue in remembrance of L F S

become non-Guyanese and even non-Caribbean. We produced so many stamps that in January 1998, “Linn’s Stamp News” listed Guyana as having topped the world from 1994 to 1996 in issuing postage stamps: 530 in 1994, 497 in 1995 and 321 in 1996. Since then, we have greatly reduced the numbers of stamps issued every year, but the mainly non-Guyanese content remains. These stamps cover many subjects around the world, mostly from the USA. A few, of the very many, are: Olympic Gold Medal Winners (August 1991 – over 72 stamps), Donald Duck posters (December 1993 – about 56 stamps), Babe Ruth – the USA baseball player (February 1995 – about 12 stamps), Disney Cartoon characters (1995, 1996, 1997 – over 90 stamps), Betty Boop (2000 and 2001), and the 100th anniversary of the Cadillac (2003). Some relevant stamp is-

UG 50th Anniversary (2014)

Burnham who had died the year before.

Many new stamps, little celebration of Guyana (1989-2016)

From late 1989 there was a significant decrease in overprinted stamp issues, and the production of Guyana’s postage stamps entered a new phase that has continued to this day. Many new stamps have been produced, but few of the subjects portrayed are really “ours” - the subjects portrayed have increasingly

sues (of the very few) during this time are: 150th Anniversary of the Anglican Diocese in Guyana (1992), the first recipients of the Order of the Caribbean Community (1993 and 1994), Dr Cheddi B Jagan, President of Guyana (1993 and 1997), 180th Anniversary of St Andrew’s Kirk, Georgetown (1998), and Eddy Grant in 2005. In addition, a few Guyanese personalities, our flora and fauna, have been included in stamp issues that cover the world. For continued on page 5

Guyana Stamps - early celebrations

Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 24, 2016

Times Feature

Eze Ogueri deplanes on British Guiana soil

he British Guiana League of Coloured Peoples established itself in the 1930s, with one of its aims to bring a sense of awareness and pride, to the coloured inhabitants of British Guiana, of their history and heritage. Although it was generally focused on African pride, the B.G. league itself comprised any race or creed on the colony, who sought to ensure a sense of pride and purpose in all British Guiana races. After the end of the Second World War, the League saw a need to provide the African Guianese populace with a representative who could help in-

stil this sense of pride, reasoning that if the East Indians were already successful in bringing distinguished individuals to Guyana to encourage the East Indian identity, they could also. It was at the end of 1950 that the League would bring that young representative for a seven-day visit, and his reception by the African Guianese community reportedly surpassed the hopes of any of the executives who had planned the event. Eze A. Ogueri was a young Nigerian chieftain from ObibiEzena, of that country’s Owerri Province. He was the grand-

son of a famous and well-respected Ibo, Nigerian chief, the late Ogueri Nwokoro I. A recent college graduate, Eze was about to enter Harvard University for graduate studies in political science, after a Nigeria government scholarship to one of Nigeria’s leading schools began his academic career. Eze had received recognition as an ambitious and hardworking” “cub reporter” working for the Associated Newspapers of Nigeria as well as correspondent and commentator for a local radio station. As a student at the U.S. Adelphi College, he was also well-known for his public speeches, interviews and appearances on newsreels and television. However, his planned arrival in British Guiana was not without its detractors. While the League had original hoped for an AugustSeptember visit, a Mr. Frederick Seal-Coon, editor of the Daily Argosy of Georgetown, waged a “calculated campaign” to discredit the league and discourage the visit. Indeed, some today still view Eze and his visit “controversial”. It is said that Seal-Coon dispatched a “news feature” citing “Washington sources” who spoke with a “news agent”

Eze (centre) with League executives. He was proclaimed Eze Ogueri II in 1952 by the Obibi -Ezena

and further reinforced his distinguished character, the date was even more certain. On Dec. 26, 1950, Eze Ogueri and his entourage touched down at then Atkinson Airstrip to be greeted as one reporter records: “As Eze took the first step out, it seemed as if a cask of inflammables had been ignited. The air resounded with shouts, cheers, and singing, and a band played. A sea of faces, and flags waving ‘Eze flags and scarves’ greeted him, while press photographers’ flashbulbs were popping from all sides.” Eze Ogueri was considered

the first African of noble blood to arrive in British Guiana in some two centuries. According to one account, many African Guianese were fearful even up to then that he was not on the plane, after having their hopes dashed when the previous August-September visit was cancelled. On the 26-mile journey to Georgetown, the cavalcade saw many of the villages festooned with colourful flags and banners in honour of Eze. The first scheduled stop was the village of Soesdyke where African drumming welcomed him and a Yoruba woman greeted him in the Yoruba language. Another scheduled stop was at Grove where the African Methodist Episcopal (Zion) Church had planned a small program for Eze. However, the crowds bracing the cars were so much that his security feared for his life and the procession was forced to move on. Eze could only manage a few informal words of greeting and thanks from his car before waving goodbye with the promise of returning sometime during the one-week visit. It was the same at several other villages. The crowds became more intense as the convoy came closer to the city. At La Penitence, people were shouting, “Awee king!” and “Hail

Eze!” as they escorted the car through the streets, their crushing numbers forcing pleas from the police not to spoil the welcome with their enthusiasm. Eze would finally reach the Georgetown home of Dr. Miller, who was an Americantrained African Guianese physician, well-respected on the colony, and Eze’s host during the visit. The doctor’s house was secured not just by its privacy hedges but also by many police and secret service men who ensured the crowds outside did not attempt to disturb the guest within. Many though remained outside the home for the entire visit, singing and generally celebrating. Upon arrival in the capital city, one of Ogueri’s first scheduled appearances was to meet the press – the Daily Argosy however, was not among them. In the evening he spoke at the first official meeting for his visitby the League, with the crowd outside the Enterprise High School, then on Camp Street, surging to see him. This was just the beginning of what has been called “seven amazing days in the life of Eze A. Ogueri II”. (Source: “Seven amazing days in the life of Eze A. Ogueri II” compiled by League of Coloured Peoples (British Guiana), 1954)

The crowd at Camp Street hoping to catch a glimpse of Eze. “I am overwhelmed”, he is quoted as saying about his reception. He had to be lifted shoulder-high by police to get past the crowds to his car

and “editor” stating that Eze was actually a “nobody” so local public opinion had forced the cancellation of his visit. Despite the Nigerian government’s eventual clarification of the matter, the newspaper never printed a retraction. This controversy and confusion resulted in the visit being rescheduled by League executives and Eze, tentatively at first, to a Christmas visit. But after a letter signed by many of the leaders of Obibi – Ezena was published that endorsed Eze and his reputation

People swarm Eze’s car as he enters the city

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APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 5

Times Women

caling hills, traversing muddy roads through bushes under the sweltering sun in Mabaruma, Region One, and still looking flawless in six-inch stilettos, Divya Yabindranauth was able to spread joy and hope. The 20-year-old is an aspiring model, a humanitarian and individualist, and is currently competing in the Miss World Guyana 2016 pageant representing Region One (Barima-Waini). Raised in Tucshen Housing Scheme, East Bank Essequibo, Divya migrated to the United States at the age of 13. Shepresentlyresides in Houston, Texas, with her par-

has been a part of the Saving Hands Emergency Aid, Inc. (SHEA), a charitable organisation in the U.S., where she helpssource financial aid and medical treatment for individuals in dire need of medical care. “I was raised in Guyana and have seen the struggle some of my fellow Guyanese face when it comes to healthcare and finding adequate treatment, and from a very young age I vowed to one day make a measurable difference. Two years ago, I joined forces with SHEA with the mission of providing financial medical assistance coupled with pro-bono or subsidized

needs of people in that region, Divya met with Regional Chairman, Brentnol Ashley. Divya outlined the focus of her BWP and SHEA, which was applauded by the Regional Chairman. Ashley told her that the region does not have “certain services or agencies and lacks financial resources” to help the people of Region One adequately, particularly those in remote areas, so he hopes her visit to the area will bring much attention to the needs of his people. Additionally, she officially launched her BWPin the village of White Water (Region One) where she met with Having fun with the children, holding their gifts, of White Water Nursery

Handing over a hamper to Martha and Sydney Carvio

ents and two younger brothers, and works at W-Industries in Texas as an administration assistant, while also pursuing her degree in Business Management. While Divya is passionate about developing herself academically, she feels equally passionate about helping others, especially children. She spends much of her free time with children at hospitals, and is involved in outreach programmes through her church. Additionally, Divya

medical treatment for families in need,” Divya said in an interview with Sunday Times Magazine. As the Regional Director for SHEA in Guyana, Divya assists with finding treatment services, raising funds, meeting with patients and others for interactions on a one-on-one level. During her recent visit to Region One to launch her Beauty with a Purpose (BWP), an integral aspect of the pageant, and find out the

the village toshao Cleveland DeSouza and the villagers, who warmly welcomed her. A sports event was held in her honour, where Divya awarded winners with trophies and hampers, among other prizes. She also interacted with teachers and students of the nursery and primary schools there and handed out large gift bags of stationery to the students. Venus Jordon, a teacher at White Water Primary school and the village’s secre-

tary, disclosed that the school supplies Divya donated were much-needed as the schools lack such vital items. Jordon added that parents would usually hold food sales at the schools to raise funds to purchase school supplies. She expressed her gratitude to Divya, and said she hopes the area can receive such support from others. Divya was also able to meet Sydney and Martha Carvio, age 78 and 73 respectively. Martha is blind and Sydney is tasked with the responsibilities of a breadwinner and caretaker, which is difficult due to his age and limited financial resources. Divya gave them a food hamper and promised to visit the couple when she is back in the area. Venturing into remote areas of the region, the humanitarian visited Aracura and Black Water where she handed out food hampers and learned how to bake cassava bread on a ‘fireside’ – an experience she will cherish forever. In Aracura, she met tenyear-old Carlos Domingo who sustained bodily inju-

ries due to a fall. According to his mother, Carlos cannot attend school because of a piece of steel, placed in his hand due to a fracture, protruding from his elbow. This also prevents him from enjoying his childhood as the protrusion causes infection and unbearable pain. The mother pleaded for Divya’s help in finding medical treatment for her son as she lacks the financial resources to do so. Divya is currently in talks with SHEA to provide help for Carlos. On April 21, Divya met with Eric Antinucci and Mark Houston from the U.S. Embassy's Humanitarian Assistance Program to discuss how they can collectively collaborate to provide adequate medical care to the people of Region One and Guyana. “I would like to take a moment to personally express my sincere gratitude to both Mr. Antinucci and Mr. Houston for meeting with me to discuss this partnership and allowing me to be a part of this program. Also, special thank you to Bobby Adelson, public affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy Guyana, for making this meeting possi-

ble. I would also like to thank the Regional Chairman, Mr. Ashley for his support while in Mabaruma, and Toshao DeSouza and the people of White Water for their warm welcome in launching my BWP,” she stated. Divya pointed out that she entered the Miss World Guyana 2016 competition “fully confident” that she can and will represent her homeland as she has represented SHEA, whereby she personally made a difference in the lives of those who cannot otherwise help themselves. Leading up to the Miss World Guyana 2016 pageant, Divya will be meeting with various individuals and organisations in an effort to spread awareness on her BWP and other humanitarian activities. “I ask for your kind and generous support as I embark on this journey to represent Guyana on a world stage and continue our efforts to save lives through the SHEA Foundation,” she implored. Visit Barima-Waini on Facebook for more information on Divya’s journey in the Miss World Guyana pageant.

from page 3

1970 LFS Burnham

example: in July 1993, a set of six miniature sheets with nine stamps each, was issued to celebrate famous people around the world and included Nelson Mandela, Pablo Picasso, Gandhi, John F Kennedy and Winston Churchill. Three Guyanese were celebrated in this issue – Desmond Hoyte, Rohan Kanhai and Adrian Thompson, along with two Caribbean personalities. This trend of producing stamps of mainly non-Guyanese content continues in recent times. In 2014 for example, there were at least 44 issues, including stamps featuring President Obama of the United States of America, His Holiness St Francis, Nelson Mandela, and Elvis Presley. Only five issues in 2014 portrayed aspects of Guyana, including the University of Guyana’s 50th Anniversary

(a year late, however) and the famous British Guiana 1c Magenta which was auctioned in 2014 for an amazing price of US$9.5 million, “making it the most expensive item in the world by weight.” In 2016, our Golden Jubilee Year, various stamps have been issued covering themes such as history, the built heritage and flora. However, the trend of issuing large numbers of stamps with non-Guyanese subjects needs to be reversed; there is much that we can showcase on our stamps, let us so do. Update of an article entitled “Guyana’s Philatelic Tradition: The First Forty Years of Guyana’s Postage Stamps.” published in the Guyana Review. Vol 14, no 163, July 2006, pp 28 & 30.) (Cover photo: Jubilee First Day stamps – 1 of 3 (2016)) Guyana Independence overprints - a selection

6 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 24, 2016

Times Book World

Ryhaan Shah Part I

By Petamber Persaud

(“Welcome to Guyana” is a new series focusing on books written in such a way as to invite non-Guyanese to explore and discover this land of many waters and to reawaken interest in Guyanese to the glories of this country via its geography, history, culture, architecture, economic bounties, and its potential….This series is dedicated to the 50th Independence Anniversary)

' just discovered that there are scores and scores of Guyanese books with the same title. Of course, it was a pleasant surprise. But after being involved in Guyanese literature for more than two decades, the discovery was little more than just a pleasant surprise. It was a jolt, a call to invest more interest, time and research; to perhaps write another book on Guyanese literature. How could I have overlooked such a thing: scores and scores of Guyanese books with the same title: “Welcome to Guyana”. This welcome is exhibit-

ed in various ways: the way the books repose,exuding authority in various fields, bending over backwards in welcome, saying ‘pick me up, buy me, borrow me, take me home, cuddle up with me; let’s travel from Pakaraima peaks of power to Corentyne’s lush sands, from the magnificent Kaieteur to hallowed halls of the St George’s Cathedral – one of the world’s tallest wooden building, from nesting place of endangered sea turtles on Shell Beach to the nesting sanctuary of the harpy eagle, from the petroglyphs and oldest rock formations in the world in the Rupununito monstrous steel and concrete world of the city, from the peace of Iwokrama – the lungs of the world to rumbling of lot 12, from the Ancient County where Edgar Mittelholzer was born to the shrine of Martin Carter inDemerara to the Cinderella County where Sheik Sadeek was born, …from the deep watery burrows of MassacurraMan to keyholes that Ole Higue passes through….’ This welcome is exhibited in different ways through various books from the first book “The Discovery of Guyana” by

Mark Mcwatt

Walter Ralegh to books soon to be released like “Children of Watooka” by Steve Connolly; “Guyana at 50” – the official coffee table book, and “Made in Guyana” by Petamber Persaud. Between 1596 and 1966, there were many Guyanese books published with the same title: “Welcome to Guyana”. Here is a short list as we come together to celebrate Guyana Independence Jubilee. “The Berbice Uprising 1763” by A.J. McR. Cameron “Kaywana Trilogy” and “Corentyne Thunder” by Edgar Mittelholzer “The Wild Coast” by Jan Carew “Albion Wilds” by J. W. Chinapen “Guiana Boy” by Peter Kempadoo “The Last English Plantation” by Jan Shinebourne “Hendree”s Cure” by Moses Nagamootoo “A Silent Life” by Ryhaan

Shah “The Way we Were, Memories of a British Guiana Childhood” by Margery Kirkpatrick “The Ituni Experience” by Forbes Skinner “Growing up in British Guiana 1945-1964” by Joseph G. Singh “The Sly Company of People who Care” by Rahul Bhattacharya “The Weston Trial” by Dr. Cheddi Jagan “Timepiece” by Janice Shinebourne “Dear Future” by Fred D’Aguiar “Backdam People” by Rooplall Monar “Songof the sugarcanes”written and published by Sheik Sadeek, 1975 “The Guyana Quartet” by Wilson Harris “Tumatumari” by Wilson Harris Wholeof the morning sky”by Grace Nichols “Cosmicdance” by Harischandra Khemraj

Oonya Kempadoo

“Thelanguage of El Dorado”by Mark Mcwatt “Son of Guyana” by Arnold Apple “A Ventriloquist’s Tale”by Pauline Melville, “Ninety Two Days”by Evelyn Waugh “Run softly, Demerara” by Zahra Freeth “Bauxite, sugar and mud” by Patricia Wendy Dathan “Ratoon”by Christopher Nicole, “Buxton Spice”by Oonya Kempadoo, “February 23 Coup”by Chetram Singh, “Black Water People”by Carmen Subryan Grass-root people by Harry Narain “Halfway Tree”by Roy Brummell “Essequibo” by Ian McDonald, “Bundarie Boy” by Sheik Sadeek “Our Lady of Demerara”by David Dabydeen

This short list of books ought to keep you busy for a long, long time. For further reading, please turn to the following books on books: “Bibliography of Literature from Guyana” by Robert E. McDowell, published by Sable Publishing Corp. Arlington, 1975; “The Making of Guyanese Literature” by A. J. Seymour, published in 1978; “Bibliography of Guyana and Guyanese Writers” by Lal Balkaran 2015; and “An Introduction to Guyanese Literature” by Petamber Persaud 2014. Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com What’s happening: Coming soon: “Made in Guyana” a new book by Petamber Persaud. “Made in Guyana” is a pocketbook bursting with a wealth of information and pictures on people, places, and events, and on things made in Guyana.

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APRIL 24 , 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 7

Times Heritage

CONTINUED

here were however, Cruickshank states, generally no such whole purchases in Essequibo, instead many former slaves from Essequibo plantations were involved in the purchase of Berbice and Demerara estates where they were previously placed, or were born and grew up in. Some planters however, retained their estates, unwilling to sell all “as is” or in lots. Cruickshank in his article quotes the argument of these individuals on the latter sale: “How many hours do you think my people will work in the field if I sell them a front lot of land on which they can work themselves?” …They can have a house on the estate so long as they work on the estate: if they won’t work, out they go!” However, with arable land plenty and available, many left the estates and established themselves as freeholders elsewhere.

A group of Africans described in the 1919 Timehri Journal as “Group of Kongos”Mahaicony, Demerara

Front lands

It was an Edward Carbery, owner of Plns. Dageraad, Mocha and Westfield on the Essequibo coast who recognised what was happening and began selling half-acre lots of the front lands of his estates. After emancipation, the plantations were reverting

to bush so Carbery cleared, drained, divided them out and laid down streets. He later established a school, church (included with a clergyman) and a market-place near the divided lots. Within six months, all the front lots were sold and the back lots laid out “with provision-grounds”. On Sept. 25, 1841, Governor Sir

A view from the river of part of New Amsterdam (circa1908)

Broad Street, Georgetown (no date)

Henry Light publicly and officially named the settlement Queen’s Town village. Other settlements to follow on the Essequibo coast from these “front lands sales” included Bush Lot and Daniel’s Town. In addition, Hyde Park and Ruby also developed from front land sales of estates of the same name. In east bank Berbice, villages developed on the front lands of Plns. Glasgow and Edinburgh. In Demerara, Plns. Anna Catherina, De Kinderen, Stewartville and Hague on the WCD became front land villages. Plns. Peter’s Hall, Rome and La Penitence, EBD also sold front lands that became

Not only were back lot owners left to the mercy of the river but front lot owners were also left to deal with the Atlantic Ocean at spring tide. With lands submerged, there were no funds to maintain public roads despite a Commissary’s advice, and eventually infrastructure fell into ruin. In addition, according to “The Guyana Story” by Odeen Ishmael, many white planters had sabotaged black farms in an attempt to force them back onto the plantations. They either destroyed farms by cutting down cultivated crops and fruit trees or flooding the area. After a deliberate period of “hands off” by colonial authorities, described by Cruickshank as resulting from direct orders from Britain, things became so bad in the villages that in 1845 “the first germ of public interference in village affairs” appeared in the form of an Ordinance “to make provision for the keeping in repair the line of public road and bridges passing through and over the front lands of Pln. Dageraad, Mocha and Westerfield respectively, which front lands now form Queenstown.” A fee was proposed to be levied on villagers and became what was then called “the first step towards municipal institutions for the newly established villages of British Guiana…” Plaisance

cally on the estates.

Village purchases

As noted by Cruickshank, one of the most common questions asked was how the former slaves could have afforded to buy plantations and lots. He points out that one reason is that slaves earned money from Sunday markets where they soldvegetables, fruits, pigs, eggs and poultry. They were granted Sunday passes by plantation owners to sell their produce. And although an Ordinance “for a Savings Bank for slaves” was around, most preferred to stash their earnings in their lodgings or bury it in the ground. In fact mention is made of many coins proffered in the purchase of estates that were often “black with the mud in which they were buried.” Another reason noted is that during the apprenticeship period (1834-1838) many were paid overtime wages during harvest periods, such as for coffee berries or cane, when extra work was available; labour was paid “liberally” at these times. Governor Light is reported to have been of the opinion that it was this exaggerated pay that encouraged blacks to have an exaggerated idea of labour costs after emancipation.

Front lands of Eve Leary Plns Thomas and Kitty (“Some account of the last yellow fever epidemic of British Guiana, 1852” by Daniel Blair)

villages. The front lands of Pln. Thomas Lands, taken up by freeholders, became Albert Town. Once plantation owners however, neglected or abandoned their estates, front lands owners faced dire prospects, especially with regard to sea and river defences, road and drainage maintenance. Two cases illustrated by Cruickshank involved the De Kinderen (EBD) and Buse’s Lot, Berbice estates where front lots of operational coffee plantations were sold then the plantations were abandoned, leaving overgrown weeds and worse yet the collapse of the koker and river dams.

in 1849 eventually received a similar Ordinance. In 1859 a general ordinance was passed that granted colonial authority to levy rates on all estates, which included the front and back lots within. That ordinance however was repealed in 1866 by Sir Francis Hincks after 17 “not very effectual years” and replaced with another that created a Central Board of Health. Land purchases by the now free blacks are said to have continued until 1852. Ishmael writes that by this time there were some 82,000 blacks “of working age”, of which almost half lived in villages and worked periodi-

Additionally, immediately after emancipation and for several years after – including before indentured labour was steady – competition for labour was highand wages became correspondingly high, since many had withdrawn from the labour force while many others provided “desultory” labour, allowing others to earn and save more money. Today, descendants of these early villagers may see evidence of their fore parents’ independence in the chapels and churches still in many villages, along with the fruit trees and perhaps even houses developed over the years from an ancestral home built from the labour of long gone families.

8 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 24, 2016

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Times Travel & Tourism

ichelle’s Island lies near the Kurupkari ferry landing along the Essequibo River where much interior traffic makes their crossing. Not far from the Iwokrama eco lodge, the island is located next to beautiful rapids and has its own private beach with unique views. It also offers waterfall tours where you can also see ancient indigenous petroglyphs. The island has an

abundance of wildlife, and boats are available for stunning nature trips that include fishing and birding. However, if you prefer, you can relax under the shade of a thatched umbrella and soak in the sights and sounds of nature. To find out more about Michelle’s Island, visit Michelle’s Island Resort on Facebook. (Cover photo: Approaching the island)

Experience the rapids near Michelle’s Island

Michelle's Island on the Essequibo River (bognairadek.pl)

Kurupkari ferry crossing from the Island

View from one of the cabanas

Relax and watch the comings and goings at Kurupkari ferry landing

Night descending across the Island

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 9

Times Healthy Living

Anti-vaccine mum regrets infecting own baby

orld Immunization Week, April 24 30, aims to promote the use of vaccines to protect people of all ages against disease. Immunization saves millions of lives and is widely recognized as one of the world’s most successful and cost-effective health interventions, states the World Health Organisation (WHO). The Close the Immunization Gap campaign celebrates the enormous successes to date in reaching children all over the world with life-saving vaccines, while also stressing the challenges still being faced. The 2016 campaign, the second year of the Close the Immunization Gap campaign, also stresses the need for immunization among adolescents and adults – throughout life.

modate new vaccine introduction. Thisevaluation also assessed the achievements that have occurred since the first EPI evaluation conducted in May2000. According to the PAHO report, no case of polio or yellow fever has been confirmed in Guyana since 1962 and 1968, respectively. No case oflaboratory confirmed measles has been reported since 1991, while the last case of rubella was reported in 1998. Two new antigens (hepatitis B and Hib) were fully introduced into the routine vaccination schedule in 2001.Between 2005 and 2007, the Tdap, inactivated polio (IPV), and pneumococcal vaccines have been introducedfor selected populations. Pneumococcal and rotavirus vaccines for infants were introduced in 2010

It also seeks to draw the world’s attention to the critical importance of reaching vulnerable people living in conflict situations or in the wake of emergencies. The WHO Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) - endorsed by the 194 Member States of the World Health Assembly in May 2012 - has the ambitious goal of reaching universal coverage with vaccines worldwide by 2020. The GVAP aims to accelerate control of vaccine-preventable diseases with polio eradication as the first milestone and step up efforts to eliminate measles, rubella and maternal and neonatal tetanus and other diseases; strengthen national routine immunization programmes to meet vaccination coverage targets; introduce new and improved vaccines, and spur research and development for the next generation of vaccines and technologies.

and 2011. Vaccination coverage of all antigens has increased: DTP3 (Diphtheriatetanus-pertussis)coverage rose from 83 per cent in 1999 to 93 per cent in 2006, and BCG (Bacillus Calmette– Guérin, a vaccine primarily used against tuberculosis) from 91 per cent to 96 per cent in the same period. Local reports state that over the last decade, Guyana has had success with its immunization programme. However, while the national coverage is over 90 per cent, there are still regional areas to be targeted to ensure coverage is maintained. This includesthe small percentage of children under the age of five wholive in the most remote areas of interior regionswho do not receive their immunisation shots. The latest vaccine to be added to the country’s vaccination programme is the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, which seeks to help prevent cervical cancer, and is administered to young girls between the ages of nine and 11. Guyana has moved from focusing solely on children over the last decade to include adolescents and then

The Guyana program

In September 2008, a PAHO team conducted an international evaluation of Guyana’s immunization program (EPI)to assess its strengths and weaknesses, and its capacity to accom-

the entire family. Its health ministry’s motto is “Not any child or family left unvaccinated”, despite the fact vaccines are quite expensive but are administered free of cost in Guyana, unlike in other countries.

Worldwide progress and challenges

According to WHO, the target for introduction of new or under-utilized vaccines is on track worldwide, with 86 low- and middle-income countries introducing 128 vaccines since 2010. In 2015, promising candidate vaccines against Ebola were developed and tested in record time, while Africa has not had a case of wild poliovirus since August 2014 – an enormous achievement that brings the region closer than ever to being certified polio-free India has been declared

free of maternal and neonatal tetanus, demonstrating disease elimination is possible even in challenging circumstances, and the Americas became the first region to eliminate rubella and congenital rubella syndrome. The agency noted however that progress towards reaching the goals of the current ‘Decade of the Vaccine’ has stalled in some countries. Lack of access to health services, a shortage of accurate information about immunization, insufficient political and financial support and inadequate supply of vaccines in some areas all play a part, it revealed. WHO’s statistics show that immunization averts an estimated 2 to 3 million deaths every year from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), and measles. Global vaccination coverage—the proportion of the world’s children who receive recommended vaccines— has remained steady for the past few years, whileapproximately 18.7 million infants worldwide are still missing out on basic vaccines.

Photo of mother identified as Cormit with baby in a video shared by Gold Coast Health on Facebook

n anti-vaccine advocate who refused immunisations during her pregnancy is now speaking out in favour of vaccinations after accidentally infecting her newborn daughter with whooping cough. Her story has since gone viral as well as featured in news around the world. Identified only as Cormit, the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia woman discussed her regret at not agreeing to the vaccine in a video posted to the Facebook page of Gold Coast Health. "Being the healthy, fit, organic woman that I am, I said ‘Leave me alone, I don’t need this crap’," Cormit said in the video. "I’ve been a very healthy pregnant woman – no problems, no complications, worked, worked out, went to the gym every day, ate healthy, had no deficiencies, had a natural birth and somehow through the last two weeks of my pregnancy I’ve managed to get whooping cough." Following her natural birth, Cormit went to the doctor about a persistent cough and discovered she had contracted whooping cough - which she had also passed on to her newborn daughter, Eva. "Within two weeks the cough became

pretty scary – horror movie, coughing to the point of turning blue, flopping in my hands, can’t breathe, running into hospital," Cormit said. "A lot of suffering for a little tiny, little cute thing that you love so much." Having been at Gold Coast Hospital for three and a half weeks, the new mother said that if she could turn back time she would have gotten immunised. "I got over it very quick, it was nothing for me. But she is into week four and every hour I have to stay here watch her going blue, watch her go blue, watch her cry, and give her oxygen," she said. Australia is currently facing a whooping cough epidemic, with the number of reported cases quadrupling in New South Wales between April and December last year. In Victoria and the ACT, the number of reported cases doubled. The federal government recommends the whooping cough vaccine for pregnant women, babies and children. A booster shot is recommended during the third trimester of pregnancy, as antibodies can transfer to the newborn baby through the placenta.

10 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 24, 2016

Times Fashion

arah Bacchus has been involved in fashion from a very young age in Guyana where she was born. Her mother was a seamstress and Sarah knew early on that fashion was her talent when she would buy fabric to make her outfits. Her mother would cut the fabric and Sarah sewed. Migrating to the U.S, her involvement with fashion would decline but apparently not her passion because she soon returned to the arena and graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology, earned her Fashion Design degree, and obtained several jobs in the in New York City fashion industry. She launched her own collection, 3424-36 in December 2010 and has since been featured in many fashion festivals and designer markets around New York. For more information about 3424-36, check out the website at www.3424-36.com or connect with Sarah Bacchus on Facebook.

Sarah Bacchus

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 11

Star Times Hollywood

hristopher Robert Evans, born June 13, 1981, is an American actor. Evans is best known for his superhero roles as the Marvel Comics characters Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Human Torch in “Fantastic Four”. He began his career on the 2000 television series “Opposite Sex”, moving to film in 2001 with the teen comedy “Not Another Teen Movie”. In 2013, he starred as the lead in the critically acclaimed science fiction action film “Snowpiercer”, and in 2015, he made his directorial debut with the drama “Before We Go”, in which he also starred. He played Captain America again in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (2015), and reprises the role for the 2016 sequel “Captain America: Civil War”.

12 Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 24, 2016

Times Hollywood

Wrestling star death possible “T overdose

Disney’s ‘Jungle Book’ becomes India’s highest-grossing Hollywood film

he Jungle Book”, based on a collection of stories by Rudyard Kipling, earned more than $24 million in ticket sales during its first two weeks in Indian theatres—according to Disney and BoxOfficeIndia. com—making it the highestgrossing Hollywood film of all time here. Disney’s earnings in India are a small slice of the US$357 million “The Jungle Book” has grossed world-wide. The movie has made about US$125 million in its domestic market—the U.S. and Canada— and US$64 million in China. India is its third-biggest market. The Jungle Book’s Indian ticket sales are also not a huge haul compared with last year’s biggest domestic blockbuster, which took in more than twice as much at the box office. But it is a sign U.S. studios are

ormer WWE wrestling star Chyna’s death was reported as a possible overdose to the Los Angeles County coroner’s department, assistant chief coroner Ed Winter told USA Today Sports on Thursday. The late star (born Joan Marie Laurer) was found dead inside her Redondo Beach, California, home on Wednesday, April 20. She was 46. “Officers arrived on scene and discovered a deceased female inside the location,” Redondo Beach police Sgt. Shawn Freeman said in

a news release Thursday. “There are no indications or signs that the death was a result of foul play. From the preliminary investigation, it appears that the deceased passed away prior to being discovered by the friend.” Chyna’s friends and family hadn’t heard from her for days, the release also noted. According to Freeman, events leading up to Chyna’s death are also being investigated by the Redondo Beach Police Department “to determine if the death was natural or accidental.” (USMagazine)

gaining significant traction in the world’s second-most-populous country, a market that has long eluded them. A cartoon series based on Kipling’s tales, which was made in Japan, was hugely popular when it aired on state television in India in the 1990s. Disney wanted to “awaken the Mowgli in every Indian,” said Amrita Pandey, a vice president at Disney in India.

In addition to children, the movie drew “parents, young working adults—everyone who wanted to come see the film. And that happened because we revived their childhood,” she said. The studio composed its own rendition of the animated series’ Hindi theme song, which has become a generational touchstone for Indians now in their late 20s and 30s. Disney’s music video has

racked up more than 5 million views on YouTube. The company also expanded the film’s reach by distributing it dubbed in three local languages—Hindi, Tamil and Telugu—in addition to the English version. The nonEnglish versions accounted for more than half of all ticket sales. “It is really tough to get the numbers if it’s just an English film,” Ms. Pandey said. (WSJ)

Prince treated for drug overdose days before death C elebrity news website TMZ reports that the singer Prince was treated for a drug overdose just days before his death. Last Friday, the singer made headlines when it was revealed that his plane made an emergency landing in Moline, Illinois, just after his Atlanta concert. His reps told media then that he was fighting the flu. However, according to

TMZ, multiple sources in Moline tell them Prince was rushed to a hospital where doctors gave him a "save shot", typically administered to counteract the effects of an opiate. Sources further tell TMZ that doctors advised Prince to stay in the hospital for 24 hours. His people demanded a private room, and when they were told that wasn't possible,he left the hospital although he was “not doing well.” The 57-year-old singer was released 3 hours after arriving and flew home. Authorities in Minnesota

are trying to get the hospital records from Moline to help determine cause of death. Meanwhile, other news reports state that a transcript of the 911 call from Prince's compound reveals the frantic attempts to get

help for the superstar after he was found unresponsive in an elevator Thursday morning. The man who called for an ambulance did not seem to know that Prince's famed home and studio was called Paisley Park and did not know the address – or even what city it is in. The caller, who has not been identified, knew only that he was at "Prince's house." Prince was found unresponsive at 9:43 a.m. on Thursday and pronounced dead at 10:07 a.m. when emergency crews were unable to revive him.

Sunday Times Magazine 13 APRIL 24, 2016

guyanatimesgy.com

Star Times Bollywood

hriya Saran is an Indian film actress, model and presenter. Born September 11, 1982 in Ranipur, India, she has worked in various Indian cinema, including Hindi, Tamil, and Telugu language films, as well as a few films in English, Malayalam and Kannada. Saran made her film debut in 2001 with “Ishtam” and had her first commercial success with the Telugu film “Santosham” (2002).In 2007, Saran starred in “Sivaji: The Boss”, the highest grossing Tamil film at that time. Her following projects include such Tamil films as “Azhagiya Tamil Magan” (2007) and “Kanthaswamy” (2009), as well as high-budget Hindi productions like “Mission Istanbul” (2008). In 2008, Saran played the lead role in the American-Indian co-production “The Other End of the Line”. Apart from her work in films, Saran has been the brand ambassador for several stores across India, endorsing beauty and health products. Among other activities, she has taken part in a number of charity organizations, and has recently opened a spa employing visually challenged people.

14 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 24, 2016

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Times Bollywood

Priyanka Chopra is on Time 100 list, says she's 'Blessed'

uperstar Shah Rukh Khan wants his children, Aryan and Suhana to complete their education first and then have a career in showbiz. "I am a big believer in education, so they (his kids) have to finish studying first. My son will graduate. He has finished his 12th and he will have four years of college. My daughter is in school, she has two years of school and four years of college. The minimum requirement is to graduate," Shah Rukh told PTI in an interview. "If you have an undying passion for films then get into it, not because you are good looking or Shah Rukh Khan's kids or because I am an actor so they also have to be one. These are wrong reasons (to enter films)," the “Dilwale” star said. SRK's friend and frequent collaborator Karan Johar has often said that he would launch Aryan, but the actor says if his children choose to pursue acting then they should do something that will take the Indian cinema forward.

"If they (kids) want to act, I would be very proud as it's my line of work and we will have something to chat about. When I came here, I got into theatre, did television and then I got into films. I have strangely studied for 10 years before becoming a film star," the 50-year-old actor said. "They (kids) will also have to do the same thing; develop a passion, get educated and come back and do something that will take Indian cinema forward. Don't come back or rely on it to take you forward. Indian cinema has helped your dad become a star, now it's the duty of his family to take it forward." The father of three said he would be happy with the career choices his children will make, be it in films or anything else. "People should say they are doing something new, something that Shah Rukh Khan did not know. At this point, my daughter is interested a lot (in films), my son is okay. If they develop passion for films, I will be happy and even if they don't I will still be happy," he said. (TOI)

riyanka Chopra is on Time Magazine's 2016 list of 100 most influential people and, even better, has one of the six special edition covers to herself. The other five covers feature Leonardo DiCaprio, Nicki Minaj, Mark Zuckerberg and Priscilla Chan, Christine Lagarde and Lin-Manuel Miranda. "What a way to start the day," the 33-year-old actress tweeted. "I don't want to be called an actor, I don't want to be called a star," Priyanka says in an interview to Time, "I think that the movies that I do, I'm irreplaceable and the boys are replaceable." Priyanka has swiftly become an international celebrity in the last year after a

starring role on TV show Quantico. She also won a People's Choice award, presented an Oscar, appeared on talk shows hosted by Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon and is now filming her first Hollywood film - Baywatch, opposite Dwayne Johnson, who is also on this year's 100 list. Apart from those on the six covers, showbiz inclusions in the 2016 Time 100 list are Adele, Melissa McCarthy, Charlize Theron, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Kendrick Lamar, Caitlyn Jenner, Oscar issac, Taraji P Henson, Ariana Grande and Idris Elba. Indians who have previously made it to the list include Aamir Khan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and cricketer M S Dhoni. (movies.ndtv.com)

Bollywood stars pay tribute to Prince

hah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Hrithik Roshan, Sonam Kapoor, Abhishek Bachchan and several other Bollywood and TV celebs mourned the death of pop musician Prince who passed away in Minnesota on Thursday, and paid tribute to the star on social media. Many tweets expressed heartbreak and

regret for his premature death. “Another legend says goodbye... RIP Prince, your music will live on forever in my heart” Hazahn Padamsee wrote on Twitter. “Prince. U were actually the King. Thank you for being a friend in good n bad times to millions”, said Hrithik Roshan. (mid-day)

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine

Times Trends

Trending NOW

Star of the week

nderwear as outerwear has become one of 2016’s summer trends that even includes wearing lace slippers as shoes. How far would you go in your outerwear underwear for this trend?

Dress slip or ethereal hot-weather dress?

Dress by Calvin Klein spring/summer 2016

This year’s trend is being described as pale, loose, silky – and on show (Celine spring summer 2016)

The lingerie inspired trend is also called inside-outside dressing (Karl Prouse)

“S

peed Queen” Sharima Khan is a Guyanese race car driver, blazing a trail through traditionally male dominated Guyanese motor racing circles, and driving into local racing history. Originally from Grove on the East Bank Demerara, Sharima can remember having a love for racing since just 8-years old, over the years watching her father, race car driver Haroon, speed around the Timehri circuit. From her first experience driving go-carts and ATVs, there was no looking back. In 2012, she drove her first endurance race with her father to earn top honours. The following year was her debut at the South Dakota Circuit and although she did not place then or in 2014, she was gaining invaluable experience. In November 2015, at age 20, she continued her efforts at racing to finish in second place at the South Dakota Circuit and become the first female Guyanese driver to earn a spot at the winners’ podium. When she is not on the race track, you may find her helping out at her parents’ halaal restaurant or in the garage with her car, a Honda CRX she fondly calls “The Pink Beast”. Sharima hopes to inspire other women to become involved in motor racing and advises young persons to ignore what others may say about them and be brave and work hard to achieve their goals.

16 Sunday Times Magazine

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 24, 2016

Times Art

Samuels’ family members along with former Castellani House curator, Elfrieda Bissember, at his posthumous 2004 exhibition (Cullen-Bess photo)

merson Samuels straddled art genres from painting to graphics and illustration. One of the first Guyanese artists of the pre-independence era, Emerson was a pioneer of Guyana’s art scene, though he has often been overlooked among the artists of the era. The 1940s and 50s

lour, pastel and drawing, who had also studied art and art history by himself, spending many hours in the National Library. After attending the Golden Grove Methodist Church during his primary school years, in the mid1940s, Samuels left school and his Nabacalis home to go to Georgetown to find a

Stamps depicting GNS emblem (1975)

were the beginnings of the Guyanese art movement; a time that the world caught its first glimpse of local Guyanese talent.Samuels was born Aug. 22, 1928 and made his debuton the local art scene in 1949 at age 21, when he won the 'painting of the year award' in the Guianese Art Group's fifth annual exhibition withhis painting "The Workers". He was a self-taught artist, noted for his oil paintings and waterco-

job. With his art portfolio comprising some pencil drawings done at school, he headed to the British Guyana Lithographic Company, then considered the premier printing house in the Caribbean. There the young Samuels would meet Hubert Moshett, one of the leading artists of the time, both as lithographer and painter. Moshett saw his potential and hired

Samuels as an apprentice. Employment at the printing company would introduce Samuels to the world of graphics and illustration; a world he would remain in all his life. In fact it was his painting “The Workers”, of men constructing the new Lithographic Company that won him the “painting of the year award”. As a member of the Working People’s Art Class and the British Guiana Art Group, Samuels also met many leading Guyanese artists such as Denis Williams, E.R. Burrowes and Marjorie Broodhagen. At the printing company, he also associated with other leading artists of the time; all whom he would later recall helped him become a better artist. It was the artists who encouraged him to further his art education by learning the different art styles, elements of art, art history etc.; an education that Samuels would come to enjoy and appreciate. For Samuels, his life would remain in the shadow of the more well-known artists, despite his obvious talents.His works however, have won numerous prizes in national exhibitions and competitions, including the Burnham Gold Medal for Painting in 1961. Samuels is said to have been influenced by nature and his imagination in his works. He also enjoyed texture in his paintings and went on to create several paintings, including “A Dream to Expand” purchased in the 1960s by the late Guyanese poet Martin Carter. Samuels produced his ‘Metamorphosis’ Series in the late 70s. His paintings“Selfportrait” (1959), Untitled Abstract (1966), “Industrial Image” and “Forward Thrust” are among those held in the National

Collection.The latter two were prizewinners at the National Exhibitions of 1978 and 1982 respectively. Samuels eventually parted from the Lithographic Company in 1961 and moved on to the Ministry of Agriculture from 1961-1969 where he worked as an illustrator, illustrating for educational literature geared toward farmers. He was later transferred to the-then information ministry, also as illustrator. It was during this period that Samuels emerged as one of the leaders in local graphic design and illustration when he became involved in stamp designing. Newly independent, Guyana’s locally designed stamps depicted many local personalities, scenes and events such as steelband players, stamps of Clive Lloyd, and stamps to celebrate the Guyana Teachers’ Jubilee, to name a few. Then in 1973 he began working at the Ministry of Education and started illustrating the well-known Timehri Readers series. Over his 25 years at the ministry, he also illustrated for local books such as “The Rampat family” and “Our flag” as well as the Remedial Textbook series and the Supplementary Reading Materials series. At the ministry, he worked along with Guyanese Victor Davson and Harold Bascom, and American illustrator Tom Feelings. According to one report, some of Samuels’ illustrations were unfortunately lost: The first set of the Emancipation series of stamps were somehow lost at sea; the original drawings for “The Rampat

Emerson Samuels (Aug, 22, 1928 – Aug. 6, 2003)

Family”, sent to the publishers, were reported lost, and another set of original work, put in the care of a foreign consultant working with the education ministry on one on the series of Supplementary Readers, also managed to get lost. Among the most famously little-known events of Samuels’ quiet career is the fact that he is the painter of two of Guyana’s most notable paintings: the portrait of E.R. Burrowes, which hangs at the Burrowes School of Art, and a portrait of L.F.S. Burnham when he was prime minister thatis hung in Parliament Chamber. Other lesser known contributions are his design of the emblem of the reportedly soon-to-be resuscitated Guyana National Service (GNS) and his design of the President’s College school badge and its memorial. Several of his paintings are displayed in the National Collection at Castellani House as well as other government houses. In 1996 and 1998 Samuels won the silver and bronze respectively in Castellani House’s National Drawing Competitions.He was

“Invitation to the dance 2” (Oil) 1994

awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement in 1997. In 2003 he was curriculum artist illustrator at the National Centre for Educational Research and Development (NCERD) and art instructor at Burrowes School of Art when, on vacation in the U.S.A, he died of a heart attack at age 75. Though, through his own self-confessed doubts, Emerson Samuels never held a solo exhibition, just before his death he was working towards this with an exhibition at the National art gallery. The year after his untimely death, Castellani House hosted an exhibition, 'Invitation to a Dance', taken from his paintings of the same name, which presented works from the National Collection, the National Collection at Colgrain House, Samuels' own, and private collections. Samuels had continued painting, design and illustration well into old age and even up to his death. The exhibition also included his last creations: scenes in Brooklyn and Manhattan, New York, where he was holidaying before he died.

guyanatimesgy.com

APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 17

Times Tech

Apple more compliant with data requests than rest of world A pple is consistently more compliant with US requests for access to users' information than with the rest of the world on average, it has emerged. Its own figures showed that in 2015, Apple released data on users' devices to US authorities 80 per cent of the time, compared to 55 per cent when it came to the UK. That compared to a global average of nearly 60 per cent, Apple's data showed. Apple released its latest transparency report on Monday, to complement previous releases going as far backas 2013.

Tech news

It published the numbers of device requests it received - those from law enforcement for contact information and other data. Separately, it released data on account requests - those from government agencies for account details, including iTunes and iCloud account information. In China, Apple disclosed more data account information than in the US, affecting 5,082 account holders whose information was shared with Chinese authorities largely due to phishing investigations. Apple said it provided at least some data for 66 per cent of the device requests.

Microsoft ends Xbox 360 production

icrosoft Corporation has announced that the company is ceasing production of its Xbox 360 con-

soles. A recent post on the official Xbox news website by Phil Spencer,Head of The original Xbox 360 console

Xbox,announced that the company will stop making Xbox 360 units after the console’s ten-and-a-half-year run. The console originally came out on November 22, 2005 and has sold 84 million units as of June 2014. The console has been largely success-

Tech BYTE

Its compliance with Chinese authorities' 32 account access requests was fulfilled only 53 per cent of the time. Apple's transparency report also details the number of times that various countries request information about its users' devices. Most of these requests centre on lost or stolen Apple devices, with authorities requesting customer contact information that is used to register an Apple device. The computer maker notes it does not take requests for users' information lightly.Apple notes that 94 per cent of requests for information centre on device requests, with 6 per

ful throughout its long run thanks to the great third-party and first-party support which gave Microsoft an enormous edge over its direct competitor, Sony Corp.’s PlayStation 3. The post mentions that while the company has stopped making further Xbox 360 consoles, they are going to continue selling the remaining consoles in their inventory and it should be quite a while before we see Xbox 360s being completely wiped off store shelves; especially considering the fact that Sony ceased production of the PlayStation 2 back in 2013 and the console can still be found in some places. The post also explains that ceasing production does not mean dropping support for the console and that all of the services, games and accessories for the console, including Xbox Live are still going to remain active.

Yamaha expands Adventure Touring lineup with Tracer 700

fter the commercial success of the Tracer 900 last year, Yamaha Motor Europe is replicating the same tactic in a smaller capacity class. Based on

Just like the Tracer 900 was based on the MT-09, the 700 is essentially an MT07 (or FZ-07 in several markets) with some key changes to cater for its new purpose. There is a downside to these changes, as the Tracer tips the scales at 196 kg (432 lb) in ready-to-ride mode; that'd be 14 kg (30.8 lb) more than the MT. Its equipment has been selected with touring aspirations in mind, including a manuallyadjustable wind screen, hand guards, dual seat and a 17-liter tank for adequate range – three more litres of gasoline that the MT. The Yamaha Tracer 700 will be available in three The Tracer 700 will ensingle colours (Credit: Yamaha via Gizmag) ter European markets in early the popular twin-cylinder MT-07, the new July. At the time there is no information Adventure Sports Tourer enters a fiercely- on whether or when it will also reach other contested market segment. markets. The latest trend sees manufacturers For those that would prefer to see a looking to mimic the success of their big more off-road capable motorcycle, Yamaha adventurers with smaller-capacity mod- is also said to be in the process of developels, thus widening their potential custom- ing a Ténéré 700 to be unveiled later this er base to more income classes, as well as year, possibly at the next Milan EICMA show. looking towards the Asian markets.

cent seeking account information. It points out that only

0.00612 per cent of its overall customer base has been

affected by government information requests.

Netflix open to offline viewing

ntil now Netflix has resisted allowing subscribers to watch its shows offline but that may be about to change. When asked about it during the company's earnings call, CEO Reed Hastings said the company was thinking about it."We should keep an open mind on all this,” he said. "As we expand around the world where we see an uneven set of networks, it's something we should keep an open mind about." Not every country has the same network setup as the U.S., which poses a problem for the streaming service if it wants to bring in more people. Last year, Netflix's chief product officer Neil Hunt told Gizmodo that he thought offline content offered consumers too much choice. "It adds considerable complexity to your life with Amazon Prime - you have to remember that you want to download this

thing….It's not going to be instant, you have to have the right storage on your device, you have to manage it…I'm just not sure people are actually that compelled to do that, and that it's worth providing that level of complexity," he had said. Many other media organisations already allow viewers to download and watch their content offline. BBC, Sky, Channel 4 and Amazon users are all able to view content on mobile devices without a data connection. The BBC allows anyone with a TV licence to download content from iPlayer for 30 days. Sky Go lets users watch shows on up to four devices or on a games console for up to a month but you have to watch it within 48 hours once you press play. Amazon Prime, which launched a new monthly subscription for its video-streaming service this week, also allows people to keep downloaded shows for up to 30 days.

The AC gets an upgrade

indow-mounted air conditioners tend to be recognized for their boxy bulk and exorbitant number of ventilation slats. Now,Philadelphiabased Likuma Labs has unveiled a new product that is designed to be smaller, lighter, and quieter, while offering fullroom circulation and smart connectivity. At almost half the size of a standard 5,000 BTU/hr window air conditioner, Noria blocks less of the view through a window while for those in seasonal climate, being slim enough to slide under beds for off-season storage. When it comes to cooling, Noria is effective for areas up to 160 sq.ft. (14.8 sq. m). But unlike most window air conditioners that blow directly in, Noria angles its cold air up towards the ceiling. By creating a convective flow throughout the entire room, this method is designed to help eliminate warm air pockets and minimize recirculation of cold air. The result? Better climate control with less energy used. There's only one knob on Noria, having the simple job of adjusting temperature. Users can also turn off the unit's compressor in order to bring fresh outside air in

when things cool down outside. While some may miss the option to balance fan speed with noise output, the team has developed the hardware to be capable of operating at 50 dB. Noria can run all day, generating low-level sounds somewhere between a quiet library and normal conversation. Although Wi-Fi and IoT compatibility is under consideration, Noria does offer Bluetooth connectivity with iOS and Android devices. The mobile app will allow users to remotely adjust the thermostat, control multiple units, and set daily/ weekly schedules for automatic operation and smart energy usage. The Noria air conditioner is currently funding on Kickstarter.

18 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 24, 2016

Times Home & Cooking

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Recipe of the Week

Ingredients Pastry 6oz of plain white flour, sieved Pinch of salt 3 oz. of butter, chopped into small pieces A few drops of cold water Beaten egg white (optional) Cream filling ---BOLD 2oog mozzarella 200g sour cream

ou don’t have to label yourself “bold” to make a black and gold décor work for you in your home. Take some inspiration from these amazing rooms…

Method Place the sieved flour into a large bowl. Rub the butter into the flour until it resembles bread crumbs. Take a fork and add just a few drops of water to bring the mixture into a ball of pastry. Place the ball of pastry in Clingfilm or plastic bag and leave to rest in the fridge for at least 30 minutes. Pre -heat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius. Grease a 9 inch flan tin with butter. Once the

Black and gold cabinets stand out in the otherwise neutral colours of the kitchen Black and gold accents make a luxurious and sophisticated statement in the room

A colour scheme of black and gold, with black and white abstract art over a beige sofa, brings harmony to this living room

Credit stasty.com

pastry has rested, place it on a floured work surface. Using a rolling pin, roll it into an 11 inch circle. Carefully place the pastry into the tin and rest in the fridge for a further 5 minutes. Take the pastry out of the fridge, and gently prick the base with a fork. Line the pastry case with greaseproof paper and fill with baking beads (helps conduct heat for even pastry baking). Place in the oven and bake blind for 15-20 minutes.

1 tsp salt Pepper to taste Pinch of nutmeg Pinch of paprika Vegetable filling 1 medium squash, top and bottom removed 1 medium eggplant, top stalk removed 2/3 peeled carrots Salt and pepper Olive oil Once barely golden in colour, remove from the oven and leave to cool and set. If you want to maintain a crisper base, you can brush the base with beaten egg white. For the filling, break up the mozzarella into small pieces and mix with the sour cream. Beat well with a wooden spoon, and then stir in the seasoning. Add more seasoning if desired. Meanwhile, using a mandolin / slicer/ sharp knife – cut the vegetables into thin strips. Once all sliced, place on a level surface to see if there is much difference in the height. If so, chop off any edges so they are all roughly the same height. Place them all flat on a plate and season well with salt and pepper. Next fill the precooked pastry case with the cheese and sour cream filling. On a chopping board, roll one strip of carrot into a tight circle, then wrap a strip of courgette, around that followed by a strip of aubergine. You may need a second pair of hands with this. Repeat with the same pattern until your circle of rolled vegetables is roughly 9 inches in diameter. With two hands, carefully lift the circle of vegetables and gently lay it into the cheese and sour cream filling. Season again and brush with olive oil. Place in the oven (190 degrees Celsius) for 40-50 minutes. Cover with tinfoil near the end to prevent burning. Serve as a main with a salad or as a side vegetable dish.

dd a teaspoon of vinegar to your cake mix for a more delicious chocolate cake. Garlic powder: 1 lb. = 4 1/2 cups. Oneoz. = 4 1/2 tablespoons If you don't have a meat/food thermometer, there are other ways to determine whether seafood is done. For fish, slip the point of a sharp knife into the flesh and pull aside. The edges should be opaque and the centre slightly translucent with flakes beginning to separate. Let the fish stand three to four minutes to finish cooking.

ut a small amount of water ina glass when you microwave your pizza to prevent the crust from getting rubbery. Fill a plastic bottle a quarter of the way full, lay on its side and put in the freezer. When frozen you can fill with water for a quick ice-cold beverage on the go. Pour distilled white vinegar into a garbage can if it is smelly. Use 2 to 3 cups of white vinegar and fill the rest of the garbage can with hot water. Let the vinegar and water solution soak inside the garbage can for an hour.

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APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine19

Family Times

PARENTING

CONTINUED

JOKES

C B C D R L

A comedian’s comedy

hris Rock: “If women ruled the world they would be no wars…just a bunch of countries not talking to each other.” obcat Goldthwait: “If you ever see me getting beaten by the police, put down thevideo camera and come help me.”

onan O’Brien: “A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men. I just want to say to the authors of that study: Duh.” avid Letterman: “USA Today has come out with a new survey: Apparently three out of four people make up 75 percent of the population.”

ita Rudner: “I was a vegetarian until I started leaning towards sunlight.”

ynda Montgomery: “Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant? I’m halfway through myfishburger and I realize, Oh my God….I could be eating a slow learner.”

tentionally or unintentionally disrespect another person. If you can't confront it as it happens without embarrassing your child, be sure to talk about it later. As kids get older, you may need to be very explicit about insisting that they acknowledge

adults in their presence, as well as other kids. Often preteens and young adolescents need to be reminded of this, and to be given coaching on how to handle interactions that feel awkward to them. (To be continued)

STORY TIME

Elephants and the King of Mice Though All the Fates Though all the fates should prove unkind, Leave not your native land behind. The ship, becalmed, at length stands still; The steed must rest beneath the hill; But swiftly still our fortunes pace To find us out in every place.

A light

uzie was all alone. It was two months since her dear Herbie had passed, and she just couldn’t seem to move on. “Listen here Suzie”, said her good friend Barbara, “maybe you should go see a psychic? One of my friends did it after her husband died and it made her feel so much better knowing that her dearest was happy.” So that’s how, on the next Tuesday, Suzie found herself in a dim room with a crystal ball and a psychic talking in a calm voice. “Is he here?” Suzie asked. “Yes, I sense him,” was her reply. “Can you ask him if he’s happy?” Suzie hesitantly asked. “He’s putting his hand to his mouth like he wants to smoke” said the psychic. “Oh, of course” said Suzie, “he needs a cigar. Herbie can never last more than a few hours without a cigar. I guess they don’t have cigars up there. Did he say where he is or how I could get one to him?” questioned Suzie urgently. Hmm”, said the psychic. “I can’t seem to get that question across to him. But then again,” said the psychic after a brief pause, “he didn’t say anything about needing a lighter!”

hile good grades are important for your child’s future, good social skills are also important to help form a well-rounded child and adult. We live in a complicated world, made even more so now with the advent of technology leading to instant and global media access. Children do not know, just instinctively, how to build good relationships with other children in such a culture of shifting rules. If children have good relationships at home they have a healthy head start, but they still need your help in learning to navigate a complex social world. 4. Teach your child that people are important. All parents have to choose their battles, so put up with messiness and dawdling if you must, but teach your child consideration for others. Model it for him early on, praise it, help him brainstorm to solve peer problems, and don't let your child in-

Hard to find

lady rubbed a bottle and a genie popped out. “You have one wish” said the genie. “Hey” countered the lady “I thought I get three wishes?” “Not from me,” said the genie “I’m not that powerful.” “OK” responded the lady taking out a map, “I am making a wish for peace between this country…” “I’m really sorry” said the genie, “but I am not powerful enough for that.” “That’s fine,” said the lady, “instead I would like to find a cool, caring man, who loves children, and cooking.” The genie sighed and said “Alright….. Let me see that map again.”

Terrible date

Raquel called her friend: “Hi Sarah, listen I only have a minute. I’m about to get picked up for a blind date, can you call me in a half hour just in case it’s going bad? Yes? Ok great! We’ll speak.” She gave herself a quick spray of perfume, checked herself out one more time in the mirror, and headed outside to wait for the guy. Sure enough after twenty minutes, Raquel was discreetly checking her watch. After ten more long minutes her phone finally buzzed. Raquel listened for a few seconds, grimly pursed her lips, and turned to her date, “I feel terrible, but my grandmother is terribly sick, and I must go home now.” “No problem!” said her date with a big grin, “in a few more minutes my dog was going to get run over!”

here was a village which was ruined by a strong earthquake. With the houses and the streets shattered, the villagers abandoned the village to settle elsewhere. Despite being shattered, the vacant houses of this village had become homes for a large number of mice. The mice found the place very comfortable and grew in numbers after some time. There was a lake on the outskirts of the village, where a herd of elephants used to visit regularly to drink water and bathe. These elephants used to travel through the abandoned village to reach the lake. But as the herd of elephants travelled through the abandoned village, everyday many mice got trampled. This posed a problem for the mice. So, the king of mice decided to confront the elephants and request them to act accordingly.

Next day, as the herd of elephants approached, the king of mice met the elephants cordially and said, "O Sirs, we live in the ruins of this abandoned village and as you travel through this village, everyday many mice get trampled. Therefore, I request you to change your route to the lake. If you do so, I shall remember to return the favour in your time of need." At this the king of elephants laughed, "O king of Mice, there will be no such favour that we, the giant elephants, will require from you, small mice. However, I will honour your request and we will change the route to the lake from today. You will not have to worry about any danger caused by us anymore." The king of mice thanked the king of the elephants for his consideration, and the herd of elephants never entered the village anymore. (To be continued)

By Grammar G

Henry David Thoreau

Making holorimes – or ‘chiming rhyming’

holorime (or holorhyme) is a form of rhyme in which the rhyme comprises an entire line or phrase. A holorime may be a couplet or short poem made up entirely of homophonous (a word or words having the same pronunciation as another or others but different meaning, origin, or spelling) verses. It is a rare sport in English today to work with holorimes, and many wordplayers say holorimes are better in French. But there is a holorime (English) gamecalled “Hinky Pinky”. A hinky-pinky is a phrase with two rhyming words, which usually have two syllables each. Anyone who

The vessel, though her masts be firm, Beneath her copper bears a worm; Around the cape, across the line, Till fields of ice her course confine; It matters not how smooth the breeze, How shallow or how deep the seas, Whether she bears Manilla twine, Or in her hold Madeira wine, Or China teas, or Spanish hides, In port or quarantine she rides; Far from New England's blustering shore, New England's worm her hulk shall bore, And sink her in the Indian seas, Twine, wine, and hides, and China teas.

knows one asks a question so everyone else can guess what it is for points. For example – Clue: “in debt to an airplane manufacturer” Answer: “owing Boeing”. Clue: “Flag that has been smeared by the media” Answer: “slandered standard”. It is said too that game manufacturer Mattel has made a game loosely based on holorimes called “Mad Gab” where one team says a phrase (what may amount to gibberish) and the other team has to guess the meaning. An example might explain: Team 1: “Bat tree snot ink looted” Team 2: “Batteries not included.”

As you may notice, sensible holorimes may be hard to create and longer ones are even worse. Here is an example of a longer holorime: “All afternoon I told tales/Ah, laughter: new night, old tails”. Put “ah laughter new” together for “all afternoon” then “night, old tails” for “I told tails”. But think of two of the most common as quick examples of the holorime to rest your weary brain: “For I scream/ For ice cream” and “Isle of view/ I love you”. Having fun yet?

20 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 24, 2016

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Times Sunday Puzzle

Three people check into a hotel. They pay $30 to the manager and go to their room. The manager finds out that the room rate is $25 and gives $5 to the bellboy to return. On the way to the room, the bellboy reasons that $5 would be difficult to share among three people, so he pockets $2 and gives $1 to each person. Now, each person paid $10 and got back $1. So they paid $9 each, totalling $27. The bellboy has $2, totalling $29. Where is the remaining dollar? see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

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APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 21

Times Kids

Creature Corner

GEOZONE

Howler Monkey

Black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya)

he Howler Monkey (Alouatta) is found in tropical Central and South Americaranging through eastern Bolivia, southern Brazil and Paraguay, and northern Argentina in South America. Howler monkeys are consideredthe biggest of all the New World monkeys and grow to be about two to four feet tall and weigh from eight to 22 pounds. Their diet is made up mostly of leaves, but fruit and

flowers are also eaten. They are named for the loud, guttural howls that they use at the beginning and end of the day. There are considered nine different species of howler monkey. The red howler species is the most common, but it is often targeted by hunters for bush meat. Other species of howler monkey may be critically endangered.

Maze Daze

Help the ant get out of the ant hill

ormally known as the Richat structure (Guelb er Richat), the eye of the Sahara, also known as the eye of Africa, isa prominent circular feature in the Sahara desert, near a place called Ouadane in Mauritania, Africa that is visible from space, standing out among the vast featureless desert terrain. The 50-kilometer-wide (30-milewide) feature was first considered formed by meter impact because of its circular structure but this theory proved controversial because of little

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 please see solution on page 23

digits 1 through 9.

geological evidence. More recently this “bulls-eye” has been considered a deeply eroded, collapsed geological dome – a structure formed when a roundish part of the Earth’s surface is elevated. Palaeozoic quartzites form the resistant beds outlining the structure. Palaeozoic quartzite is a metamorphic rock formed when quartz-rich sandstone or chert has been exposed to high temperatures and pressures in the earth’s Palaeozoic geological period.

22 Sunday Times Magazine

APRIL 24, 2016

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APRIL 24, 2016

Sunday Times Magazine 23

World Times

Wild facts about Mowgli’s jungle

Bengal tigers are now the most at-risk species featured in Kipling's tale

isney’s movie “The Jungle Book”, adapted from the 1894 Rudyard Kipling classic of the same name, has already achieved success at the movie box office, but how much do we know about the animals of Mowgli’s jungle? National Geographic investigates and reports that Bagheera the black panther is a colour variant of the spotted leopards of Asia, Africa and also the jaguars of South America. In the book, Kipling reveals that Bagheera is “inky black all over, but with the panther markings showing up in certain lights like the pattern of watered silk.” Bagheera has good reason to fear mankind. Leopards have the largest

distribution of any wild cat in the world, but they are also the most persecuted.The cat's conservation status, as defined by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is at “near threatened” but may move to “vulnerable” if this trend persists. Looking at Baloo, they discovered that his physical description in the book would suggest a sloth bear, but his diet of nuts and honey runs counter to that species’ insect-eating preferences. Baloo’s name, which simply means “bear” in Hindustani, lends no additional clues. While the book is fictional so such enigmas are to be expected, Kipling did use 19th-century naturalists’

Brain Teaser Answer Each person paid $9, totalling $27. The manager has $25 and the bellboy has $2. The bellboy's $2 should be added to the manager's $25 or subtracted from the tenants' $27, not added to the tenants' $27.

SUDOKU

KID SUDOKU

writings while crafting the book, and one of his sources was an 1884 natural history text that notes that the common Indian sloth bear is “as a rule vegetarian.” Given that sloth bears tend to sleep a lot during the day and can be found throughout India, most scholars agree that Baloo likely fits this label. Sloth bears, which are found only in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and India, are currently listed as “vulnerable” by the IUCN, but they “are quite widespread and safe in India in terms of conservation, although they are under some pressure from trade for their gallbladders,” Ullas Karanth, director of the Wildlife Conservation Society’s India program tells National Geographic. The bears are also abundant in many reserves in India, he adds, “where they are especially adapted to eating termites—and fond of honey.” But it is Mowgli’s jungle foe, the Bengal tiger Shere Khan that is the most imperilled of Kipling’s characters.According to new estimates, about 3,890 tigers remain in the wild worldwide—about half of which live in India. That’s an ap-

parent increase from 2010, when 3,200 tigers were thought to exist. But not everyone is convinced that the bump truly represents a recovery for the

this as a huge success in tiger conservation,” says Alan Rabinowitz, CEO of Panthera, the global wild cat conservation organization.“In reality, it was a huge success in assessing tiger numbers.” He credits better census-taking strategies and technologies for the apparent population rise. Overall, Rabinowitz says, “India’s doing well and is the major country that’s contributing to the conservation of wild tigers.” Mowgli’s adoptive canine parents are Indian wolves, which are simply wolves that live in India. “The wolf, Canis lupus, is circumpolar, so it ranges throughout the world,” says David Mech, a senior research scientist at the U.S. Geological Survey. “The wolf in India is the same species as the ones in Minnesota, Canada, or anywhere.” Listed as “least concern” by the IUCN, wolves are doing OK in India, where they

The conniving Kaa is an Indian rock python, a nonvenomous serpent that can grow up to 21 feet (6.4 meters) long. Cars represent the biggest threat to rock pythons, followed by habitat destruction and purposeful killings by villagers. “People get afraid and kill pythons because they confuse them with venomous snakes,” says M. Bubesh Guptha, a wildlife biologist at Pitchandikulam Forest in southern India. The snakes are also always in high demand by the foreign pet trade. For now, rock pythons are listed as “near threatened,” and India has established captive breeding programs and rehabilitation centres for the snakes, in addition to banning their trade. King Louie has always been a bit of a cinematic wild card. Kipling included no such character in his book, but Disney’s introduction of a vine-swinging jazzy orangutan in its 1967 animated

Sloth bear

big cats, and new data published by the IUCN shows that global tiger range has declined by 40 percent since 2010. “A lot of people hailed

live scattered across more rural areas of the country. However, “[t]here’s no evidence of a child ever actually being raised by wolves,” Mech says.

CROSSWORD

Museum model showing what Gigantopithecus might have looked like (National Geographic)

feature was an instant hit. There was a hitch, however: Orangutans don’t live in India. The endangered great apes are found only in the dwindling rain forests of Borneo and Sumatra. Rather than perpetuate a geographic fallacy, the team behind the new Disney movie came up with a creative fix—one that would allow them to have their ape king and correctly place him, too. Today’s King Louie is a Gigantopithecus, a massive ape genus that once lived in forests throughout southern China, Southeast Asia, and India. Experts know little about what the creatures actually looked like, because they have only jaw bones and enamel teeth caps to go on. For now, all we know for sure is that Gigantopithecus fits within the evolutionary tree of Asian apes and that it likely appeared most similar to a modern orangutan— albeit a 9-foot-tall (2.7-meter-tall) version.

Sunday Times Magazine

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APRIL 24, 2016

Fun Times

Archie

A joint venture will give you the push you need to fin(March 21ish what you start. A personApril 19) al change is favored and will help you make an important decision about your future.

ARIES

If you are fun to be with, TAURUS everyone will gravitate to (April 20- your side. Enjoy a little enterMay 20) tainment and laughter, and use your intellectual wit to persuade others to go along with your plans. Discipline and hard work GEMINI will lead to a better you. A (May 21makeover or fitness program June 20) will get you in tip-top shape. Compliments and romance are heading your way. If you let your imagination run wild, you will come (June 21- up with some interesting conJuly 22) cepts and plans for your home or next project. A partnership will contribute to your success.

CANCER

A change will stimulate LEO your senses and get you head(July 23ed in a direction that promAug. 22) ises adventure and a new beginning. Share your plans with someone you love.

Dilbert

VIRGO It's best to avoid a dispute (Aug. 23- with someone trying to burSept. 22) den you with additional responsibilities. Anger will lead to mishaps. Focus on enjoyable things and positive people. A day trip or visit to someLIBRA one you don't see often will be (Sept. 23a perfect pick-me-up. A change Oct. 23) of heart will lead to plans and a romantic promise.

Peanuts

Look at the fine print beSCORPIO fore you sign a contract for (Oct. 24- domestic work. If you shop Nov. 22) around, you will save money and find alternatives to the quotes you've been given. Listen to what others have SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 23- to say, but go to the source if Dec. 21) you want the truth. Emotions, overreaction and indulgence will lead to trouble. Focus on positive changes and self-improvement.

Calvin and Hobbes

There are deals worth CAPRICORN looking at and opportunities (Dec. 22- of an unusual nature to conJan. 19) sider. Don't overlook a chance to make a loved one happy. A simple gesture will go a long way. Less talk and more acAQUARIUS tion will equal a happy house(Jan. 20hold and a better relationship Feb. 19) with a loved one. A personal change will give you the boost you need to start something new.

PISCES Don't be fooled by some(Feb. 20- one's actions. Keep an open Mar. 20) mind but a closed fist when it comes to financial matters. Spend on items of quality, not frivolous things you don't need.