Month: June 2012

A fascinating eco-tour

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By Venessa Deosaran Guyana is a big country – the entire island of Barbados can fit in one of our rivers – so nature trips can take days, but there is now a half-day tour of several East Coast villages, where visitors encounter our Guyanese heritage, a thriving mangrove forest, a wetland teeming with fish and birdlife, and a towering sugar estate house, in the company of charming hosts from the village. And that’s only part of the story in the Golden Grove/Belfield Mangrove Reserve – 20 minutes from Georgetown.…

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Professor Bourne re-elected UG chancellor

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The University of Guyana (UG) administration, in response to questions raised by a few media houses about recent calls by the University of Guyana Workers Union (UGWU) and the University of Guyana Senior Staff Association (UGSSA) for the resignation of Chancellor Professor Compton Bourne, has declared that it does not support the call. At a recent meeting of the University’s Council, Professor Bourne was re-elected chancellor for a period of three years and the administration looks forward to working with Chancellor Bourne, the council, all university staff and stakeholders, to…

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A man getting zero fuh “dictation!”

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Remember de subject ‘dictation’ where de teacher use to just stand up and talk and you had fuh write? With every word yuh spell wrong, yuh use to lose a mark. Some even use to spell “a” wrong! Sometimes de teacher even use to spell some words wrong too, and even though he/ she wrong, dem still use to dictate and impose that how dem spell, is right. Well, some of that still around; de “ rong dictation” that is. De other day a key man from de “key” party…

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Padawan exams

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Third formers in Guyana are poised to write their “National Third Form Exams” (NTFE) next week. But most of them are probably “throwing back” and viewing these exams as a break from their internal exams. I know that’s certainly what we did in our year! I guess it’s because these exams aren’t really given the same hype that surrounds NGSA, CSEC and CAPE. I mean, most of us weren’t even aware that there was a NTFE until we were in Third Form, and it was a pity, since we didn’t…

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Students across Guyana to benefit from school uniform vouchers

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The Education Ministry last  Monday began distribution of school uniform vouchers across the country. The School Uniform Programme was introduced about a decade ago to improve attendance, participation rates, and attainment levels, by ensuring that every child has the basic necessities for school. Education Minister Priya Manickchand on Monday visited several schools in Georgetown as she commenced the distribution of school uniform vouchers for the new school term beginning September. “Government is keen on educating our children, since it sees education as the only way out of poverty and to…

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We gat we own “Kids Sehin de Darnest Thing”

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It had a TV show call “Kids Say The Darnest Thing” that comedian Bill Cosby use to host. It was designed in such a way that children give natural and spontaneous responses to questions. In some way, people “learn” from de kids. It was hilarious, but after a while people realised that children could actually say de “darnest”  thing. That somehow reduce de “element of surprise”. In other words, after a while people wasn’t surprise at what some of de children said. Is de same way people here not totally…

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Backtrackers giving GRA headache in Berbice

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– revenue collection down, anti-smuggling measures implemented With a significant decline in revenue collection at Corriverton, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) said it has beefed up anti-smuggling measures in the area to trap Guyanese who trade in Suriname but evade taxes. Rampant smuggling of goods and drugs from Suriname to Guyana has been a long-standing problem. Some businesses in Berbice have also complained about not being able to compete with other businesses that engage in smuggling. The GRA in a statement said over the past year, it has collaborated with…

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Guyana Goebbels

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Satiricus has studied Hitler’s Minister of propaganda, Goebbels rather closely. He figured that anybody who could rile up the supposedly most civilised nation in Europe to exterminate six million Jews should be recognisable. Just in case a new Goebbels spouted his vitriol in Satiricus’ backyard. Goebbels’ formula was simple: tell a lie long enough and everyone will start believing it. Satiricus was therefore roused from his usual laid back attitude when he read the owner of the Muckraker, Glennie repeat Goebbels’ old and dangerous formula. A light went off in…

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