…or spinning wheels on Third Force There seems to be an effort to jump-start another “Third Force” in Guyana today; and former Speaker Ralph Ramkarran attempted to rationalise it in his column last Sunday. This Third Force idea’s been floated time and again as a way to break the debilitating stand-off between the PPP and PNC – parties which obtain their support from ethnic Indian and African voters, who are closely matched in size. The theory is simple but, unfortunately, also simplistic. It assumes there’s a bloc of voters who…
Read MoreYear: 2018
Bunty Singh walks away with G$800,000. as new Chutney King
The 2017 Chutney Queen, Vanita Willie was in the wee hours of Monday morning dethroned, following an exceptional performance by Berbician Bunty Singh who was crowned the new Guyana Chutney King. The competition was hosted at the Leonora Stynthetic Track, West Coast Demerara, which saw a small crowd cheering and supporting their favourite artistes. The competition which got underway almost three hours after the schedule time to commence saw 10 chutney singers trying to impress the judges and the audience, in their attempt to convince the judges that they are…
Read MoreBlack History Month Series: part two
By Petamber Persaud There are as many ways to celebrate as there are appropriate ways to celebrate. The tenor of Black History Month should be celebrated with books especially with books on the history of places, peoples and events. Starting with books on places, here’s a glimpse of three villages. The History of Victoria Village by William N. Arno, first published in 1966, reprinted by the Guyana Heritage Society 2000. The book, ‘History of Victoria Village’, a slim publication, written by William N. Arno, tells the inspiring story of how…
Read MoreCelebrating the year of the Dog
Also known as the Spring Festival, the Chinese New Year in pre-modern times signalled to farmers in China to begin preparation for the sowing of their fields. At the Chinese New Year, people traditionally wear red clothes and give children “lucky money” concealed in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which, according to legend, can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits. In Guyana, many…
Read MoreGuyana giving illegal foreign nationals opportunity to regularise status
The Ministry of Citizenship in Guyana is granting temporary amnesty to illegal foreign national miners so that they can regularise their status in Guyana. “We are giving you a chance to come to the office in Georgetown with your passport and apply for your extension of stay. If you came to work and your initial visa was an employment visa you can have that extended as well as your work permit,” Minister of Citizenship, Winston Felix assured foreign nationals working in the Mazaruni, Mining District Three on Monday, February 19.…
Read More‘AFC did the right thing’ – Dr Hinds
The decision taken by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Alliance For Change (AFC) to consider joining with the coalition parties to contest the Local Government Elections (LGE) under one ticket has been described as a sensible position that could help the Government. Political analyst Dr David Hinds has said that the dynamics of the coalition meant that should the parties contest the elections separately, they would be fighting each other for the same voters. “And that could create bad blood among them, which would then make it difficult…
Read MoreJourney to discovering my Chinese Ancestry
By Chevon Lim There are many reasons why people might start to trace their ancestors. It could be that they are trying to find out something about a grandparent, an interest in history or (most likely) just a curiosity about who their ancestors were and whether they had had inherited any characteristics or skills. For many people, however, it is not until they start working on their family history that they realise just how it can have very positive effects on their lives and how they feel about themselves. Genealogy…
Read MoreBack to the future: Peripherilising Indians
By Ravi Dev There are some who, when they become advanced in years, do not think anymore; they merely remember. This is particularly dangerous when those who lead a country, such as in Guyana today, fall prey to this tendency; since they merely repeat initiatives that may not only be inappropriate in the present circumstances, but may have actually failed in their first incarnation. One of the prevalent beliefs in the African Guyanese community, occasioned by the PNC’s accession to office in 1964, was that Indian Guyanese controlled the economy,…
Read MoreLinden’s Brandon Harding crowned Carib Soca Monarch 2018
Lindener Brandon Harding was, in the wee hours of Sunday, crowned Carib Soca Monarch 2018 after outshining his nine other finalists at Durban Park, Georgetown. The young man, who now resides in St. Lucia with his family, returned to Guyana to enter into the Carib Soca Monarch, which was on pause for two years. The return of the monarch saw new talent being exposed, thus giving the artistes a chance to showcase same to the world. Winning the monarch was the expectation of the young Harding who, before the commencement…
Read MoreERC members finally sworn-in
Seven years after the Ethnic Relations Commission (ERC) became inoperable, President David Granger on Thursday morning swore in the new members of the organisation during a simple ceremony at State House. The new members were identified as Pastor John Smith from the Christian community; Rajkumarie Singh from the Hindu community; Roshan Khan from the Muslim community; Norris Witter from the labour movement; Norman McLean, the Private Sector representative; Deodat Persaud for youth organisations; Ruth Howard for women’s organisations; Ashton Simon for Amerindian groups; Barrington Braithwaite for African groups and Neaz…
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