Tribute to a Mother

By Janet Jagan My mother died at the age of 95, some 5,000 miles away. She was very old and had lived a long and useful life. I remember her for what she gave me, rich gifts which I have cherished my lifetime. She taught me hard work and honesty, honesty at all costs, no in-betweens or half-ways. She taught me these qualities by her own conduct and what I suppose were disciplinary measures, which I can no longer recall. What I recall of my childhood in Chicago, U.S.A., was…

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Indentured mother of a President

The late President of Guyana, Cheddi Jagan, was the son of indentured sugar workers. Of note is his hardworking mother, Bachoni. He wrote that he learned the elements of finance from his mother. His parents, Bachoni and Jagan (father), had arrived in the then British Guiana as young infants with their mothers from the district of Basti in Uttar Pradesh, India. Both his grandmothers came as indentured immigrants in 1901 and were “bound” by a five-year contract to different sugar plantations in the county of Berbice. Life was very hard…

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‘Create opportunities for self-development’

Crystal is a designer and mother who believes with determination anything is possible By Utamu Belle Motherhood is nothing short of amazing, as proven by one of Linden’s top fashion designers and mother of two, Crystal Lam. At 24, Crystal, a young mother of two girls, is already a budding entrepreneur in the local fashion industry and the innovative mind behind Crystal Lam Designs. For her, motherhood is the driving force and motivation behind her success story. Crystal started off with careers in banking and public sector, but sewing and…

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Venturing into the ‘heart of Guyana’

By Ashraf Dabie Many of us are unaware of the adventures that lie just beyond our backyards. However, with the establishment of the Pakaraima Mountain Safari, both Guyanese and tourists from abroad are given the opportunity to experience the natural beauty of Guyana. The Safari is the ideal outdoors adventure where you can explore Guyana’s mountainous regions, while learning about the rich culture of indigenous communities. The Pakaraima Mountains are said to have some of the most breath-taking views of the Guianas (Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana). Several years ago,…

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An unforgettable adventure

The community of Rockstone, tucked away in the heart of Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), is a scenic tourist destination with its flowing creeks, lush forest and welcoming residents. Rockstone is situated on the right bank of the Essequibo river, approximately 22 kilometres or 14 miles away from Linden. Upon arriving at this remote farming community, tourists are greeted by the friendly people living there. But the ultimate experience begins on the trail to the community. When travelling to Rockstone by road, which is highly recommended because of the adventure the…

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Spreading love through art

Matt & Annie Arts – Turning Ideas into Reality is a business started by Courtney and Aneeza Douglas, both of whom graduated from E. R. Burrowes School of Arts with diplomas in 2011 and 2012, respectively. Together, they have won five National Arts Awards and numerous art competitions. They were married in August 2013 and have a son, Lucas Myles. Courtney is currently working at Tinninben Animation Studio, and Aneeza does commissioned artworks at home. Art plays a significant role in the lives of the Douglases. Courtney states that their…

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‘Mother’ means more than just giving birth

By Ashraf Dabie The definition of a ‘mother’ is often limited to one who has given birth. But think about those women who go above and beyond the call of duty to care for others. Shouldn’t they be considered mothers too? We ought to give due credit to all those ‘mother figures’ who have invested all their energies and resources in improving the lives of strangers. One such individual is Joan Stephens Deveaux. Joan is a caregiver at the Godchildren Convalescent Home in Durban Backlands, Georgetown. She began her tenure…

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The Mothering and the Shaping of Creative Energies

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother – Abraham Lincoln It is not without significance that ‘the mother’ finds herself a prominent presence in literature; if she is not on the cover as the author of a book with pen in hand, then she is present on the dedication page or in the acknowledgement page as the ink in the pen – the influence and source of the author’s product. The dedication or acknowledgement is no easy consideration and ought not to be…

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Time compression…

…by Government The PNC-led APNU/AFC coalition spent millions of taxpayers’ dollars producing a 16-page insert in the Chronic “celebrating” their two-year stint at the helm of the ship of state, Guyana. It’s like the Captain of the Titanic celebrating the 115th anniversary of hitting that iceberg in the North Atlantic!! But at least the Titanic’s captain had the grace to go down with his ship, didn’t he? But in Guyana, even though the Government deliberately ignored all the warnings by the business community, the Opposition and independent analyst that they’ve…

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What’s missing…

…in the “accomplishments” Sometimes what’s missing is even more important than what’s present. That’s what struck your Eyewitness when he perused the 125 “accomplishments” the PM’s Shill compiled to ward off criticisms about the coalition being a “do-nothing” government. Now when you come down to it… what exactly was it the folks who voted the coalition into office wanted? OK…not to just throw out the PPP because of ethnic sentiments (APNU) or revenge (Nagamootoo and Ramjattan in the AFC). We’re talking about real bread-and-butter issues – like …well…bread and butter,…

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