It is now a cliche – and a tired one at that – to point out “those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them”. Today (Thursday) is “Enmore Martyrs’ Day” and while there will be a plethora of speeches invoking the five unfortunate cane cutters who were killed by the colonial Police back on June 16, 1948, what does the incident mean to us today in Guyana? At the barest minimum, with our country having just completed a mammoth celebration of the 50th anniversary of our…
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The bitter fruits of hate
As the world reels from the shock of 50 persons from the LGBT community in Florida being slaughtered like shooting fish in a barrel, we have to examine the systemic factors at work in the US and apply them in our small country to ensure such an event never occurs here again. And while it may surprise some to see the word “again” used, that simply means we have forgotten, or refuse to confront, the madness of Lusignan, Bartica and Lindo Creek. On a per capita basis, they outweigh the…
Read MoreEnjoy Kurupukari Falls
Located in Region Nine on the banks of the mighty Essequibo River, the Kurupukari Falls is a natural wonder.It is a series of rapids, which provide a vital water supply for the village of Fairview. At the Falls, there are boulders with ancient markings called petroglyphs. Fishing and swimming are just a few activities to enjoy at the Falls.
Read MoreAfrican emigration to British Guiana
According to a March 31, 1851 census there were some 7,168 African immigrants residing in Demerara, Essequibo and Berbiceon the colony of British Guiana. Of these, 2,728 were living in Berbice, including in New Amsterdam. Two thousand, four hundred and five resided in Demerara, including Georgetown, and 2,035 lived in Essequibo. While many are said to have voluntarily arrived on the colony from Sierra Leone and the Kroo (Kru) Coast, now in modern day Liberia and Ivory Coast, many others arrived after being rescued from the slave ships of other…
Read MoreThe Guyana Women Artists’ Association exhibits artistic pieces
The Association is a non-governmental, non-profit organisation that seeks to encourage and support women’s participation in the field of visual arts. Formed in September of 1987, GWAA had Marjorie Broodhagen A.A. (1912 – 2000) as its first president and an executive committee, which included Stephanie Correia A.A. (d.2000), Agnes Jones A.A. (d. 2008), and other prominent artists and art educators of that time. In April of the following year, the Association mounted its first exhibition, in retrospect. In 1989 a travelling GWAA exhibition was mounted at the National Museum in…
Read MoreCPL fever!
The CPL ticket office, located at Camp and Quamina Streets in Georgetown, was officially declared open on Thursday, June 9, 2016. Already several cricket fans are flocking the office to purchase their tickets for the CPL matches to be held in Guyana.
Read MoreLiving meaningful lives
Happiness is the goal of human life. In our quest to give substance to our independence, our leaders have focused all our efforts towards increasing the production of goods and services that comprise our “Gross National Product” (GDP). The presumption is that those goods and services form the basis of happiness. Other countries, including some in Europe however, have since followed the lead of Nepal, which insists that governments must work to improve the “happiness” of their citizens. But even apart from the difficulties of measuring “happiness” there are disagreement…
Read MoreThe Cheddi Jagan Research Centre
Honouring the life of a Guyanese patriot The Cheddi Jagan Research Centre, which is privately run by Dr. Cheddi Jagan’s family and friends, was declared open March 22, 2000. The Centre, located at High Street, Kingston, aims to promote research and publish materials on the life, work and ideas of Jagan and his wife, Janet. Additionally, this will promote research on the history of Guyana’s struggle for independence and social justice, the history of Guyana as a whole from the early 1940s to 2009. The year was 1918, when, on…
Read MoreGreen Bartica; a town to be emulated
On April 23, 2016, the budding community of Bartica will officially be declared a town, as the government fulfils a 179 year Ordinance made by the then British Government. The Ordinance was made on April 23, 1837, as such; this is set to be an immensely historic occasion. With its first Mayor, Deputy Mayor and Town Council, its highly anticipated status of township and unsurprisingly renewed political will, Bartica is set to be modelled as a town to be emulated by all others. Under the guidance of President Granger, the…
Read MoreActing as a vehicle for self-expression
How local actor Leon Cummings became recognised in the theatre arts Determined and resilient are just a few words to describe local actor Leon Cummings. Differently-able, Leon has triumphed challenges to become one of Guyana’s most talented theatrical performers. Leon was born on September 2, 1989 at the Georgetown Public Hospital. In the womb, the unbiblical cord wrapped around Leon’s hands, resulting in them not being fully formed. However, he adeptly maintains use of his fingers and hands. He grew up on Norton Street, Lodge and attended Enterprise Primary, where…
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