Category: Features

By Lakhram Bhagirat As cliché as it sounds the famous words of Mahatma Gandhi, “Be the change you want to see,” is the driving force behind everything that young Shazam Somwar does to make his mark and leave behind a legacy that would do his generation proud. Shazam is a 21-year-old medical student of the Greenheart Medical University, but what makes him exceptional is his drive to help others and address the issues that affect them. Hailing from Kilcoy, Corentyne, he is the eldest of three children from a family…

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An 18-year-old aspiring entrepreneur has won the inaugural ‘I am a big Deal’ Miss Berbice pageant. Farah Valentina Bates copped the title from eleven other contestants on Sunday morning at the Albion Sports Complex. Bates, a Rose Hall Town Corentyne resident who is pursuing a diploma in Public Management at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus, competed under the platform ‘suicide awareness and prevention’. The contest saw the delegates competing in four categories: talent, costume, beach wear and evening wear, with the top five having to answer a question based…

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Shulinab is a community situated in the spectacular natural beauty of South Central Rupununi, Region Nine. Also known as Makushi Village, Shulinab lies along the main South Savannah road, about 35 miles south of Lethem and about 12 miles southeast of Parikwarinawa Village. Shulinab has a population of approximately 500 people. It has several active organisations, and serves as headquarters for the South Central People’s Development Association. The Shulinab Industrial Arts Centre, financed by the New Zealand government, focuses on carpentry and joinery, and enables community members to tap into…

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Before the age of ten, Anthony Butts, popularly known as Antonio, realised his artistic talent. He believes that being artistic is a “God-given talent” everyone has, all they have to do is “discover their potential”. In 1977, the self-taught artist held his first solo exhibition in Georgetown. Later that year, he was awarded first prize in the National Art Exhibition and Competition. His paintings were exhibited at the first Caribbean Festival of Arts held in Guyana. In 1980, he designed and laid out the Guyana Booth for the International Trade…

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By Isahak Basir, CCH Dartmouth is a village with rich history located in Region Two on the Essequibo Coast. The glory of Dartmouth comes into brightness every Friday afternoon until Sunday night, but the ordinary traveller cannot miss this unique village of which history will not be overlooked. From 1640 to 1850, Dartmouth has no drainage system or sea defence. The area was a “no man’s land” and was first occupied by ex-slaves who could not find solace in the existing sugar plantations. However, while the ruling plantocracy was able…

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Dozens of species, which are likely new to science, have been discovered in the Kaieteur National Park (KNP) and Upper Potaro area in Guyana during a month-long expedition by a team of intrepid researchers. Some of these species found are thought to only occur in the Guiana Shield. These findings were among the most significant highlighted in a recent report released by World Wildlife Fund Guianas and Global Wildlife Conservation. The report is the second in a series which aims to highlight Guyana’s incredibly rich biodiversity and represents the most…

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By Dr. Odeen Ishmael One of the adventurers and explorers who believed in the existence of the ‘golden city’ in Guyana was the Englishman, Sir Walter Raleigh, a businessman and explorer with military experience, who was also a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I. Queen Elizabeth herself was a bitter enemy of Spain with whom England was at war during the last quarter of the sixteenth century. In 1594, Raleigh sent an expedition led by Captain Jacob Whiddon to the Guyana region to obtain information about Manoa. He returned to England…

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By Petamber Persaud “Derailed” could be an appropriate subtitle to the novel, “Karma Curry”, because evil plots, machinations and schemes are derailed, in the world of humankind, and in the sphere of the gods, even many good intentions are derailed and, also, the world of the author does not escape slices of derailment. In this novel, the world of the immortal and the world of mortal feed off each other for survival, a novel approach to storytelling. “Karma Curry” is about love, lust, betrayal, unrequited love, filial responsibility, revenge, remorse…

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Paruima Village, with a population of about 800, is located in Upper Mazaruni, Region Seven. It is said to be the only Arecuna speaking community in Guyana. The Paruima and Panasima Falls are scenic waterfalls in that territory. Located in the Cuyuni-Mazaruni region between Guyana and Venezuela, the area also hosts stunning views of the Kamarang River leading to Venezuela. There are also huge rock formations between which children enjoy playing hide and seek. Paruima Village also contains a place of worship, sports ground and a college named the Davis…

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Founded in 2014 by Nirmala Ramprasad, Green Dupatta is a Canada-based registered charitable organisation devoted to advancing sustainable development and agriculture. The core of sustainable development is found in an organisation’s ability to sustain itself and eventually become self-sufficient. Hence, Green Dupatta provides communities with the base necessities to create programmes that are not solely reliant on funds from abroad. In 2013, Nirmala travelled to Guyana for the first time, in her visits to family and friends, and came upon an abandoned building, which she was told her grandfather, Harry…

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