2019 – Page 78 – Guyana Times International

African culture in today’s society

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

African culture, also known as Black culture, refers to the cultural contributions of Africans to the culture of their country, either as part of or distinct from that country’s culture. The distinct identity of African culture is rooted in the historical experience of the African people, including the Middle Passage. African culture for Guyanese is rooted in West and Central Africa, understanding its identity in the anthropological sense, conscious of its origins as largely a blend of West and Central African cultures. Although slavery greatly restricted the ability of Africans…

The buck stops with…

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

…the President on elections It’s so pathetic that the Caretaker President of this country David Granger, would hide (now literally) under the skirts of GECOM to evade his constitutional duty to announce a date for elections. Does he even remember the oath he took on his Bible when he was sworn in as President? No matter how much he bobs and weaves he cannot get away from the clear declaration of the Constitution of this country. There, Art 61 – explicitly labelled “Time for elections” – declares: “An election of…

The significance of our emancipation memorials

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

By Kizzy Coleman Emancipation day is observed annually in Guyana to memorialise the ending of slavery of the African people and celebrate their freedom from servitude. August, 1, 1838 was one of the most important days of the country’s history: it brought an end to a European institution deliberately designed to acquire wealth from the “sweat” of Africans through forced labour. But on August 1. 1838, the people forced into enslavement were finally freed from anguish and poverty and were free to live – to really live. However, being free…

‘From Cuffy to Critchlow: Fighters for Political Emancipation’

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

By Hazel Woolford On February 23, 1763, Cuffy led a revolution that shook this hemisphere. It undeniably contributed to the outbreak of the Haitian Revolution and the French Revolution. Cuffy was the first African Guyanese slave to attempt to establish a Republic. He gained control of the colony and ruled Berbice for over a year. His attempts at social cohesion or unity of the Dutch and Africans in the fledgling black republic failed. Cuffy was a high achiever. He succeeded in communicating with the Dutch, with the assistance of white…

US firm honours Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary’s top NGSA achievers

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The top ten performers at the recent National Grade Six Assessment (NGSA) of the Meten-Meer-Zorg Primary School were on Friday honoured by US consulting firm in Guyana; Keen360. This recognition was made possible through Keen360’s ‘Scholarship Programme’— which extended cash grants as well as trophies. In addition, the students were treated to a full day of activities, which included a field trip to the Botanical Gardens and the zoo, with a relaxing lunch afterward. In their continued bid to improve the school’s learning environment, the US-based firm also provided paint…

Fate of Berbice Cop accused of falsifying evidence to be decided soon

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The fate of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) rank at the Reliance Police Station, Canje, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), who was arrested on Saturday after a series of damning reports of corrupt activities including falsifying evidence, is soon to be determined. According to the police, investigations were conducted last week into the claims by several persons that the cop had been “planting evidence” at various locations and forcing innocent persons to pay him monies to avoid arrest. A file has been compiled on these matters and has been dispatched…

Guyhoc Park man killed during home invasion

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

The start of a new day quickly turned tragic for the family of a well-known mechanic after he was brutally killed early Saturday morning when gunmen invaded his Guyhoc Park, East La Penitence, Georgetown home. Dead is 44-year-old Reginald Atherly, popularly known “Diesel Boss” and “Reggie” of Lot G26 Guyhoc Park, East La Penitence, Georgetown, who owned and operated a mechanic shop at his home. Reports surrounding the killing indicate that the father of five was shot multiple times at close range by two masked gunmen who invaded his home…

Victoria Village

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

Bringing Peace from Troubled Beginnings November 7 will mark 180 years since 83 freed Africans who were previously enslaved, bought Plantation Northbrook and renamed it Victoria, in honour of then monarch of British Guiana, Queen Victoria. Located some 18 miles east of the capital city, Georgetown, Victoria Village is revered as the first village that the Africans purchased after becoming free from years of bondage and abject suffering. Today it rests peacefully along the East Coast of Demerara, after initially harbouring its original inhabitants, scarred from generations of slavery, who…

The next war

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

By Ravi Dev Reflecting on the sudden agreement on the next GECOM Chair reached by Caretaker President David Granger and Opposition Leader Bharrat Jagdeo, after the long war of attrition waged by the PNC leader, I was reminded of the salutary advice of George Orwell: “…the object of waging a war is always to be in a better position in which to wage another war.” Orwell made the observation in his classic dystopia novel “1984”, which has since been proven to be quite prophetic about the actions and motives of…

Probe into arbitrary firing of PSM staff completed

August 2, 2019August 2, 2019 TIMES INT'L

– Govt yet to disclose findings More than three weeks have elapsed since a special Board of Inquiry (BoI) which was set up by President David Granger to probe the arbitrary firing of staff at the Public Service Ministry handed over its report to the Government but there has been no word as to its findings. Director General of the Ministry of the Presidency, Joseph Harmon recently told Guyana Times International that the BoI completed the task that it had been assigned to and the report was submitted to Minister…