Dear Editor, The recent announcement by the Georgetown Mayor and City Council of the implementation/installation of parking meters in certain sections of the city has been met with consternation, outrage and dismay by citizens who are already burdened with additional taxes and the constant enforceability of rules and regulations that have significantly weakened their daily income. In his www.conversationtree blog, former Speaker of the National Assembly, Ralph Ramkarran, charged that: “Coming so soon after the elections, the decision to install parking meters was clearly on APNU/AFC’s agenda prior to the…
Read MoreMonth: June 2016
Commentaries on Independence struggle racially aligned
Dear Editor, In browsing through the dailies, almost every commentary pertaining to the struggle for British Guiana’s Independence has been polarised or influenced by race and party with Afro writers praising PNCites (African figures) and Indo-writers praising PPPites. It is indisputable that Dr Cheddi Jagan was the leading figure in the struggle for Independence, hence the title the Father of the Independence Struggle. Forbes Burnham was also a leading figure in the struggle, but his anti-Jagan, anti-Indian, anti-socialist, and anti-PPP positions resulted in the delay of the colony’s Independence. It…
Read MoreThe President should be commended for speech at NY event
Dear Editor, Last Saturday night, as guest of Captain Gerry Gouveia, I attended the 50th Independence Anniversary “Golden Jubilee” Dinner in New York City at which President David Granger was the guest of honour and keynote speaker. For me, the highlight of the evening was the President’s address which did not include any mention of the former government’s 23 years in office, which did not include any mention of any partisan politics, did not include any mention of forensic audits but rather highlighted the assets including our flora and fauna,…
Read MoreLessons of Enmore
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…
Read MoreThe 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 MoreMan ordered to pay fine or face jail time for ‘Facebook’ death threats against PPP officials
The self-professed A Partnership for 3National Unity/ Alliance For Change (APNU/AFC) activist who posted death threats on social media against Opposition Leader Dr Bharrat Jagdeo and other leaders of the PPP/C was today ordered to either pay a $75,000 fine or face six months imprisonment after he pleaded guilty to the offence. Tameshwar Beekham, 39, of Crabwood Creek Corentyne, Berbice was accused of threatening by way of writing on his ‘Facebook’ page plans to murder former Presidents Bharrat Jagdeo and Donald Ramotar as well as Clement Rohee and Dr Roger…
Read MoreCPL 2016: Moody predicts bright future in sunshine State
Australian two-time ICC Cricket World Cup winner Tom Moody believes that this year’s Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) will be the most competitive yet and that the inclusion of a myriad of world-class players across all six teams will make it the biggest and best yet. Moody, who recently steered Sunrisers Hyderabad to their maiden IPL title as Head Coach, is the CPL’s International Director of Cricket and played a key role in securing the signing of overseas players of the calibre of AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Brendon…
Read MoreMassive parade, unity concert bring curtains down on Jubilee celebration in NY
New York: A mammoth parade through the streets of Brooklyn and a massive unity concert at South Shore High School Park, Brooklyn, brought the curtains down on the one-week New York celebration of Guyana’s Golden Jubilee of Independence. The New York Guyana Jubilee Celebrations from held from June 4 – 12, 2016, was organised by Guyana’s 50th Independence Anniversary Celebration Committee (New York). The parade, which commenced at Church and Utica Avenues in the heart of the Guyanese-American community in Brooklyn, was led by Committee Chairman, Mr. Rickford Burke, Guyanese…
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…
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