Guyanese Online
The stamp was sold by shoe designer and collector Stuart Weitzman The designer had bought it in 2014 for US$9.5 million and continued a tradition started by previous owners by adding his own flourish – a line drawing of a stiletto shoe and his initials – to the back of the stamp. Continue reading
– by Francis Quamina FarrierAs such, they spend the Christmas Season in a warm climate without any snow. Their Winter months are during mid-year. While on visits to Argentina, Australia, New Zealand and Uruguay, I recognized the weather realities of those countries which are Down Under at the southern or bottom portion of the globe. Continue reading
– By Francis Quamina Farrier
There are quite a number of places and things, many public property here in Guyana, which are waiting to be given a proper name or a change of name. Way back in colonial British Guiana, for example, a small portion of the Potaro river downstream from the Kaieteur Falls, was christened “Garraway stream.” It was so named to the honour of the popular Berbice-born cricketer of the day, Patrick Garraway. At that point of the Potaro where the river is sort of flowing serenely after tumbling 741 feet over the Kaieteur’s lip, there is a bridge over peaceful waters. Continue reading
Red Man tells the story of Max Mcnight, a young boy from British Guiana who grows into adulthood during the tumultuous years of political unrest from 1946 to 1966. From the unionization of the sugar, rice and wharf workers that lead to a communist scare, to the rejection of national autonomy from both British and Guianese industrialists, Max’s father attempts to maintain a sense of normalcy for his family in a country that is moving steadily toward collapse.
– by Francis Quamina Farrier
Folks stop me all the time to share some of the things which bother them as citizens of The Cooperative Republic of Guyana, asking me to write about whatever the issue is. John’s issue was about two special days on the Guyanese calendar – Christmas and Independence. Since we are now in the Festive Season I was not surprised that he wanted to bare his soul about some of what bothered him regards this particular year-end Holiday.
“Too commercialized”, he blurted out, regards the Pre-Christmas commercial activities as one of those “Music Carts” went by blasting “All I want for Christmas is You” by Maria Carey. Incidentally, after twenty five years, that very popular Christmas song has finally reached Number One on the charts this year, 2019. Deep inside, I thought to myself that the commercial activities at the end of the year which includes the Christmas Holidays, are all part of the culture of many countries around the world, including our own Beautiful Guyana. Continue reading
My Poetry Corner October 2019 features the poem “A Simple Man” by Ian McDonald from the joint poetry collection, People of Guyana, by Ian McDonald and Peter Jailall. Born in the Caribbean island of Trinidad in 1933, Ian McDonald is a poet, novelist, dramatist, and non-fiction writer. After moving to then British Guiana in 1955, he made his home there. Today, he lives partly in his adopted homeland and partly in Canada. Continue reading
The Forever Changing Times – by Francis Quamina Farrier
As Guyana is about to make a quantum leap From Rags to Riches, let us take a glance in the rear view mirror of our country’s history and some of the things we no longer do, or do differently. Throughout history things have changed in every society in the world, and Guyana is no different. So let us juxtapose the past with the present. The young with the matured and also the present with the future.
As we proceed, let us make every effort not to be lamenting about “The Good old Days”, or about the way the older generation did things differently than the way of the present generation. Let us agree to look only at some of the things we did in British Guiana, if you were already around at that time, and which are no longer done in Guyana or done differently. So let us get things going. Continue reading
Cover Art by Guyanese-Canadian Artist, Joan Bryan-Muss
Rosaliene Bacchus Releases Debut Novel: Under the Tamarind Tree
Los Angeles, California, August 12, 2019—Caribbean novelist, Rosaliene Bacchus, born in Guyana, launches her debut novel, Under the Tamarind Tree, a family saga set in then British Guiana during the tumultuous years leading up to independence from Great Britain in 1966. The novel is the mixed fruit of the author’s struggle with abandonment and her concern for persistent, divisive, racist politics in her native land. Continue reading
Dear Editor: – May 5, (Indian) Arrival Day is special to me.
As an Indian Guyanese, I reflect on those Indians taking that bold step to leave Hindustan (India) behind and cross the kala pani (black water) into the unknown future. Folks were promised a just reward for indentured servitude, and they were willing to take a chance. They never knew of the slave-like conditions that were awaiting them, but they were a resilient lot.
The Indians endured much hardship. Most of them were sick and many died on the way to British Guiana during the months it took them to reach the promised land. Caste-ism, a societal bane then, as it is now, virtually disappeared because of the dynamics within the ship. Folks from all religions and castes became a virtual family. This jehaji (shipmates) familial feeling was so strong that they could have a marriage that involved jehajis! Continue reading
Caribbean: Historical Overview of The Portuguese In St. Vincent and the Grenadines
Click to Enlarge
Madeira Island – From Whence the Portuguese Came.
Editor’s Note: from The Vincentian Publishing Company.
Friday 27th November, 2020 marked the 175th Anniversary of the arrival of the first the Madeiran Portuguese people in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
We are pleased to commemorate this milestone with extracts from a soon to be published booklet entitled, ‘An Historical Overview of the Portuguese in St. Vincent and the Grenadines & the Bellevue Roman Catholic Church’, authored by Rev. Mark De Silva, to whom we are grateful for allowing the use his work. Continue reading →
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