Category: Features

At a very young age, the mantra “I can do anything” was etched onto the mind of Julie Lewis and she forged ahead with that which resulted in her being among the list of the 2018 recipients for the Medal of Service. Julie is now 53 years old and a seasoned broadcaster but what makes her exceptional is the fact that she has been blind for almost all of her life. Julie is the ninth of her mother’s 11 children and was diagnosed with congenital cataract just before her first…

Read More

Not many people can boast of dedicating more than 25 years of their life towards rescuing and caring for animals while fiercely campaigning for legislative changes to better protect animals, but for Syeada Manbodh that is her calling, her passion and her life. Syeada’s selfless service of providing care, medical treatment and rescuing animals, often at her own expenses, for over quarter of a century has earned her a spot among this year’s Medal of Service National Awardees. However, she explains that she was extremely afraid of animals while growing…

Read More

… facing the tough times together We find love sometimes in the most unexpected ways and unpredictable moments. That’s what happened to two persons many years ago. Their union evolved into a beacon of love, commitment and endurance, qualities Shanta Singh and her husband Ramsagar Singh now hold especially dear. This love story, recalled by Shanta, looks back at her arranged marriage to the most wonderful person. Shanta, 58, and Ramsagar, 68, grew up together in the village of Grove. They lived about a street away from each other and…

Read More

Weddings are a celebration of love and commitment, and can also be a celebration of the couple’s religion and culture. Whether you’re invited as a guest, attending as a member of the wedding party, or are simply curious, there are a few wedding rituals and traditions you should expect to see. Hindu Wedding The Wedding Date is Determined in the Stars Before the wedding, an auspicious time (known as the muhurta) is fixed for the event. Using the bride and groom’s dates of birth, astrologists calculate the position of planets…

Read More

SOME OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF GUYANESE LITERATURE AFTER INDEPENDENCE To gain a fuller appreciation of Guyanese Literature after Independence, it would be useful to bear in mind that our literature was hitched in a close relationship over a long period to the British literary tradition. This is not a censure against such a fine literary tradition that continues to entertain, educate and influence us in many ways, a tradition that allowed us a foothold in world literature and continues to sustain some of our more accomplished and recognised writers Coming…

Read More

Wedding vows serve as glue that interlinks couples Weddings are the celebrations that have been treasured for centuries and it has evolved over the years to suit modern beliefs. While many may have their own interpretations of what a wedding should entail and what should be the showstopper, older folks might tend to position their views beyond the fancy décor and parties. As it relates to the venue, many might have a different take on what they desire. Some may choose a traditional church, while others may look at it…

Read More

Guyana gained its independence May 26, 1966 from Britain, and is now a sovereign state that has also attained republican status. It is now free to make its own decisions concerning its welfare and its citizens. Throughout the early part of 1966, preparations for Guyana’s independence celebrations were already being done excitedly. A special committee appointed by the government designed the new Coat-of-Arms and selected the Canje Pheasant as the national bird. The design and colours of the new flag had already been chosen during the period of the PPP…

Read More

  Jagan was born on March 22, 1918 on the sugar plantation of Port Mourant, Berbice. His father was a foreman of a work crew on the plantation. His grandparents had come from India as indentured labourers. After primary school and two years of secondary school, his father sent him to Queen’s College in the city of Georgetown. He was then fifteen years old. In September 1935, Cheddi left for the United States where he did pre-dental studies at Howard University. He was able to earn a scholarship to pay…

Read More

“Most, if not all buildings were decorated with buntings, colors of the new Guyana flag, and lights. The trees on Main Street and Camp street avenues were all lit up and were like a fairly land. Citizens (including yours truly) strolled through the avenues and window shopped at night just to admire the lights and decorations,” The Duke of Edinburgh was in town for the celebrations as were other foreigners either on official business or otherwise. The Demerara Rowing Club hosted a Regatta in the Demerara River. Some of us…

Read More

As part of the official Independence celebrations, the new Guyana flag, the Golden Arrowhead, was raised on Mount Ayanganna to coincide with the first moments of Independence Day, May 26, 1966. A group of Guyana Defence Force soldiers and guides, led by Adrian Thompson and local Amerindian mountaineer Isaac Jerry, ascended the mountain on the eve of the flag-raising ceremony where Jerry raised the flag, and flares were fired off to celebrate the occasion. The team later described the event as “rough, but exciting.” A plaque bearing the names of…

Read More