Category: Features

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature By Petamber Persaud (An extract from an interview  with Sharon Maas, who talked about her most recent novel “Sons of Gods”, November 2012 in Georgetown, Guyana. Her other novels include “Of Marriageable Age”, set in India and Guyana, “Peacocks Dancing” set in Guyana and India, and “The Speech of Angels” set in India and Europe). Author Sharon Maas writing as Aruna Sharan PP: The first set of Indians that were brought to Guyana came with their traditions in their heart and their head. But they…

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By Danielle Campbell Kumarie Kooseram has always been on top of her game and had grown use to being an A-student all her life. So it came as no surprise when she emerged best graduating student after sitting the Common Entrance exams (now National Grade Six Assessment), second best at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) and best again at the A-Levels. Her success was again well-deserved when she was adjudged best graduating student at the recent 46th Convocation of the University of Guyana’s medical programme. Kooseram grew up at…

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A U.S-based Guyanese girl is living her dreams at one of the world’s top design houses By Venessa Deosaran June Haynes is a fashion executive in the glitz and glamour of the international fashion world, living her dreams while proving that great talent can come from beautiful Guyana. Describing herself as a creative, curious, fun person who loves fashion, giving back, and life, the US-based Guyanese fashion connoisseur now serves as senior vice president of retail, and brand ambassador at Valentino, the luxury fashion house founded by master couturier Valentino…

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For centuries, mehndi, the art of henna painting on the body, has been practiced in India, Africa, and the Middle East, where the henna plant is believed to bring love and good fortune, and protect against evil. Mehndi is traditionally practiced for wedding ceremonies, during important rites of passage and in times of joyous celebration. A paste made from the crushed leaves of the henna plant is applied to the skin, and when removed several hours later, leaves beautiful markings on the skin that fade naturally over 1 to 3…

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A cultural advocate, Claire Ann Goring uses her talent and commitment to promote and preserve the culture of her homeland through her exquisite handmade greeting cards. She has developed her own line of handmade greeting and inspirational cards, which she shares with the world via her company, Hybiskus Creations. As a graphic artist, her creative talent can be seen in her production of magazines, brochures, newspapers and in marketing campaigns. From her studio in Canarsie, Brooklyn, New York, Claire is inspired to create the most exquisite and unique invitations and…

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According to contemporary research, some 240,000 Indians were indentured to British Guiana plantations between 1838 and 1917. Their indentureship contracts stipulated the right to be repatriated after their contracts were completed, and, according to Dwarka Nath, in his book “A History of Indians in British Guiana”, (1950) some 75, 547 persons returned to India on official repatriation schemes between 1843 and 1949. Statistics of the British Guiana Immigration Agent General’s report of 1881 indicate that from 1843 to 1881, 17,235 Indians left the colony for India; in 1929, 520 Indians…

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By Petember Persaud A recent visit to East Berbice left me unfulfilled, mainly because some of the books about that area were still sitting on my desk back home begging closure. Had I made the time to finish reading those books, I would have been in a less anxious state to put the story of East Berbice in perspective, and I would have been in a better position to appreciate the place, people and events. The books I am making reference to include “Sweetening Bitter Sugar: Jock Campbell, The Booker…

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By Danielle Campbell Dr Zoe Perreira was recently adjudged the best graduating student in the dentistry programme at the University of Guyana. She was born at Timehri, East Bank Demerara to Herman and Holly Perreira and attended several schools across the country. Perreira has experienced the thrills of living in several communities since each time her parents were promoted, the family would relocate. “When my mom was promoted as deputy headteacher of Ann’s Grove Primary School, I was enrolled.” She has always been a high achiever and was always involved…

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By Utamu Belle They say that knowledge teaches wisdom, and age also comes along with it; for 101-year-old Agatha Campbell, wisdom comes naturally. Born to Rosaline and Charles Jones, on Sept 19, 1911, “Miss Gathy” or “Mother Gathy”, as she is often called by persons living in her Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden community, is the lone survivor of a family of eight brothers and one sister. Despite the fact that her memory is now failing due to Alzheimer’s disease, Miss Gathy reflected in an interview on the years gone by,…

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Kelly-Ann Gibbs Cartwright Awarded for outstanding academic performance and being distinctly exemplary in their careers, Dr Paulianda Jones and Kelly-Ann Gibbs Cartwright, both born in Guyana, are setting the pace of excellence internationally, ably representing their country of birth. Groundbreaking scientist A scientist, Paulianda Jones has been noted for her neuro-pharmacological research, focusing on the discovery of possible treatments for Parkinson’s disease and anxiety disorders. A post-doctoral research fellow at Vanderbilt School of Medicine, she is regarded as a “brilliant chemist.” Paulianda was born to Andrew Griffith and Paulette Griffith…

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