Category: Features

CARICOM Day commemorates the treaty establishing the Caribbean Community and Common Market (CARICOM) and is observed annually by all CARICOM countries, though not necessarily on the same date of the year. The establishment of the Caribbean Community and Common Market was the result of a 15-year effort to fulfil the hope of regional integration, which was born with the establishment of the British West Indies Federation in 1958. The West Indies Federation ended in 1962 but its end may be regarded as the real beginning of what is now the…

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It is always thrilling to see one of these in the wild, especially while driving through the rainforest trails in Guyana. Many travelers claim to have seen these big cats chilling on the Linden-Lethem trail. The jaguar is one of the largest carnivorous mammals in Central or North America and the largest cat in South America. Jaguars vary in color but generally they are tawny yellow with black rosettes all over their body. They usually have a white underbelly, the throat, outer surface of the legs and lower flanks are…

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Traditionally, throughout the world, the month of June is associated with weddings and “June brides”. It is felt that if a marriage is consummated in June, it is perceived as a blessing and the chances of love and affection would unite couples into an everlasting bond. Whether this is true or not, there are some Guyanese customs to which couples would adhere, regardless of the consequences: “Don’t look back while going up the aisle”; “jumping the broom”- a West African tradition; “don’t ever let a dog eat your wedding cake”;…

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By Mohanlall Suelall When Jagdeo Singh or Pandit Sugrim as he is known took the hands of Kuntie Singh on April 06, 1978 he made those seven sacred vows to her with God as his witness and she reciprocated them as well. Ever since that day he filled her maang (middle part of the hair) with sindoor (vermillion) Pandit Sugrim has been ensuring that he fulfils every vow he took. Hailing from the Essequibo Coast, Pandit Sugrim got married when he was just 23 and has been with his wife…

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The term marriage, in the English context, was first was first seen in 1250-1300 CE but the idea of marriages predates this date with every culture having their version of the proverbial passage of life. The main goal of marriage, earlier on, was to act as an alliance between families. Throughout history, and even today, families arranged marriages for couples. Most couples didn’t marry because they were in love, but for economic liaisons. The people involved didn’t have much to say about the decision then. In our modern world, some…

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By Lakhram Bhagirat Their love, even after 33 years of marriage, can be felt in the room. It is larger than their combined presences and so loud that it speaks to the great relationship they have cultivated. Their love is so infectious that it inspires you to achieve just that. However, that love was not easily achieved, rather they were forced to walk a road paved with broken bottles just to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Today they can sit together and say that the struggles…

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Quite often we take our teachers for granted, we know they are there to impart knowledge and their presence is all but appreciated. As students, the happiest times in school almost always occurred when our teachers missed a class or were busy doing some form of administrative work. We only truly realise how much our teachers are undervalued when we enter the world as learned adults and have an outside view of how much they sacrificed, how much they went above and beyond the call of their professions, and how…

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By Mohanlall Suelall For the world, the quality of a father can be judged by the goals he sets and by how much he accomplishes. But for a child, a father is the man that protects him or her even when they do not need that protection. A father is a man who holds down the proverbial fort and is stern yet the most tender man. One man who embodies those qualities is Rajendra Persaud as he not only provides but he cares for his family in every possible way.…

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By Leah Hernandez Millions of children worldwide are fortunate enough to have a father figure in their lives, while others can only dream of having that man we call a “father”. This contrast often times leads most of us to ask: “what is a father?” and “who is a good father?”. The simplest definition of the word father is “An important male figure in the origin and early history of something”, but, most importantly, being a good father means being an endless role model and making all the difference in…

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By Utamu Belle He’s well-known around the Linden community as Nurse Allen, host of the popular local radio programme “Healthy Living with Nurse Allen” on 104.3 Power FM. The vibrant 36-year-old Colwyn Allen, though a Registered Nurse by profession, is also a Quality Assurance Officer attached to the Linden Hospital Complex (LHC), who also oversees the Upper Demerara and Kwakwani Hospitals. He is also the founder of Linden’s Healthy Living Health Club. Though he wears many different hats in the community, Allen takes pride mostly in being a husband and…

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