Poet, teacher and story-teller Peter Jailall yesterday officially launched his fourth poetry book at the National Cultural Centre.Mother Earth – Poems for her Children is a 26-page book which contains 17 poems focusing on the beauty found in nature, and is based on his experiences in nature.Jailall has had a fairly different view of nature, and has returned to Guyana every year since 1985 as a volunteer with the CUSO-VSO as a teacher-trainer, to encourage children and adults to be proud of their culture.As most of his volunteer teaching took place within interior locations such as Mabaruma,Cheap MLB Jerseys, Bartica and Santa Rosa, among others, Jailall has been exposed to the wonders of Guyana’s forests, rivers, flora and fauna. He then translated these experiences into his poetry,Cheap Jerseys China, which he uses to educate his pupils.He had in a previous interview explained that the aim of using the poems is to teach children to value and cherish the rainforest, and to educate them on the usefulness of their surroundings.“Children ought to have an opportunity to value and cherish the environment…..we want children in our communities to have a sense of responsibility and stewardship in the preservation of our natural life here in this country.”Jailall had launched the same book in his adopted home of Canada earlier this year, to a brilliant response by the media and locals in the area. In the Arts and Entertainment section of a local newspaper in Canada, Jailall’s book was said to “document the simple yet remarkable beauty found in nature,Cheap MLS Jerseys,” and was described as “the former teacher’s short but powerful new book.”At the launching of the book in Guyana,Wholesale Football Jerseys, renowned poet, novelist and essayist Ian McDonald described Jailall as a good, honest and straightforward person, adding that he is one that wants to change the world to make it a better place.McDonald said that Jailall’s poems speak directly to the hearts of the readers, and that as a person; the poet gives more to the world than he takes out.According to McDonald, the poems are “simple beauty…..their happiness and joy will appeal to children everywhere…….they show the earth and all it holds fresh and beautiful as childhood itself should be.”Derrick Lovell, a head master of a London school and VSO teacher-trainer in Bartica, introduced Jailall and said that the poets 40 years of work has been “enriching and entrancing children both in his native Guyana and his adopted home of Canada with his storytelling, writing and his teaching skills in and out of the classroom.”These stories and poems, said Lovell, have opened the doors to new worlds for many children. He added that Jailall has been reading his poetry in schools, libraries and universities across North America, the United Kingdom and the Caribbean.The poet was born in the village of La Jalousie on the West Coast Demerara, and then moved to Canada after finishing studies at the Government Training College for Teachers from 1963 to 1965. He subsequently taught at Enmore Government School, then moved to Canada and graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor’s in Education and a Masters Degree.He then took up the profession of teaching in Canada,Cheap Jerseys From China, which he continues to this day.The book costs $1500.(Andrunie Harris)

By Enid JoaquinIrene Bacchus Holder comes from the mold of those women, for whom home management alone is simply not enough. Irene always wanted to do something which involved more than cooking, doing dishes and laundry, and being teacher, nurse-maid to her family.“I don’t like being totally dependent upon a man- that irritates me. I didn’t want to have to go to my husband every time I needed a new dress or pair of shoes or things like that, that is simply not my style. So I was always looking to do something whereby I could establish myself and become financially independent.”That ‘something’, turned out to be pyrography: purchasing blocks of wood- cutting them,Wholesale China Jerseys, shaping, sanding and lacquering them, and finally hand-painting them.The end products would be beautiful jewel boxes, bowls, platters, rolling pins, and table lamps, with Irene’s unique hand painting embellishing them. This array of items has been exhibited and sold both at home and abroad, and has seen Irene’s transition from resourceful housewife to shrewd entrepreneur.Her aim at present is to secure an overseas market for her rolling pins.Hard at work: Irene Bacchus Holder in her workshopNo Woman’s World.A visit to Irene’s factory will jar the average person, upon seeing the piles and piles of wood amidst the dust and machinery that covers almost every available space.This is not your typical worksite, with the manager sitting demurely at her desk,Cheap Jerseys USA, but one where you’ll most likely find her cutting or sanding wood.And she certainly cuts a unique picture, dressed in faded blue jeans and jersey and a face mask sitting atop her windblown and disheveled hair, as she turns out a piece of her prized wood.But despite the dust and seeming disarray, Irene wears a perpetual smile on her face, lending to it a look of serene content.She apologizes profusely for what she calls the obvious mess of the place, which I told her is to be expected, considering her work.Irene speaks of her current occupation, with the passion and pride of one who has surely found their true purpose in life.STARTING OUT“I used to buy these jewellery boxes and other trinkets from a woman that used to do hand painting on them; so after she left, the guy that used to supply her with the boxes, asked me if I could do it ( hand paint), and I said yes, even though I had never done it before.“And that is how I got started, with the encouragement of my brother who sent me a wood burning pen with interchangeable tips. That was over ten years ago. However initially, I ordered the boxes from the same young man that used to supply the lady. But then I thought it might be better if I could produce my own things from scratch,Cheap Authentic Jerseys, as he was becoming unreliable, and that is what I did.”She said that she started to make her first Simarupa boxes with the help of two trainees from the Linden Technical Institute, who helped her to develop her products.Her first work station was located inside the LEAP building on Republic Avenue, but after outgrowing that location, she subsequently moved to her present location,NHL Jerseys Authentic, in the old Guyana Stores building, aback the Toucan Call Centre.Irene has sold her unique array of wooden items to places such as Guyana Stores, and other Georgetown businesses over the years.“But the main problem is that people don’t like to pay- not the people at Guyana Stores, but the other businesses- they would take your things and then it’s a problem to get your money.However though I’m self taught, I can safely say that I’ve developed my techniques to the point where I can enter art competitions and exhibitions.”Only last year she applied for and was successful in acquiring funding from the “matching Grant” initiative, which enabled her to participate in trade shows in Germany , France and California.She noted that in California, all of the things were sold out on the very first day of the exhibition.Ms. Bacchus displays some of her creations“One lady came and she just bought out everything, but then she was gracious enough to allow me to keep them on show for the duration of the exhibition. And I can tell you I got a lot of glowing compliments; the people really love our woods. They go crazy- to them; our woods are really exotic.”So it was really a good experience for me. I also participated in several other trade fairs overseas, and my work was always well received.Some of the countries I’ve done exhibitions in include Germany, the US, Canada and France. I’ve also travelled to the Caribbean for several exhibitions and sold quite a few pieces.”Irene said that she has however not pursued the Caribbean Market in a while as sales have dwindled.She has been participating in Guy-expo every year,<a href