Category: Features

By Mohamed Irfaan Ali After more than two decades, the memory of the harsh wound inflicted on the people of my village seems so fresh as if it was only yesterday.  The pain, agony and hardship it brought upon the people still remain strikingly fresh, too deep to heal and painful to forget. The common village alarm of the faithful morning whistle, the sweet aroma of the ripened burnt canes and the bustling of each household before sunrise made it a village so full of life all of which was…

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The community of Nappi in Region Nine and the management team of Maipaima Eco-lodge received a pleasant surprise earlier this month when they received a letter from TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel website, congratulating them on being awarded the “Recommended on TripAdvisor” endorsement and display sticker. According to the letter, signed by Christine Petersen, president of TripAdvisor for Business, travellers have been impressed by the business and service standards at Maipaima Eco-lodge and “it shows in their reviews.” Only 3+ rated properties receive this accolade, and it was awarded to…

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“Pageants have helped me to discover my strengths and weaknesses and get to know myself better” Placing in the top 12 of the Miss Universe Canada 2011, Canada based-Guyanese Sadhna Yunus is always proud to seize every opportunity to showcase her country of birth to the wider world. In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Yunus revealed that she grew up in Albion, Berbice, and recalled many fond childhood memories, all of which she dearly treasures. Her fondest memory is when she attended primary school, and on Fridays, played…

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By Danielle CampbBell “The mind is truly more perceptive than the eyes,” is a belief which holds true for radiologist Loretta Vigilance. Vigilance, a mother of four, analyses and interprets dozens of X-rays every week at the hospital where she is employed, and is also a dietary nutritionist, a lecturer, and interior decorator. Her story would have been considered the average life of a Guyanese woman had she not defied the odds that were stacked against her. Vigilance is visually-impaired. Her masterfully designed pieces are breathtaking and thought-provoking, even more…

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Trading the medical field for entrepreneurship, young Guyanese Rosh Khan, holder of a medical degree, is now sought after by many renowned international companies for his practical advice on business success. At 24, Khan decided he would create a social media agency, and in January 2011, he officially launched SocialRank Media. His company has since developed from a bedroom business catering to local New York clients to a global operation with hundreds of clients around the world. His new head office is currently under construction in Georgetown. In an exclusive…

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Amerindian Heritage Month replete with rich heritage displays As Amerindian Heritage Month ends, looking back reveals a flurry of exhibits and festivities this past month that showcased our indigenous people’s rich heritage. Amerindian Heritage Month has been observed each year in September after it was passed by Parliament in 1995 for such an observance. From 1995, the month usually begins with an official launching ceremony. This year an inter-faith service was held August 31 at the Umana Yana, and the official launching of the month was held September 1 at…

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Professional dancer and entrepreneur Chandini Rambalak Ramnarain has become an even more well-known personality after producing an international queen at the recent Miss India Worldwide pageant. In an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine, Chandini credits her love for dance for all she has accomplished today. “After primary school, I joined the Indian Cultural Centre and started dancing classes. My parents are very talented and artistic as well. Growing up, me and my sisters always enjoyed dancing. APSARA started because my family and I wanted to incorporate a fusion of…

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The Ministry of Amerindian Affairs, at the corner of Quamina and Thomas streets in Georgetown, was artistically highlighted September 22 by children who came out in their numbers from various parts of the country, to paint their interpretation of Amerindian Heritage Month’s theme, ‘Embracing our Identity, Celebrating our Culture’ on its fence. The images chosen reflected the children’s cultural heritage, as colourful paintings of animals, forests and indigenous activities gave evidence of their talent and creativity that illustrated their homage for their rich culture. This was just one of the…

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Part 1: Indigenous Guyanese and the arrival of the Europeans According to a Timehri Journal (Vol. X 1896) article called ‘The Indian Policy of the Dutch’, when the early European explorers arrived in Guyana, the coastlands and further districts may have been heavily populated by various indigenous tribes. It suggests that as much as 140,000 Caribs may have been living in the territory, with a fourth inhabiting between Corentyne and Essequibo and the remainder in areas that included the North West district and the Orinoco delta. The article notes it…

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For anthropologist Louisa Daggers, squishing her fingers in gooey mud and between skeletal remains is not a problem. The excitement of unearthing aeons of Guyana’s prehistory just adds to the thrill of her job. Anthropology and archaeology have always been second nature to Louisa. It was an interest she developed since childhood. “I spent my weekends looking at National Geographic and documentaries. This interest was further fuelled by my continuous visits to museums with my family. Because of this I excelled in school, especially in the field of Social Studies…

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