Category: Features

As we celebrate Guyana’s 52nd Independence Anniversary, let us reflect on how the journey began. Certainly the seeds of seeking an end to colonialism must have been planted in the hard days of slavery and indentureship when life was unbelievably difficult and the reason for the crushing oppression and cruelty was easy to define. Billions of words have been written about slavery, the middle passage, the unbearable cruelty of the slave masters and the many uprisings against slavery. These were dealt with in ways which are almost beyond belief. Cheddi…

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1966 was an historic year. British Guiana was throwing off the shackles of British Colonialism to achieve Independence on May 26, – 900 years, after William of Normandy had invaded England. Relative calm had returned to the nation after the political upheavals of 1962 to 1964, as we now prepared to become “One People, One Nation, One Destiny” These ‘prophetic’ words, which became our ‘nation’s motto, first appeared May 1958 during a massive Float Parade in honour of the visit of Princess Margaret. Six floats depicting the ‘Six Peoples’ produced…

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Preserving our literary heritage by Petamber Persaud The book Down Independence Boulevard and Other Stories is an important addition to the country’s literature because it focuses mainly on the push/pull factors fashioning internal migration with some attention paid to the pull/push factors of external migration and the disillusionment of returning home, all fascinatingly rendered in sixteen linked stories set in Guyana and North America but mainly in Guyana, during the ugly 1960s, from where all the main characters originate, some firstly migrating to safer locations in order to escape from…

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– (From Earliest Times to Independence) Throughout the early part of 1966, preparations for Guyana’s independence celebrations went in full swing. 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, appropriately called “The Golden Arrowhead”, had already been chosen during the period of the PPP government from entries submitted through an international competition. The winning five-coloured design was submitted by an American, Whitney Smith. The name chosen for the…

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Hazel Europe, a nurse attached to the Grove Health Centre who has served the community for the past 40 years, was recognised by the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Four (Demerara-Mahaica) for her significant contributions. Regional Health Officer (RHO) Quincy Jones in applauding Europe’s impact explained that she has made a great contribution to the health sector and as such, the Region was indeed privileged to be at the receiving end of her service. For her service, she was recognised by the Region and conferred with an award. In…

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Law enforcement authorities in Guyana and Suriname are busy trying to get to the bottom of the recent heinous piracy attacks, so as to ensure that the families of the victims receive the justice they deserve. Currently, security officials in Suriname have a total of 15 persons in custody, among whom are two alleged suspects who were identified by survivors as two of the sea bandits. Investigators believe that they were among a group of men who attacked the fishermen in Surinamese waters on April 27 last, during which 20…

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“My grandson would’ve been five years old this December because he was four when he got the accident. Presently, we miss him very much and because of that we won’t be celebrating Mother’s Day this year.” These were the sad words of Ms. Bibi Nazmoon, grandmother of Ramkaran Mohan, who was tragically killed in a car accident, last year, when he was just four years old. The little boy’s life was snuffed out on the faithful morning of March 15, 2017 just a short distance away from his Lot 1088…

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By Utamu Belle   While the past few years have been especially challenging for 33- year- old Linden mother of 7, Ronella Jervis, she stunningly manages to beat the odds, overcoming daily challenges associated with caring for three of her children who are visually impaired. Jervis, who lives with her husband and children at Blueberry Hill, Wismar, Linden first found out that her eldest son, now 16 had the disease Congenital toxoplasmosis, while he was just around 13 years old. She would later find out the heartbreaking news, that another…

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While a mother’s love is invaluable, there are many fathers the world over who have had to assume the role of both parents. As a single parent to three teenage boys, Richard Moshette’s story of raising his children can be a true inspiration to many. The 43 – year-old, Region 2 resident has been the sole bread winner and care giver for his family ever since his wife of 13 years, left their home. During an interview with the Sunday Times Magazine, Richard disclosed that he puts his responsibility to…

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God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers…today as we celebrate. Born to Jaso and Totaram Soorjie on the 7th of October 1942 in the humble village of Columbia on the Essequibo Coast was a darling baby daughter. She was the fourth child and was so sweet that her Ajee (father’s mother) called her Rose and that was the name given to her. Rosy Soorgie had to leave school when she was only twelve years-old to join her parents in the rice fields to help maintain the family…

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