School Principal Sharda Maharaj-Ramjattan told Sunday Newsday that in sensitising students about the preservation of the environment, it exposes them to agriculture.

“Debe is situated really in a rural community, which is developing now. We want them to go back to those roots, given the economic times we are in now.

We have at the back of the school, an area where we are setting up a grow box system,” Maharaj-Ramjattan said.

She noted that crops such as spinach and lettuce would be planted and upon harvest, will be sold. “They will sell it and possibly generate money back in the school.

I have an excellent staff here. We deliver a holistic education to students and so it not academic-based alone.

We sensitise the girls on a variety of issues and the walk allowed them to connect to the community,” the principal added.

Teacher and coordinator of the event Kavita Samaroo said the school’s activities were in keeping with WED’s 2017 theme, ‘Connecting people to nature.’ Some activities included a scavenger hunt to learn about different species of trees on the compound, lectures from the Forestry Division and interaction with animals from Emperor Valley Zoo.

“We also have the photo frame in which students used natural materials like twigs, stones, leaves. They also have a painting competition on the theme ‘Connecting people to nature’. We also have poetry and chow competitions,” Samaroo said. Members of the non-profit organization IAMovement spoke to students on the issue of global warming and climate change.

“They are also expected to show their movie ‘Small Change’.

It is all about getting students more environmentally aware and giving them the right tools so that they can make the right choices with it comes to the environment.

We have the CLIMAQUEST game room ,” Samaroo added. She is one of four teachers of the college who created the board game titled CLIMAQUEST.

Samaroo spearheaded this initiative CLIMAQUEST was developed with funding from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme at the United Nations Development Programme.

Based on information on flyers distributed yesterday, the game pitches the causes, effects and solution to climate change on small island states like T&T. It combines competition, enjoyment and learning all in one.

The game costs $250 and is available at Keith Khan’s, Charran’s and RIK Book Stores.

In May two dozen turtle heads, including the protected green turtle and hawksbill, were discovered dumped in the Bon Accord Lagoon in Tobago. Rambharat commented on the incident to Sunday Newsday while attending the Eastern Horticultural Club 8th Annual Plant and Garden Show held at St Augustine Senior Secondary School.

He said that in his experience fishermen and Trinidadians generally are more sensitive to turtle conservation. He reported that he has made several trips to the North Coast during the turtle nesting season and he is “seeing signs of a change in behaviour.” He said that organisations like Nature Seekers “are doing a fantastic job” and Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC) in Tobago is doing “excellent work”.

“So that has been one of those one off instances. I hope in Tobago that it does not grow and it does not become the behaviour in Tobago.” He said that they are doing more work in sensitising people from a conservation and a tourism point of view.

“A lot of people come to Trinidad and visit the Caroni Bird Sanctuary as something fairly unique that a country has to offer.

And turtle watching is fairly unique for us.” He said the Tobago incident was one that is not reflective of what is happening in the country.

The Environmental Management Authority had also condemned the killing of the sea turtles “despite the legal protection afforded to these endangered species with the declaration in 2014 of five species of sea turtles as ‘environmentally sensitive species’.” The five protected turtles locally are the leatherback turtle, the green turtle, the hawksbill turtle, the olive ridley turtle and the loggerhead turtle. Killing protected sea turtles could lead to a fine of one hundred thousand dollars and imprisonment for two years.

“I would practice different makeup trends on myself and catalogue it in my makeup folder. But it wasn’t until my mom was getting married and she needed someone to do her makeup. She gave me the opportunity and from then I realised I could actually do makeup because it came out pretty good.” Nicole’s passion for creativity was fuelled during her years at Barataria South Secondary School, where she studied art. She is currently a Year Two student at the University of the West Indies pursuing a degree in Management Studies.

“Youtube provided a good foundation for me to start learning more about makeup. I watched a lot of tutorials and looking back from where I was then to where I am now, there is a complete difference.

I have grown in creating unique and beautiful looks for my clients, from cut crease eyeshadow to double cut crease, smoky eyes and natural looks.” Among her favourite Youtubers is Jacki Aina, who creates videos for women of colour and who also recommends certain brands and shades of makeup for dark skin tones.

Nicole started her own business, Makeup by Nikki in 2015 and began making a name for herself on Instagram and Facebook, by often posting images of her work on models and herself, gathering over 1,300 loyal followers, and growing her clientele of women between the ages of 18-48, many of whom contacted her for makeup jobs via social media.

One of her goals is to establish her own booth, but until then she is capitalising on house calls. She has done makeup for weddings, New Year’s events, Carnival makeup and is already receiving bookings for graduation months in advance.

Nicole’s calm yet fiery demeanor shined through as she spoke about her talent. “It takes me approximately one hour to do a client’s face. When I get to my client’s location, it is necessary that I do a skin analysis of her. I ask questions about when last she waxed or shaved her eyebrows, any allergies, skin type and preferred makeup brand and if she knows her shade and I also make recommendations about makeup that would best suit her skin type and skin tone.” Nicole uses brands ranging from BH Cosmetics to Anastasia Beverly Hills.

As part of Nicole’s routine with clients, she often uses a clay mask for those with oily skin and a polishing mask for those with dry skin in preparation for makeup application. “I always make sure their skin is moisturised, and having a sanitary environment is essential.” Asked by WMN how she funds her business, she said, “I am able to support my business because I save the money I make from doing makeup jobs. I have also built a large collection of makeup, so when someone wants me to do their face I do not have to spend excess money on supplies. From my savings I was able to purchase a digital SLR camera to take pictures of a higher quality for my portfolio.” I am grateful for having a strong support system comprising of my mother, Juliana Jones-Belfon, step-father, Franklyn Belfon and my best friend Suzie Gajadhar. They have always supported me, from the beginning.” “I see Makeup by Nikki reaching far, as I have a different approach by focusing on house calls till I am able to have a fixed location for my business.

I also intend to incorporate classes into my house calls, geared towards teaching working women with hectic schedules, who would like to learn about proper makeup application, but have limited time to do so.” Her advice to young aspiring young makeup artists is to be confident. “If you want to do something do not depend on anyone else’s advice to do it. Your work is just as good as anyone else, so don’t sell yourself short. Do your own thing and see what works for you, let the critics talk, you just have to be consistent in working towards your goals. Practice makes perfect.”

He said the most important thing dealing with the food import bill is individual consumers.

He also said the more time citizens spend in the farmers’ markets the more we can understand food we consume and where it comes from.

Rambharat said people take a risk buying food that we are not familiar and sometimes with packaging that is not even in English. He pointed out that foreign franchises were closing down – Denny’s and Pollo Tropical have recently announced closures – and he said that it would be difficult for food related foreign franchises in this economic time.

Asked about the ratio of local to foreign eateries Rambharat said there is a free market and people are entitled to spend their money and take their risk.

He expressed hope that there will be more interest in local sellers and franchises. On tackling the food import bill from a policy level he reported that they are looking at ramping up production in a number of areas including fruit which has a variety of purposes including consumption and feed for wild animals and flowers for honey production. He said that over a period of time there has been the removal of trees for development and the ministry has been encouraging the replanting of trees. He reported that breadfruit, for example, sells for $10 a pound and there was “no reason for that to happen”.

“And the only way we could avoid things like that is if make the investment now to get production.” He reported that this they have hit their target of 1.2 million of plants available for planting this year. He said these plants have been mainly forestry but fruit as well, and over the next four years they plan to continue hitting that target.

Rambharat said that for large scale planting it had been previously announced that they will move some of the CEPEP workers into programmes to help replant the Northern Range. He explained that wherever they plant it will be a combination of hard wood, soft wood and fruits.

At the plant and garden show yesterday representatives from the Agriculture Ministry hosted a plant clinic. University of the West Indies department of food production instructors and students put up a display.

There were about 35 outdoor vendors as well as indoor vendors selling a variety of plants, crafts and other products

Mango-based products including soaps and skin cream were also on show.

This as the San Fernando City Corporation partnered with the Network of Rural Women Producers of Trinidad and Tobago to host the tenth annual Mango Festival on Friday.

Mayor Junia Regrello opened the festival saying he plans to host this festival on a continuous basis in the south land.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries Avinash Singh said events such as this, serve as viable opportunities in which the cultivation and reaping of agricultural produce can be celebrated both as a lucrative and rewarding vocation.

He noted that the network comprises a membership of over 60 small businesses and is one of the shining examples of government’s commitment to stimulate sustainable growth through entrepreneurial activity and self-sufficiency.

“Each year the network of rural women celebrates the diversity and economic potential of mangoes by staging the Mango Festival,” Singh said, adding that this year promises to see an array of fun-filled themes through the presentation of a plethora of mango varieties and mango-inspired products which is geared towards a range of competitions which include: ‘D Mango Chutney Championship’, ‘D Mango Chow Down’, ‘Who’s Curry Mango Licking’ and ‘D Best Mango Sucker’.

He outlined the main objectives of this project as being to encourage the growth of the Mango Industry in T&T and to raise awareness of the health benefits and creative uses of the mango fruit in local cuisine. He noted that the government supports the women in rural communities by creating opportunities for them to showcase their products and services through this festival and other outreach programmes similar to mango-fest.

“This event will also serve to educate the public on the mango industry, its growth, its variety and marketing potential and it also sustains the culture of mango consumption,” he said, adding that on the heels of celebrating Indian Arrival Day, one must remember that this fruit was brought here by the indentured labourers from India.

He noted that this fruit can be made into many dishes when it is both in the green and ripened stage. “I am sure you know that for Hindu prayers we must have mango-amchar and we also have kutchela, and chutney,” he said, adding that it forms part of our cultural fabric in this land.

The ripened mangoes, he says, are eaten raw for dessert and they are now being made into drinks.

He praised the network saying it was established in 1995 as an umbrella body geared toward promoting issues that affect rural women. This organisation, he says, empowers rural women to enhance their own economic and social well-being.

Under the theme: “Mango in Sando”, this year’s festival embarked on a series of activities which included a mango-meal activity which solicited the collective participation of several restaurants within San Fernando.

Also a health and cultural education exercise on mangoes as well as a practical culinary activity involving mangoes.

Singh brought greetings on behalf of Minister of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries, Clarence Rambharat.

He also said the 2016 festival took place at the Macoya Market courtesy one of our Ministry’s State agencies – the National Agricultural Marketing Development Corporation (Namdevco) – who like the Ministry, is also exhibiting at this year’s festival.

Contributing to debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriage) Bill on Friday in the House of Representatives, Cudjoe noted that child brides often do not have the education, resources or courage to seek a divorce and as such, must be covered in the legislation.

Further, she said many of them were abused repeatedly with nowhere to turn for comfort or assistance.

“A young woman, or a child bride, a young wife, 13, 14, 15, 16, who didn’t have the opportunity to attain a full education to get a proper job, to be financially stable and economically empowered, how does that young woman who is not being treated properly, who is being abused by her husband, find the courage and the confidence or even the support systems to get up and go out there to ask for as divorce?” she asked.

“These are some of the scenarios that we have to take into consideration,” Cudjoe continued. “As a divorced person, myself, I like to say marriage is easy to get into and difficult to get out of. Imagine that for a 14-year-old or a 15-year-old who needs the necessary finances and support and resources to get out of a marriage in which she is not comfortable.We need to hear the cries of these young people.” Saying that the issue had not been raised by members in the Senate or in the Lower House, The Tobago West MP said such scenarios should never exist in Trinidad and Tobago in 2017.

“In 2017, this cannot be our truth. As a leading light in the Caribbean, as one of the most advanced societies in the English-speaking Caribbean, this cannot be our truth. Children in our society cannot be suffering like that,” Cudjoe said. “Many other countries look at Trinidad and Tobago as an example as it relates to development.

This cannot be our truth in 2017.” Saying that the Bahamas, Belize, Jamaica have already ended child marriages, Cudjoe said countries outside of the region such as Egypt, India, Sweden, Vietnam and countries of the African Union also have done away with it.

“And the world looks on as Trinidad and Tobago grapples with a decision as to whether or not to protect our children,” she said.

Addressing those who expressed scepticism about the Government’s timing in debating the legislation during the week of the Arrival Day observance, Cudjoe said: “Let me place on the record that this is not an attack on the Muslim faith.

This is not an attack on the Hindu faith. This is not an attack on Indian people, this is not an attack on African people.

This is in fact an attempt to protect the rights of our children, our people.

As a matter of fact, this debate transcends race, religion, colour, creed, gender, class, political affiliation, geographical location.

“This is about their rights, the freedom, the welfare of our nation’s children. This is an attempt to put the right legislation in place.”

French teacher and interpreter, Joleen Meharris is one in this 176 million and she sat with WMN to explain endometriosis, the features of her own condition, her upcoming life-changing surgery and her commitment to raising awareness about the condition.

The cause of endometriosis is yet unknown but one such theory is retrograde menstruation, where the menstrual blood, instead of leaving the body, _ ows back through the fallopian tubes into the pelvic cavity. Immune disorders as well as a genetic predisposition to growing the abnormal tissue are among several other theories.

Pelvic pain is the most common symptom, and can often be accompanied by painful periods; discomfort during bowel movements, heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods, pain after sex, pain in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation, cramps one or two weeks around menstruation, heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods, and infertility.

The condition can make its presence known as early as the beginning of menstruation but many women don’t begin to experience the symptoms until years down the line. Conversely, endometriosis can be asymptomatic in many women, only showing itself through infertility. “It started when I was 24,” Joleen recalled. “I had just begun working and I would get extreme cramps that would have me doubling over in pain at the office.” Without aggressive treatment, which is in short supply locally, the symptoms can become incrementally worse. “As the years progressed, the pain increased from being just during menstruation.” Joleen referred to the sensation as a “similar cramping” but lasting anywhere from a week to ten days afterward.

“Basically, you’re unwell for half of the month.”

With all the intricate difficulties, there is no solution-in-a-bottle. Many of the current treatments are temporary at best, and often offer some complications of their own. “Painkillers don’t help,” Joleen explained. “If I take Tramacet, I get a little relief but nothing else works.” She continued that although many women who suffer from endometriosis take morphine, she refuses to take the drug to avoid the high risk of addiction.

Taking artificial hormones or GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) is another means of controlling the symptoms. “The drug induces a faux menopause with the aim of suppressing the symptoms and to reduce the growth of endometriosis,” Joleen explained, having made use of this option herself. “It gives you a sneak peek of what menopause is like – cranky moods and hot flashes – which are not very nice,” she chuckled.

While GnRH does offer relief from the symptoms, it can only be taken for up to six months at a time, after which the symptoms naturally return, often worse than before. Additionally, the drug brings with it yet another, more lasting menopausal feature, that of osteoporosis.

Hysterectomy is another course of action in the attempt to eliminate the symptoms. But Joleen explained it’s been proven that they don’t provide a cure. “Because… the tissue is found outside of the uterus, removing it won’t help,” she told WMN, explaining that she knows women who were unsuccessful in their pursuit of relief through hysterectomy. “It pushes your body into early menopause as well,” she warned.

With an arsenal of discomfort-causing effects, endometriosis can essentially alter the quality of a woman’s life, which is why Joleen has been so keen on pursuing the surgery that is carded to take place at the Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta next month. “It’s challenging being a wife and stepmother,” she told WMN. “I’m unable to do anything and it’s difficult to make plans; I have to ask myself, ‘am I going to be well this week?’”

The American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) established a four-tiered staging system to classify the advancement of the condition and the severity of the characteristics. Joleen suffers with stage-four endometriosis, marked by severe pelvic inflammation and adhesion.

Adhesion refers to the blood causing the surrounding organs to be “fused together.” In Joleen’ case, her uterus is stuck to her bowel. “During menstruation, I have debilitating pain; I can go to the washroom if need be but I’m unable to do my daily duties,” she explained. “About two years ago, I developed severe chest pains and back pains, which make it impossible for me to lie down.” Joleen said she would sleep sitting upright even for up to ten days after menstruation.

Amid the numerous options and the daily coping, Joleen has managed to find the silver lining. “My faith has definitely grown and I’ve learnt place a lot more trust in God,” she admitted. “I’ve grown more humble because I know what it is to be lying in bed, at your wit’s end and being unable to do very much.” She also acknowledged her husband of four years, Daniel Simpson as an unwavering support system. “It hasn’t been easy but [the condition] has brought us closer.” Her capacity for empathy has also grown, particularly for others who are ill, whether they suffer from endometriosis or not.

After a surgery attempt in May of last year that showed her and her doctors how advanced her condition was, Joleen did some research and resolved to have a procedure done abroad. “I was to have a regular laparotomy (an incision into the abdomen) to remove the fibroids and the endometriosis, but when the doctors saw that my ovaries and fallopian tubes weren’t identifiable, they were unable to do anything.”

The procedure that she will undergo is called excision and it refers to lasering off the adhesion and separation of the organs, which has been proven to curb the problem. Excision has been shown to be more effective than ablation, another invasive procedure which superficially removes the abnormal tissue, also using laser technology.

The #HelpMyEndo movement, an online presence to create awareness that serves as a crowd-funding enterprise to finance Joleen’ surgery was founded after her unsuccessful surgery last year. “I needed the help of friends and well-wishers to get my life and my health back,” she asserted. After a barbeque and a well-received health fair, both held earlier this year, she is grateful for the support and concern sent her way.

After her surgery next month, her desire is to return home to develop initiatives that support women in the early stages of the condition, to enable them to nip its progression in the bud. She also wants to help women whose endometriosis is at an advanced stage.

Additionally, Joleen wishes to raise further awareness of the condition. “There’s still a long delay in the diagnosis,” she explained. “Doctors need to be more aware of the condition as well as to be up to speed with treatments.” She advocates for a possible collaboration between the Ministries of Health and Education to have the word spread in schools about the condition and how severely it can affect young women. “Coming out of this, I want to give back,” she affirmed.

Joleen’ final fundraiser is a gospel concert, entitled Never Give Up, scheduled for June 18 at National Academy for the Performing Arts at 6pm. Among the acts are Kay Alleyne, H2OPhlo, the Lydians Male Quartet and Voces Jovenes parang band.

Visit Help My Endo TT on Facebook for further information. Joleen Paula Joleen can be reached via (868) 719-5397 for tickets to Never Give Up and T-shirt sales. Donations can be made to FCB Account Number 1592999

“What are you going to do with the people who find themselves in that difficulty?” he asked on Friday while contributing to debate on the Miscellaneous Provisions (Marriages) Bill in the Lower House.

“Are you going to jail them? Society must accommodate. Society also has to act with compassion. As adults, parents and leaders in society, we have an obligation to groom people with the right values so that they can make the right choices and not make those mistakes.” Rambachan argued that human beings were not infallible.

“If they do make mistakes, then we must have the space where we can help them rise again. I think this is what the Hindu Women’s Organisation and the other groups are trying to say to this country and we cannot just ignore them,” he said.

“What do you do with a young woman at 14 years or 16 years, who gets pregnant as a result of a relationship with a person under the age of 18 and it is not rape? “Are we in denial that there may be dozens, maybe hundreds of young people in this position. We cannot ignore the problem and we have to find a way to deal with it.” Rambachan lamented that in the run up to the debate, the focus appeared to be solely on child brides in the Hindu and Muslim faiths.

In this regard, he took issue with National Calypso Monarch Dr Hollis Liverpool’s (Chalkdust’s) winning 2017 composition, Arithmetic, which examined the child marriage issue.

“In my humble view, the very venerable calypsonian, Chalkdust made it out to be in the minds of many, many people in this country, Hindus and non-Hindus alike – that Hindus are guilty of some crime and he viciously attacked not only Sat Maharaj but in my view, Hindus in general, without looking carefully at the position being articulated by Hindus who are in support of the age 18 but who want a window because there is none in this world who are infallible,” he said.

“There are none in this world who don’t make errors and the society must always make space and the society must always prepare for those who fall through the cracks so, they are not allowed to fall deeper, and for them the laws must have that level of protection for those who are going to make errors.” The Opposition MP said the fact that so many organisations have called for the legislation to be revisited reflected an evolution in the country’s political maturity.

“That was demonstrated yesterday ( Thursday) in this country where the democracy matured in a way by the position that people took with respect to people who hold senior positions in this country,” Rambachan said in an allusion to the overwhelming no-confidence vote against Chief Justice Ivor Archie and the Judicial and Legal Services Commission over the Marcia Ayers-Caesar d?b?cle at the Hall of Justice, Portof- Spain..

“That was a good thing and, therefore, people are evolving in the society and people are running faster than the leaders and the leaders must now stop listen and catch up with where they are.” Rambachan, in his contribution, also took Attorney General Faris Al Rawi to task for removing the initial three-majority criteria for passage of the legislation and replacing it with a simple majority.

“I do not believe that the Attorney General is in a position to make the kind of determination.

You say you are asking for a simple majority. I think that is very dangerous.”

For many men, the keeping of the home is the exclusive responsibility of the wife or woman, to which they may lend a helping hand from time to time. But what elements should be considered as indispensable to best practice in the 21st century? We note that household management today goes beyond the traditional washing of dishes and clothes, cleaning the house, caring for the children and cooking of food. It now includes managing and maintaining “technologically-driven” equipment (stove, fridge, washing machine, dishwasher, microwave, HD television and air-conditioner); recurring utility bills (water, electricity, telephone, cable and internet); online banking and other transactions; insurance payments for motor vehicles, house and travel; not forgetting property and other taxes! The above is part of the wider concern, technically called “plant maintenance and improvement”. This also involves repairs, painting and expansion of rooms, furnishings and roofs; fence walls and gates; and outer-grounds, trees and plants. Though the latter has been the exclusive undertaking of the husband or male, today this is becoming part of the extended purview of the wife’s supervisory activities; especially if she has acquired the relevant skills and know-how from her secular profession (eg engineer, contractor, senior manager).

There are the financial dimensions of housekeeping in the modern era. For many, long gone are the days when the housewife is working with a limited allowance handed to her. Coming into the marriage with her own income, housemanagement must start with a pooling and honing of individual revenues into an overall household budget. From here, specific responsibilities are accepted to implement different aspects of the house-upkeep sub-budget with timely reviews. Strategic purchasing for the acquisition or replacement of longer-term durables, wellplanned shopping expeditions (locally or aboard), with enough available cash or credit to take full advantage of “on-the-spot” bargains, must be part of the new house-enhancing agenda. Beyond the physical location, household management can extend to vehicle check-ups and repairs, laundering of house items and clothes, and the shuttling of the children to and from school and extra-curricular commitments.

In order to achieve all of the above, especially while progressing professional careers, third-party assistance may become vital. Here, the well-oiled, extended family often proves very useful. The alternative to this is the hiring and supervision of paid individuals. Who these workers are and how many will be determined by the accessible funds. These may encompass one or more of paid transportation for educational pursuits, house cleaner, cook, ironer and grounds-man (Proverbs 31:10-31).

On the other side of the real-life spectrum, where regular income is very limited, unpredictable or even non-existent, housekeeping is more a matter of family survival, stretching-toaccommodate, constantly making hard decisions, preventing the house from crumbling with its weaken roof and worn-out amenities and limiting the times and days of hunger- especially for the dependents. Here, housekeeping is grounded more in daily prayer than in efficient accounting! But even in these circumstances, as in the more favorable, putting aside something in the event of full disaster cannot be ignored as an essential of wise management practice. The “sou-sou” and credit union can be both life savers and sustainers.

In the end, you may need a “university degree” to adequately and successfully undertake housekeeping in the advancing 21st Century, but common-sense, diligence and focus will always be indispensable ingredients. The marriage must agree and decide early on its single approach to its house-management obligations, given its unique circumstances.

The brilliant flowering trees are the visible signals of the annual change of season, from hot, dry, dusty weather, to cooling showers of rain. Rain which washes the scorched black hillsides and flat country sides, causing grasses to spring back through the baked earth, and on the hillsides, in addition to the brilliant flowers, new green leaves bursting out again.

That before December we may be cursing the rain is not important now. We will have to deal with the damp and the flooding and the landslips when they come, but for now the rains are welcome, cooling, ripening events. And while it has always been so, the fact is that we are developing and sharing a deeper awareness and appreciation for it, and maybe many of us who, when we saw the beauty in our trees, could not exult and share the ways we do today, so all admiration tended to be suppressed? I mean, just a few years ago how could you share the beauty of a Yellow Pouis in full bloom? By the time you took the film to be developed, and printed, and then published or shared it with anyone, all the flowers would have gone, fallen, faded and turning to mulch.

Today, what we see, we share— now for now! We share our experiences “live”, and this means that many of us, too busy sometimes to have seen the beauty around our lives, are awakened by others sharing of the Nature’s Delights which surround us—and have always surrounded us.

I firmly believe that the new media, the instant information, is awakening the reality of beauty surrounding us, the beauty which we were too busy to absorb, or too cynical to acknowledge because we were not sure how others felt about it.

And as we awaken to these feelings, a sort of latent discovery of great beauty all around us, we learn to love our land, just a little bit more than before. When we hear outsiders exclaim in wonder over a sight we had always seen, but accepted at less than face value, our self esteem and pride grow too, even if just a little. These are our trees, our flowers, our joys to share with the whole world, and the world looks in wonder and we become proud that they grow right here, in our land.

But the blooming is so brief, that our joy and wellbeing often passes too quickly, leaving no sustained emotion. Suddenly the blooms are a thick carpet—gold or pink— below the naked branches of the tree, and joyous are the May or June Brides who can have their photographs taken on one of these carpets! But within a day or two, the flowers all dry up, lose their colour and disappear. This annual event, the blooming and the shedding of the flowers, embraces a period when our young people, even our young children, are called upon to blossom forth and show what their education has done for them, so far in their lives.

Whole families stress to get their children—from little ones right through university—successfully through the exams they must sit at this time of the year.

This is where our children are taught stress. And most survive and grow in their new schools, new settings that may not have been their choices. But some, those who excelled in the exams, like flowers bursting forth, are publicly acknowledged. And they will grow to flower again at the new school until it is time for more exams, more stress and choices. Some will repeat this process, into universities, but many will seek work after completing secondary school.

But where have all these Flowers gone? Do we know how our scholarship winners have done, or are doing, over the years? There would have been careers built, approaching retirement now, over scholarship awards since Independence.

Do the scholarship winners at “eleven plus” win the University Scholarships, or do different flowers bloom? And how many who go abroad to study return home? This is not to question the motives of anyone, for truth be told, coming back home is a sacrifice right now, especially for bright, forward-looking graduates.

Looking at the state of our society, it seems clear that most of our f l o w – ers are blowing away, to b e t t e r lives in different l a n d s ? How can we call t h e m back?