Monthly Archives: January 2013

CARICOM is dead. PJ Patterson should read the eulogy

CARICOM is dead. PJ Patterson should read the eulogy

JANUARY 31, 2013 | BY KNEWS | FREDDIE KISSOON

You don’t want to be reminded each day that CARICOM is a failure. But this is what happens to me. My windows overlook the CARICOM Secretariat. It is the first thing I see every morning when I rise from my bed. It reminds me of VS Naipaul and his dismissal of the Caribbean.

CARICOM is a failure. It is dormant. Maybe it is dead. It is a caricature of what an integration movement should be. I become irascible when my friends tell me about the White man and the nonsense about White countries exploiting the Third World. The White man in his White man country treats his White citizens better than Third World leaders treat their non-White citizens.
Foolish Third World leaders (including my own country) jail African youths for possession of a marijuana cigarette and even the possession of a smoking utensil.   Continue reading

US Marijuana Lobby sets Sights on Full Legalization

US Marijuana Lobby sets Sights on Full Legalization

marijuana cannabis plantSince the U.S. states of Colorado and Washington fully legalized marijuana via ballot initiatives in the November 2012 elections, efforts to medicalise, decriminalize, or legalize marijuana at the state level are sprouting up like so many hemp stalks on a sunny day.

Eighteen out of 50 U.S. states now allow medical marijuana, used to help cancer patients and others, and 15 others have decriminalized it, meaning that possession is a civil offence that carries no jail time.                  Continue reading

Guyanese-American Teen wins National Pageant Title

Guyanese-American Teen wins National Pageant Title

Davina Seoparsan

Davina Seoparsan

Lake Buena Vista, FL.  Miss Davina Seoparsan, daughter of Mr. Dharmindra Seoparsan and Mrs. Nirmala Seoparsan from Glen Allen, Virginia, won the Junior Teen division at the 2013 Miss American Coed Pageants (MAC Pageants) national competition. In addition to a crown, banner, trophy and flowers, Miss Seoparsan earned a $2,500 cash award, two admission tickets to Walt Disney World and a travel allowance to next year’s MAC Pageants national competition where she will crown her successor.

In addition to the National title, Davina won the Optional National Speech competition, was first runner-up in the Talent competition and third runner-up in the National Actress competition.   Continue reading

Christian: the Lion – video

Christian: the Lion

Christian was a lion originally purchased by Australians John Rendall and Anthony “Ace” Bourke from Harrods department store of  LondonEngland, in 1969 and ultimately reintroduced to the African wild by conservationist George Adamson. One year after Adamson released Christian to the wild, his former owners decided to go looking for him to see whether Christian would remember them. He did, and with him were two lionesses who accepted the men as well.[1][2]      Continue reading

The Caribbean and Cuba: by US Ambassador D. Brent Hardt

The Caribbean and Cuba: A True Friendship Should Rest on Principles

Wednesday, 30 January 2013 19:04

By Guest Columnist  by US Ambassador D. Brent Hardt

Brent Hardt

US Ambassador D. Brent Hardt

In recent messages to Cuba marking 40 years of diplomatic relations, the Government of Guyana and many of its CARICOM counterparts spoke of a partnership based on principles of solidarity and strategic partnership.

Notably absent from these messages were references to Guyana’s and CARICOM members’ most cherished national principles of democracy and human rights. Although the countries of the English-speaking Caribbean have a proud democratic tradition and a commitment to respect for human rights at home and abroad, when it comes to the Cuban people this tradition is unfortunately set aside.   Continue reading

Gunmen shoot PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke

Gunmen shoot PNCR General Secretary

JANUARY 30, 2013 | BY  | By Michael Jordan
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Oscar Clarke

PNCR General Secretary Oscar Clarke survived a terrifying attack at the hands of four young bandits who shot him twice and gun-butted him at around 20:45hrs yesterday after storming his Lot 37 Plum Park, Sophia home while posing as policemen.
Clarke, 74, was shot in the region of the left groin and left side of his abdomen after he struggled with two of the intruders who had taken him to his bedroom. His wife, Linda, was slapped by the robbers, who also escaped with an undisclosed sum of valuables after holding up the couple’s son and daughter-in-law. There were no reports of any arrests.
Mrs. Clarke described the gunmen as ‘boys’ in their twenties. Continue reading

Bring on the learning revolution! – Sir Ken Robinson – video

Sir Ken Robinson: Bring on the learning revolution!

This is a follow-up of Sir Ken Robinson’s talk of 2006, given at TED four years later.

In this poignant, funny follow-up to his fabled 2006 talk, Sir Ken Robinson makes the case for a radical shift from standardized schools to personalized learning — creating conditions where kids’ natural talents can flourish.

Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we’re educating our children. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence. Full bio »

 

Very many people go through their whole lives having no real sense of what their talents may be, or if they have any to speak of.” (Ken Robinson)

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity – TED video

Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity

This is a popular presentation that has been viewed by almost 15 million persons.

Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity.

Creativity expert Sir Ken Robinson challenges the way we’re educating our children. He champions a radical rethink of our school systems, to cultivate creativity and acknowledge multiple types of intelligence. Full bio »

 If you’re not prepared to be wrong, you’ll never come up with anything original.” (Ken Robinson)

Colin Powell: Kids need structure – TED video

Colin Powell: Kids need structure – TED video

How can you help kids get a good start? In this heartfelt and personal talk, Colin Powell, the former U.S. Secretary of State, asks parents, friends and relatives to support children from before they even get to primary school, through community and a strong sense of responsibility. (Filmed at TEDxMidAtlantic.)

General Colin Powell was the first African-American to serve as U.S. Secretary of State. Full bio »

 Always be looking for that which you do well and that which you love doing, and when you find those two things together — man, you got it.” (Colin Powell)

Catching caimans in the Rupununi

Catching caimans in the Rupununi

January 27, 2013 · By  · Comments    – Stabroek News
 Time, in Yupukari as elsewhere, waits on no Manuel.
Manuel the birdman was late and Mike the Rupunadian (which is to say he is both Rupununian and Canadian) was eager to show off the wonders of the Rupununi to some guests. “Well,” said Mike after wondering again about the whereabouts of Manuel, “time waits for no Manuel.”
And off he went.
Time in the Rupununi is different from elsewhere. Sometimes you forget what day it is and occasionally when you ask a villager, they “think” it is one day or the other. Here, in the rolling, grass-covered hills of the Rupununi, sandwiched between the Pakaraima and Kanuku mountain ranges, the day can begin at dusk or dawn depending on your interest.