guyana cultural association of new york inc. newsletters - indian arrival in guyana

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May 302013Vol 3 Issue 5

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc.on-line Magazine

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

INDIANARRIVAL

INGUIANA

175TH ANNIVERSARY OF

COMMEMORATION SEASON 2013“LIVING IN PEACE,

HARMONY,TOGETHERNESS

AND AMITY TO BUILD A STRONGER GUYANA”

Photograph: The Andrew Jeffrey Facebook Collection


2LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

It is with great pleasure that we present the May edition of the Guyana Folk Festival online magazine.

Last month we highlighted some ensuing issues relating tothe garbage accumulating in the city of Georgetown and its environs.

We received mammoth responses and we understand that stepsto ‘Clean up Guyana and Nice up Guyana’ are

afoot to alleviate the problem.This month, we celebrate and remember the role and

often unheralded responsibilities of mothers on Mother’s Day. This is not the only day on which we

should pay tribute, but rather every day should be Mother’s day. Significantly, the nurturing role of motherhood is also ably carried out in our societyand community by those who are not biologically connected, but play a prominent role as mentors, teachers, surrogates, counselors, care givers and

role models in so many of our lives that tend to go unnoticed. In this issue we recognize all mothers,

but particularly those who have been victims of sexual assault, as eloquently documented by Francis Quamina Farrier.

Domestic violence is a problem that extends beyond the family, including the workplace,where it compromises the dignity and safety of employees.

I take this opportunity to congratulate the Republic of Guyana in commemoration of its47th Independence Anniversary on May 26. The Guyana Cultural Association of New Yorkjoins all Guyanese in honoring this historic event that charted a course for self-governanceand development of the land of our birth.The Guyana American Heritage Foundation in New Jersey, in conjunction with The City ofEast Orange, will celebrate this special occasion at the organization’s 6th annual FlagRaising ceremony on Friday May 31, 2013 at 44 City Hall Plaza, in East Orange New Jersey.The Golden Arrowhead – Guyana’s colorful flag - will be raised under the patronage of theHonorable Mayor of New Jersey Robert Bowser. The ceremony will run from 5:00p.m. to8:00 p.m. President of the Guyana American Heritage Foundation Lady Ira; Allison Butters-Grant, Executive Secretary; Treasurer Carl Fraser, and Sandra Harte will host all in atten-dance. The Cultural Heritage Foundation will be recognizing the 150th anniversary of theCity of East Orange and Caribbean Heritage month, honoring the Guyana 2013 Soca King,Jumo Primo.This month (May 5th. ) we remember and commemorate the arrival of Indians in Guyanamarking 175 years of their presence 1838-2013. This celebration coincides with the GCAmotto for this year ‘Sacrifice, Hope, Togetherness.’- see Dr. Cambridge’s article on page 4.The deadline for the Godfrey Chin prize for heritage journalism applications is nowextended to September 2013. Please make your submission early.Congratulations to the Overall Festival Champion of the Guyana Musical Arts FestivalKathleen Thompson-Henriquo who previously won in the Dramatic Poetry, Verse Speaking& Vocal Solo Categories. She edged out Majek Fingers Drumming School who won theChoral & Instrumental Group Championships.We at GCA are overwhelmed by your responses from our past editions and we can honest-ly say we are inspired by the many thought provoking comments. Thanks to so many ofyou for taking the time to respond, and for sharing your great insights, concerns and criti-cal views. Indeed, your suggestions and recommendations are highly appreciated. This isthe perfect time to let you know that interacting with you through this literary medium isa great joy and we always welcome your comments and support as we forge forward.We hope that you enjoy the diverse collection of articles on some recommendations toalleviate the garbage situation in Guyana; our summer camp 2013; the ultimate winner ofthe Guyana Music Arts Festival, the story behind the Scotsman Alexander Alexander, andmany other interesting features.Our website www.guyfolkfest.org, our Face Book page and this newsletter will keep youinformed about all of our upcoming events such as the Summer Heritage camp, theAwards Ceremony, the Literary Hang, Kwe Kwe night, Family Fun Day and the Symposium.

Edgar Henry, May Editor.

IN THIS ISSUEPAGE 3- Guyana’s 47th IndependencePAGE 4-9: Indian ArrivalPAGE10-11: Alexander AlexanderPAGE 12-13: Marriages in the Logie LinesPAGE 14-15: GCA Summer CampPAGE 16-19: Guyana Festival of Musical ArtsPAGE 20-21: Guyanese & alternative medicinePAGE 22-24: Allura, the Bush Dai DaisPAGE 25: PoemPAGE 26: Too many mothers victimsPAGE 27: Glamour GirlPAGE 28-29: Weaving WaterPAGE 30-33: Homemade Toys, Folk GamesPAGE 34-35: Plastics & the garbage crisisPAGE 35: ChucklesPAGE 36-37: Godfrey Chin PrizePage 38: Calendar of Events

Edgar Henry - May EditorCover Design - Claire A. Goring

Layout & Design - Claire A. Goring & Ashton FranklinCopy Editors - Edgar Henry & Lear

Matthews

ContributorsVibert Cambridge, Muriel Glasgow, Eric Matthews, Peter Halder, Kaieteur News, Dale BisnauthCarl Hazlewood, Godfrey Chin,

Juliet Emanuel, Margaret Lawrence, Elsie Croal, Francis Quamina Farrier

Photographs

Vibert Cambridge,Andrew Jeffrey’s collection of

photographs, Kaieteur News

AcknowledgementKaieteur News, Silver Torch

Chronicle Newspaper, Elsie Croal,Andrew Jeffrey’s collection of

photographs .

GCA Media TeamAve Brewster-Haynes (Chairperson)Juliet Emanuel, Edgar Henry, Claire Goring, Lear Matthews, Muriel Glasgow, Ashton Franklin,

Margaret Lawrence, Francis Quamina Farrier

Website: www.guyfolkfest.orgGCA Secretariat - 1368 E89 Street, Suite 2,Brooklyn, NY 11236 - Tel: 718 209 5207


3GUYANA’S INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

47th

INDEPENDENCEANNIVERSARY


COMMEMORATION SEASON 2013

4

It would appear that the goal of the partnership that orga-nized the commemoration of the 175th anniversary of thearrival of our Indian ancestors was to have a nationwideprogram of activities. This included opportunities for therecognition of struggles and achievements; a conferenceorganized around the theme “Living in peace, harmony,and togetherness and amity to build a stronger Guyana”;several melas; “Nrityageet 34”; and an international con-cert featuring Alka Yagnik and Udit Narayan—“super-hitBollywood playback singers.” I attended events inGeorgetown; Albion, Corentyne; and Highbury, East BankBerbice.

The conference held at the National Convention Centercan be considered an important moment in Guyanesecontemporary social and cultural history. Unlike the sen-timents of separation that undergirded C. R. Jacobs’ (presi-

dent of the British Guiana East Indian Association) speechduring the conference for the centenary of the arrival ofour Indian ancestors in Guyana (1938), the overarchingsentiment of the 175th anniversary conference was find-ing solutions for the great Guyanese challenge of racerelations. Mohamed Rafi’s “We are one” was the “sound-track” for the conference.

The melas were popular. These alcohol-free eventsbrought fun and education to communities in Berbice,Demerara, and Essequibo. Families played arcade games(traditional and electronic), and women and girls adornedtheir hands with delicate mahindi art. There were oppor-tunities to enjoy the cuisine of our Indian heritage—fromBhalamlatcha and Seven Curry on a lotus leaf toGeorgetown’s emerging neo-Indian cuisine, influenced byrestaurants such as Maharaja Palace on Sheriff Street.

THE 175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE

ARRIVAL OF OURINDIAN ANCESTORS

Vibert Cambridge, Ph.D.

Scene from skit depicting the arrival at Plantation Highbury, May 5, 1838. The skit was presented during programto commemorate the 175th anniversary of our Indian ancestors at Plantation Highbury on May 5, 2013.


175TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDIAN ARRIVAL TO GUIANA

5

Photographs- Vibert Cambridge

The Indian Arrival monument in the IndianMemorial Garden, Church and Camp Streets,

Georgetown, Guyana


175TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ARRIVAL OF OUR INDIAN ANCESTORS

The melas connected with my memories of the fairsand other public entertainment of yesteryear—theLeague of Colored People’s fairs, Bill Roger’sPromenade Garden Scholarship fun fairs, the May fairswith the maypole plaiting, and thing … They allowedcommunity groups to celebrate the sacrifices, contri-butions, achievements, and global connections ofGuyana’s Indian ancestry through the performing arts.

Performances included folk and classical Indiandances. Musicians showcased the variety of musicalgenres that are present in the soundscape of Guyana’sIndian heritage—bhajans, raag, taan, Bollywood, hiphop, chutney, chutney soca, chutney dance hall, andchutney gospel.

The spoken word was delicately delivered in aQwawalli performance and in the portrayal of thelanding of the first indentured Indian immigrants toPlantation Highbury on May 5, 1838. In this skit, thestill enslaved ancestors of Guyanese of African descentwatched as the first of our Indian ancestors arrived onthe plantation and were greeted by abuse by the plan-tocracy. Despite being chased away, one of theenslaved African women remained to console a newarrival and by extension the entire group..

Like the commemoration of the 250th anniversary ofthe 1763 Berbice War, the celebration of the 175thanniversary of the arrival of our Indian ancestorsmight have made important contributions to the muchneeded evidence-based conversation on national cohe-sion. The Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport-spon-sored lecture series, featuring influential internationalscholars, was a central element in this year of com-memoration. The public lectures by Dr. HillaryBeckles, Dr. Alvin Thompson, Dr. Verene Shepherd, Dr.Brinsley Samaroo, Dr. Kusha Haraksingh, and Ms.Gaiutra Bahadur are important contributions to this conversation.It is hoped that during the remainder of this year of commemoration there will be more opportunities for deeper engagement between Guyanese of African and Indian heritage. There is a crying need to understand and to celebrate our many areas of commonality.

6

Performance by dance tutor at the Indian Cultural

Center during Nrityageet 34 at the National

Cultural Center, May 4, 2013Photographs- Vibert Cambridge



7Nrityageet 34The Melas allowed communitygroups to celebrate the sacrifices,contributions, achievements, and glob-al connections of Guyana’s Indianancestry through the performing arts.

The National Dance Company during a performance in Nrityageet 34

at the National Cultural Center, May 4, 2013


8

Performances included folk and classical Indian dances. Musicians showcased the variety of musical genres that are present in the soundscape of Guyana’s Indian heritage—bhajans, raag, taan, Bollywood, hip hop, chutney, chutney soca, chutney dance hall, and chutney gospel.



Dr. Seeta Shah withthe Nadira andIndrannie Shah

Dance Troupe at themela at the IndianMemory Gardens,Camp and ChurchStreets, May 1, 2013

Dancers from the Guyana HinduDharmic Sabha during the melaat Albion, Corentyne Berbice,

April 28, 2013



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Young woman and mother atmela organized by the GuyanaHindu Dharmic Sabah, Albion,Corentyne, Berbice, April 28, 2013

175TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDIAN ARRIVAL IN GUIANA

10

ALEXANDER ALEXANDER

Today, many poor, destitute and homeless persons in Georgetown sleep at nights on card-boards on the concrete pavements adjacent to stores.

It is not the first time that it has happened. It occurred many years ago. And one man, aScotsman, dedicated his life, at that time to making life easier for them. His name was mostpeculiar. It was Alexander Alexander.

Alexander Alexander was born in Scotland. Fed up with life there, he decided to seek his for-tune and future in one of the many British colonies. He chose British Guiana.

In the 1800s, there were many opportunities for good jobs on sugar estates and in publicadministration. Sugar was the main industry and economic activity in British Guiana.

Alexander Alexander obtained a good job as the Manager of a factory at a sugar-cane planta-tion at Aurora, Essequibo. Although he held a senior position, for one reason or another hewas not very happy. After five years, he took his long vacation leave and returned to Scotland.While there, he became infatuated with and decided to join the Salvation Army, a charitableorganization devoted to helping the poor, destitute and needy in the London slums.


Peter Halder

HE OPENED THE FIRST SOUP KITCHEN IN BRITISHGUIANA FOR INDIAN IMMIGRANTS, IN KINGSTON,ON BROAD STREET AND ON AMERICA STREET.



Alexander AlexanderAlexander had become acquainted with many Indianswho were having a difficult life. In 1896, with what moneyhe had, he opened the first Soup Kitchens in Kingston, onBroad Street and on America Street to provide meals and subsequently opened a night shelter for the homeless to sleep, at a cost of a penny a night. He also leased the Sugar Estate Manager’s house at La Penitence and set up a Home and a School.

He returned to British Guiana and resumed his job at Aurora. It wasa shock but delight to everyone to see him on the job wearing hisblue Salvation Army uniform. He resigned in 1896 to dedicate his life and energiesto helping the poor, the destitute and the homeless.

During the time he had worked on the sugar estate, he developed a special concernfor immigrants from India. The first of indentured immigrants arrived in BritishGuiana on 5 May 1838. Alexander had become acquainted with many Indians whowere having a difficult life. First of all, work was not available for everyone, andwhen it was not, they went to Georgetown in search of employment, slept on pave-ments and cooked there as well.

Alexander, decided to do something about it. With what money he had, he openedthe first Soup Kitchen in Kingston to provide meals. Each meal cost a penny. Mealswere substantial and included roti and dhal. Coffee was also available and sold for acent a pint. It was also sold on carts which traveled around the city daily. Some 90gallons of coffee were sold daily. He subsequently opened a night shelter for thehomeless to sleep at a cost of a penny a night.

The pavement people were at first suspicious and had to be practically forced tomake full use of the services Alexander provided.

The Scotsman became a changed man as well. He gave up his European clothes,began wearing a dhoti and walked around bare feet. He changed his name toGhurib Das (servant of the poor) and earned the nickname “Coolie” Alexander. Healso became a vegetarian.

In due time. Soup Kitchens and Shelters were also set up on America Street and onBroad Street. It is believed that Alexander later donated all to the Salvation Armywhich by then was firmly established in Georgetown. He also leased the SugarEstate Manager’s house at La Penitence and set up a Home and a School.

The Salvation Army was at that time divided into two Divisions - a West IndianDivision and an East Indian Division. Captain Teckleperry headed the former.Alexander Alexander, aka Ghurib Das or “Coolie” Alexander, was in charge of the lat-ter.

The man from Scotland made a significant contribution to the plight of manyIndians, who had migrated to British Guiana or were family members of indenturedIndians. Photographs: Andrew Jeffrey

(Source: Silvertorch)

Peter Halder


12


If we combine the observations ofImmigration Agents, Henry Gladwin,H.L. Straker and W. Crawford, it will be

possible to reconstruct a Hindu marriageceremony of the 1890s. The ceremonywas elaborated upon as time went by, butthe basic structure has remained thesame.

It was the parents of the parties con-cerned who first of all decided that theirchildren should be married to eachother. A Pandit (or priest) was then con-sulted as to an auspicious day for the cel-ebration of the nuptials. Then, by the cer-emony of HALDI, the LAGAN (date) wasfixed.

On the day of the wedding, the brid-groom was taken in procession to thebride’s parents’ house and conducted toa tent specially erected for the wedding.In due time, according to Straker, the

IN THE CEREMONY THAT EVOLVEDON THE PLANTATIONS THE DOLAAND THE SHADI RITES WEREFUSED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ACEREMONY THAT BECAME WIDELYUSED.

Marriages inthe Logie Lines

Dale Bisnauth, deceased

(From Andrew Jeffrey’s collection of photographs)

13



bride “being shrouded in thick folds of muslin orvariegated hues and patterns” joined him and theceremony commenced in the presence of thebride’s relations, invited guests and the bride-groom’s BARIST or party.

The ceremony lasted for hours. During this time, thebride and groom sat in a square marked out in thecenter of the tent in front of the ceremonial fire. Infront of them, sat the officiating Brahmin pandit.

Gladwin continues, “The Pandit reads passages fromthe saved books, and offers a prayer that the DEO-TAS will witness the union and bless it with happi-ness and make it fruitful. The father of the bridegives her to the bridegroom with appropriatewords, and the garments of the couple are knottedtogether; they then make a circuit of the bamboo astated number of times, and returning in their seats,the bridgroom touches the head of the bride withSENDOOR.

The application of the SENDOOR (a vermillion pow-der) to the parting of the bride’s hair was the climaxof the ceremony; it was also the first time, perhaps,that the bridegroom glimpsed his future wife’s faceas he raised the purdah covering her face, to applythe SENDOOR.

The ceremony outlined resembles the SHADI cere-mony of a caste of Northern India of those times.Another caste marriage ceremony was the DOLA. Inthe DOLA, the marriage ceremony took place at thebridegroom’s residence to which the bride came onthe day before the ceremony. Her coming wasmarked by an attitude of humility befitting a partyimportuning marriage on behalf of a poor girl.

In British Guiana, because of the scarcity of suitablegirls for marriage, there wa little need for a father toimportune on behalf of their daughters; consequent-ly, the DOLA was hardly practised.

But practices associated with the DOLA survived.These included the ceremony of MARKtor or thedigging of the earth, the ceremony of THAPPALAGANA in which the drum featured, and the wor-ship of SHARTI MATA (Mother Earth.)

In all of these ceremonies, women featured promi-nently. The DOLA further lent its name to the brideand groom who were called DOLAHIN and DOLA-HA respectively.

In the ceremony that evolved on the plantation, theDOLA rites were regarded as preparatory to themarriage ceremony itself. What seemed to have hap-pened on the estate was that the DOLA and theSHADI were fused in the development of a ceremo-ny that became widely used. By the 1890s thisfusion had already taken place.

Marriages in the Logie Lines.

( From Andrew Jeffrey’s collection of photographs)

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REGISTER FOR GCA CARIBBEAN HERITAGE SUMMER CAMP

FLATLANDS REFORMED CHURCH JULY 8-AUGUST 15, 20133931 KINGS HIGHWAY, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK

Arts in the Community

FOR REGISTRATION& INFORMATION TEL: 718 209 5207

THE SUMMER CAMP’S CURRICULUM PROVIDES ACOMPREHENSIVE RANGE OF THEATRICAL ANDARTISTIC WORKSHOPS FOCUSING ON INTRO-DUCING SONGS, STORIES, PLAYS, POETRY ANDART FROM GUYANA AND THE CARIBBEAN.

MONDAY-THURSDAY: 9.00 A.M. - 3.00 P.M. AGES: 5-12 YEARS

A COLLABORATION WITH FLATLANDS REFORMED CHURCH, NY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER MATHIEU EUGENE, COUNCIL MEMBER JUMAANE WILLIAMS, MATERIALS FOR THE ARTS, TO EMPOWER YOUNG PEOPLE

THROUGH BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THEIR HERITAGE.

CARIBBEAN HERITAGE SUMMER CAMP

CARIBBEAN HERITAGE SUMMER CAMP

GUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK INC./GUYANA FOLK FESTIVAL


GUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, INC.

Caribbean HeritageSummer Camp

Sponsorship invited from organizations & individuals

REGISTER FOR GCA CARIBBEAN HERITAGE SUMMER CAMP

15

The GCA Caribbean Heritage Summer Camp for 2013will be held at Flatlands Reformed Church, 3931 KingsHighway, Brooklyn, NY. Another GCA program open toall members of the community, the camp is sponsoredagain by the NYC Department of Youth and ChildrenServices through the initiative of Matthieu Eugene andJumaane Williams, members of the NYC City Council.These six week service to the children of Brooklyn andother boroughs is amply supported by Pastor, Rev. PaulGlover, and the Consistory of Flatlands Reformed Churchwho have provided the excellent Activity Building andthe grounds for this effort in collaboration with a faith-based organization and a not for profit cultural associa-tion. Additional support is provided by Guyanese alumni,and village and other not for profits groups as well asindividuals committed to the cause.

The camp for 2013 will run from Monday, July 8through Thursday, August15, from 9 to 3pmMonday through Thursday. It is open to children 5through 12 years old.Early registration was on Friday, May 24 atFlatlands Reformed from 6 to 9 pm. Part of theevening was dedicated to the inaugural meeting of theGCA/Flatlands Reformed Family Advocacy Group.A registration fee of $5.00 and a modest fee of

$25.00 per week per child is charged for the camp.Scholarships are available.

The camp will use its internship program again this year.The program will include an expanded STEM unit thatwill pervade all its other offerings, in particular, a videoart experience. This latter will be led by the well-knownartist Damali Abrams. In addition, in keeping with its suc-cessful practice over the years and its continuedimprovement, the camp will be served by Edgar Henry(Music); Verna Walcott-White (Dance); Juliet Emanuel(Literacy); Claire Goring (Art Matters); MauriceBraithwaite (Performance) and Muriel Glasgow (STEM),among others. Also invited to lead workshops are RoyBrummell (Folk/STEM); Ron Bobb-Semple (Theater);Keith Proctor, Hilton Hemerding (Music); AlexanderBetton-Haynes (STEM), Ashton Franklin (BookProduction); Donna Walcott-Mitchell (Culinary Skills);Akoyaw Rudder and Winston “Jeggae” Hoppie (Drums)and Yvonne McCallum-Peters (Writing).This camp is a literacy based experience.

A tour of this landmark facility that serves as the premis-es for the Camp will be led by Rev. Paul Glover.For more information please call 718 209-5207.

16THE MUSICAL ARTS IN GUYANA

GUYANA FESTIVAL OF MUSICAL ARTS, 2013


My Night at theChampionships

The Musical Arts Festival Inc. in collaborationwith the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport, TheGuyana Music Teachers’ Association and the

Woodside Choir, MS, presented the 17th BiennialMusical Arts Festival from April 29 – May 4, 2013 at theNational Cultural Centre and the Regency Suites.

I have a love-hate relationship with Music Festivals,because inasmuch as I love Musical Arts, I am quitelimited in performance but enjoy listening to a goodrendition. The word “Music Festival” conjures up mem-ories of being trained by the inimitable ( and perse-vering) Ms. Edith Victorine Pieters, AA to sing a duet

“O Tell me Pretty River”, with classmate Dawn Profittand a solo (can’t remember the name of the poorsong that I murdered). Unfortunately I could onlyattend the Championships on the final night of theFestival, so I went to Regency Suites with great expec-tations, especially having enjoyed thoroughly, the 15thBiennial Festival Championships at The Bishops HighSchool.The night was an enjoyable one with various levelsand standards of entertainment and results, some ofwhich I did not support, but in the end Guyana wonbecause of the great talent that was celebrated.

Margaret Lawrence The Christian Brethren Assembly Choir cond.by Maureen Newton


17

The night was an enjoyable one with various levels andstandards of entertainment and results, some of which Idid not support, but in the end Guyana won because ofthe great talent that was celebrated.

The inclusion of the Class – Ethnic Music: Drumming wasinnovative and took cognisance of this vibrant art formthat links our cultures. The enthusiastic Orlando Primoand Majek Fingers Drumming School were awarded withthe respect due as musicians. They won the InstrumentalSolo and Choral & Instrumental Group Championshipsrespectively.

I still cannot understand how the Christian BrethrenAssembly Choir conducted by Maureen Newton lost theChoral Championship with their excellent rendition of “ACanon of Praise”. I really loved The Guyana Police ForceSmall Group which had the audience swaying in fondappreciation of their “Tango For Band” & “Italian Festival”conducted by Insp. Mathew Joseph with trumpeter L/Cpl18736 Anthony Trim. Inwardly I called for a return to theSunday concerts on the Seawall Bandstand.

Mrs. Kathleen Thompson-Henriquo was adjudged theOverall Festival Champion with her excellent dramaticpoetry and verse speaking with “The Quality of Mercy”

THE MUSICAL ARTS IN GUYANA

FESTIVAL OF MUSICAL ARTS

The inclusion of the Class – Ethnic Music:Drumming was innovativeand took cognisance ofthis vibrant art form thatlinks our cultures.

Majek Fingers Drumming School

Festival Champion Kathleen Thompson-Henriquoreceives trophy from Dr. Erv Janssen of theLutheran Church of Tulsa, Partners Prog.

Orlando Primo , Instrumental Solo Champ beingpresented with his trophy from Dr. Erv Janssen


FESTIVAL OF MUSICAL ARTS

(Merchant of Venice - Shakespeare) & “Columbus from hisafter deck” (The Emigrants-Edward Kamau Brathwaite).Kathleen’s versatility was evident when she sang “Send Inthe Clowns” . She is a humble, simple and talented productof a creative family led by the playwright Rev. Thompsonof St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. She recalls her brother,David, shining at “Teensville” and “In Search of a Star”while she was the “mousey” one at St. Margaret’s. Herforay into drama were happy days with her sister, Ann,when they took their toys to Sunday School on the frontsteps. Ann would do the roll call and Kathleen wouldrespond for each toy in a different voice. Of course thehome concerts were occasions for “dressing up” with anunusual assortment of clothes.

St. Margaret’s offered sound voice training while Queen’sCollege and ISCF Bible Club gave Kathleen opportunitiesto experiment with drama and music. The Thompson family’stradition of participating in every Music Festival ensuredthat she was appreciative of the Performing Arts and infact she missed those years when there was no Festival .Kathleen entered 4 classes in the 2013 Festival becauseshe had “some time on her hands” and persevered eventhough she became employed during her training, someof which was facilitated by Dramatist/MusicianRosamund Addo.

Kathleen’s selections were chosen because of the signifi-cance of their message and contribution to Theatre. Shewas a little disappointed in the standard of verse speakingand dramatic poetry. Having paid much attention to hercostume and props, Kathleen thought that participantscould have used these tools to their advantage as well.

Surprised but pleased at being presented the OverallChampion Trophy, Kathleen will be volunteering herskills to encourage and train youths for the next Festival.

Festival Director, David Dewar, deems the Festival a successbecause of the level of youth participation but acknowl-edged that the seniors need some encouragement. He isparticularly proud of The Diamond Drummers, comprisingdeaf and dumb youths and the rare find of a 13yr old basssinger from Tutorial High School. It is also likely that theoperations 18th. Biennial Music Festival will be computerised.

The Adjudicators were Dr. Joyce Jonas, former SeniorLiterature Tutor, University of Guyana and Examiner ofEnglish Literature for The Caribbean ExaminationsCouncil, Ms. Marilynda Lynch, musician and alumna, OralRoberts University & Mr. Donald Ryan Adjunct PianoProfessor, Oral Roberts University.

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My Night at theChampionshipsMargaret Lawrence Guyana Police Force Small Group cond. by Insp. Matthew Joseph

19


The Guyana Musical Arts Festival, 2013 was held from April29 to May 4, 2013 at two locations, the National CulturalCentre and the Regency Suites Hotel. Three sessions wereheld at the National Cultural Centre and eight at theRegency Suites Hotel. The main supporter of the festival isthe Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. The Minister Dr.Frank Anthony is the Patron of the Festival. The other part-ners are the Lutheran Church of Tulsa, The Guyana MusicTeachers Association and The Woodside Choirs M.S. Othercontributors were from the business community who arevery supportive of the cultural development of the country.ScopeThe event was a success, especially the Children’s Classes.There were 206 entries in the Children’s Classes and 76 inthe Adult or Open Classes. This is most heartening asGMAFI’s aim is to see full cultural development and partici-pation by all of Guyana.Participation• Contestants came mainly from Georgetown,Region 4 - (East Coast),Region 2 - and Region 10.• Students from nursery schools, primary schools,secondary schools, and private schools entered variousclasses.• Three Church choirs entered various classes .Other groups such as the Ministry of Culture Youth andSports Steel Orchestra Ensemble, the Guyana Police ForceSmall Group, the Otishka Drummers and the Majek FingersDrumming School, also took part in the proceedings.Highlights• The participation by schools from outside ofGeorgetown was most encouraging – the Region 10Regional Choir took part and entries were received in sev-eral Classes from Annandale Primary and SecondarySchools,Bladen Hall Secondary, President’ College andGolden Grove Primary and Secondary.• The Georgetown Schools, as usual, participated inthe festival along with a number of Private Schools, manyof whom took part for the first time. A notable winner wasSuccess Elementary School, a new school, which gainedseveral prizes in the Primary School Choirs, Action SongsPrimary Schools, Folk Songs Primary Schools also claimedthe Children’s Choral Championship.• The Region 10 Choir placed first in the Class forMixed Voice Choirs.• Annandale gained prizes in the Folk SongsSecondary School Class, the Action Song Primary SchoolsClass, and the Secondary School Choral Speaking Class.• Drumming has come into the limelight. This year

the festival had participation from many drummingschools. These included the Otishka Drummers, theHebrew Family of Guyana, the Majek Fingers drummingschool and the Diamond Special School Drummers. TheDiamond Special School, a group of differently abled chil-dren participated not only as a group but many of them didsolo items. The winner of this class was SherikaRamlachana.• In the effort to continue the promotion of musicin schools, in addition to the trophies that were presentedto winners at the Final Championship Sessions a recom-mendation was made by the Ministry and adopted, thatschools would be awarded prizes that would assist in thedevelopment of music programmes in the schools. A sur-vey on the musical needs of those schools which gainedprizes has been conducted and special prize giving cere-mony will therefore be held shortly at which the schoolswill be presented with their prizes. These will includemusical instruments, DVDs and interactive training pro-grammes in music.• The Overall Festival Champion for 2013 isKathleen Thompson Henriquo who was awarded first prizein three Classes – Verse Speaking, Dramatic Poetry andVocal Solo –Songs from the Shows – Ladies Voices.• A new Class for composers was won by LianneWilliams Dewar. Persons were asked to compose an origi-nal composition on Bird Sounds of Guyana and written forperformance as an instrumental piece and/or a vocal solowith instrumental accompaniment. The prize for this classwas given by Dr. Vibart and Dr. Patricia Cambridge.


HIGHLIGHTS FROMTHE GUYANA MUSICALARTS FESTIVAL 2013

Mrs. Elsie Croal – Festival Coordinator.

Judges: R-L: Prof. Donald Ryan, Ms. MarilyndaLynch, Dr. Joyce Jonas & Festival CoordinatorMs. Elsie Croal, Elaine Murray, FestivalCommittee member.


20ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE/BUSH MEDICINE

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POST NATAL CLEAN-OUT:St. John Bush, Inflammation Bush, GullyRoot, Mini Root, Wild Black Pepper, CowFoot, Maran, Man Piaba, Woman Piaba,Coryla, Sand Bitters, Neem, Bitter Tally,and Broad Leaf Thyme.

BACK PAIN:Kapadula, Sarsparilla, Granny Back Bone,Locus Bark, Cooper Bark, Monkey Ladder,Devil Dulla, Kackshun and Iron Weed.

HYPERTENSION & SKIN DISEASES:Bird Vine, Black Sage and Bread Fruit Leaffor hypertension, and for skin diseases, aconcoction of Neem, Bitter Tally, CarrionCrow, Money Bush, Coryla, Physic NutLeaf.

AHERBALREMEDYFOREVERY AILMENT


Guyanese and theuse of alternativemedicineDo you remember August holidaysand the “clean-out” we all enduredjust before school re-opened? Senna,leaves or pods was a ‘must’, Cascaraif you were unlucky, 5-Oils: a nastymixture of castor, olive, peppermintand two other oils that should behappily forgotten, followed by halfan orange which your parentsimagined would ‘make it taste better?

Guyana and Guyanese can be justifiably proud that med-ical science from the more ’developed’ societies hasexploited many of Guyana’s natural resources in the man-ufacture of drugs and medicines. Curare is a poisonoussubstance obtained from the plants of Guyana’s rain-forests, which is used in anesthetics and antidotes forsnakebites.

Guyanese used herbs, flowers, bark, roots and fruits asbush medicine long before alterative medication becameknown to Europe and North America. For colds, diabetes,heart ailments, frigidity, blood pressure, and liver prob-lems – many ailments could be cured using bush reme-dies.

It is time that we paid more attention to the medicinaland other values of our plant materials known andunknown, and conducted our own research. In thesedays of easy communications via e-mail, Facebook,Linked-in and countless others, we hear constantly of thenewly? discovered uses of what to us are fairly commonplants. Our ancestors knew the value of these plantsdecades ago but Western scientists are now re-discover-ing these facts and distributing (or otherwise, since someinformation was simply kept under wraps) the informa-tion so that manufacturers can profit from their potions!We are merely the purchasers of the products! How sad!

As our e-mails remind us constantly, quite ordinary fruitsand vegetables have now been found to have medicinalvalue and various parts of these plants are also sold bythe brothers. A few of the more commonly sold ones areCarilla, Ochro, Parsley, Soursop and Tamarind.

21ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE/BUSH MEDICINE

SWEET BROOM(Scoparia dulcis) Laxative

This herb is com-mon in bothGuyana andSurinam and isused here as a lax-ative, for what arecalled ‘womantroubles’, usuallythose related toeither theabsence of or dif-ficult or painfulmenstruation, andalso for fever anddiarrhea.

Zeb grass use iscommon inGuyana andSurinam. InGuyana infusionsare recommendedfor the treatmentof fever and bil-iousness but inSuriname it is alsoused to treatwarts, hair lossand high bloodpressure.

Neem is a veryornamental treeand must havebeen brought toGuyana byIndians whomigrated herebecause of itsenormous rangeof medical uses.This tree also pro-duces valuabletimber but todate it hasremained a back-yard tree valuedfor the medicinaluses. The leaves arepopularly sold as a

remedy for cleansing the blood but in other coun-tries it has been used for a wide range of maladiessuch as ulcers, diabetes, worms, asthma, hemor-rhoids and even leprosy.

NEEM (Melia azadirachta)Bitters for the blood

ZEB GRASS (Tradescantiaelongata) Biliousness

22


FOLKLORE, FOLKTALES

ALLURA,THE BUSH DAI DAIShe had long, curly hair that reached toher shoulders. Her face was small andround and made hideous by two large,green bulging eyes with no eyebrows.Her nose was small and wide and herlips were thick. Her ears were large andoval shaped but the tops were pointed.Her arms were long and reached pasther knees. Her fingers were short and fatand instead of finger nails, she hadclaws.

Peter Halder

A powis was wending its way through the forest along the left bank of the Potaro River. Its eyes were focused on the ground looking for food. Itstopped suddenly and raised its head. It lookedat the wide trunk of a large greenheart tree. Itscampered quickly away in the opposite direc-tion, scared by what it saw.From behind the tree stepped a female crea-ture that would have startled and terrifiedmore than the powis. She was the epitome of ugliness. She wasbrown-skinned, short and stout. She had long,curly hair that reached to her shoulders. Herface was small and round and made hideousby two large, green bulging eyes with no eye-brows. Her nose was small and wide and herlips were thick.


FOLKLORE, FOLKTALES

23

Her ears were large and oval shaped but the topswere pointed. Her arms were long and reached pasther knees. Her fingers were short and fat andinstead of finger nails, she had claws. Her legs werebuilt like two wallaba posts, with bumped kneesand ankles. Her thighs were thickly muscled and hertoes, short, fat and splayed from walking barefeet.Instead of toenails, she had claws. She had a bulboustummy and small, round, outthrust breasts. At herback, just above her waist, was a tail similar to thatof a black jaguar. It was curled and bushy at the endand did not touch the ground. She wore a blackjaguar skin loin cloth around her waist. Her facewore a constant snarl. She was a Jungle Jumbee,called by the Amerindians who lived in the interiorof Guyana, Bush Dai-Dai. She lived in a cave under ahill about twenty yards to the west of the green-heart tree. Her mother was of the Akawaio tribe. Shewas raped by a Kanaima, a black evil spirit whichlived in the forest. The Dai-Dai was conceived inhuman form from the rape but was a Bush Spirit.

The Jungle Jumbee was in heat and hungry. She wason her way to satisfy both needs.

Earlier in the morning, the Dai-Dai had changed intoan eagle and flew over the forest. She heard a lot ofnoise to the east in the direction of the river. Sheflew over the area and saw a dredge shoveling grav-el from the bottom of the river. On the bank of theriver a large sieve. The gravel from the dredge wascast into the sieves. There were two men on eachside of the sieve who sifted it and every now andthen would give a shout and display gold nuggets.The nuggets were put in a large Cow and Gate milkpowder tin. She looked further around and saw fourtents in which the gold miners slept. She noticedone was fair-skinned, of mixed face and well-mus-cled. He is my pick for tonight, she told herself. Sheflew around and around until she saw him leave thesieve and walked towards a tent which was at theedge of the forest. She nodded her head with plea-sure and a gourmet delight

and flew back to her cave.

The Dai-Dai, in her normal form, walked slowlythrough the forest to the edge where she knew thetent of her choice was. She took her time becauseshe wanted to arrive there just after dusk. She timedher walk perfectly.

Arriving at the edge of the forest, the Jungle Jumbeestopped. She wanted to be sure that the tent reallybelonged to the miner she had selected. She stoodstill, took her index finger, spat on it, and used it tomark a circle on her forehead. She spat on her fin-ger once more and drew two lines, meeting at anangle at the circumference of the circle. She raisedher head and stared at the top of the hill where shelived. She whispered in a language of her Kanaimafather and repeated it, “change me into a bush toad.”She was instantly changed into one.

The big, fat,ugly, dark toad, its back decorated withbumps and its green eyes bulging, hopped to theside of the tent, pushed its head under the flap andpeeped inside. It was the right tent. She returned tothe forest. There she performed the transformationritual again, using the toad’s long tongue. “Changeme into a most beautiful woman,” she asked. On thisoccasion, a mist appeared around the toad and, afterseveral minutes passed, a beautiful woman steppedout of it.

The selected victim, Teddy Croft, pulled the flaps ofthe tent apart and peeped out, intrigued and per-haps, lured by the female voice. He had not seen awoman for months. When he saw her in the light ofthe gas lamp from inside the tent, he nearly fell.Never in his whole life had he ever seen such abeautiful, alluring and sexy woman.

Allura,The Bush Dai Dai

Peter Halder

24


FOLKLORE, FOLKTALES

Allura,The Bush Dai Dai“Hello,” he said, “isn’t it too late to bewalking about the jungle filled with rav-enous and savage beasts and reptiles.”

“I don’t believe you are a beast or a rep-tile but I bet at the sight of me you maybe emotionally ravenous. My name isAllura, meaning alluring and filled withpleasure. I live in a troolie palm hutacross the river and I have often seenyou working on the river dredge and atyour mining sieve. I am not married. Inever was. I became attracted to youlike a piece of steel to a magnet anddecided to come and visit you afterwork. I thought maybe we can find com-mon ground to end the loneliness thatsurrounds our two lives and partake inthe emotional rhapsody of life in whichtwo become one and together we jour-ney into the physical paradise and joy oflife and living,” the temptress replied,choosing her honeyed words with carefrom reading his mind.

“Since you insist I won’t resist. So comeinto my tent, my beloved. Show me thecharms that you possess. Let my eyesfeast on the Garden of Eden of yourbody. Share with me the nectar of yourkisses and lead me to the fulfillment ofmy utmost desire,” said the beguiledTeddy.

In the tent, the pair savagely tore off theclothes they wore, embraced each otherlike two wrestlers in a prize fight andbegan to make love with total abandon.They lay panting on the “commonground” of the tent but as they looked ateach other body and into each other’seyes, lust regained its fervor and theycontinued their assault on ecstasy.

It was all over in a while, the secondtime taking longer. Soon Teddy was fastasleep and snoring. The Dai-Dai was not.Satisfied from the sounds of her loverthat he was fast asleep, she put the fin-gers of both hands around his neck andstrangled him to death. She then took aknife and sliced open the back of thecanvas tent. Repeating the transforma-tion ritual, she changed into a giantwerewolf with giant fangs and teeth. Shesank them into the dead man’s shoulderand pulled him through the back open-ing and into the forest. Effortlessly, themighty jaws of the werewolf dragged itsvictim to her cave where the Dai-Dailived. Sitting on its haunches, the ritualwas repeated and the Bush Jumbeeresumed her Dai-Dai form and sat, legscrossed on the grassy ground. Her eyesgleamed as she viewed the naked bodyin front of her, her mouth watered andher teeth grated with hunger. She setabout eating her human flesh dinnerslowly but with gusto. When only theskeleton remained, she arose and pulledin to the river and threw it in.

The Bush Dai-Dai returned toher cave. She lay on a mattress of driedtroolie palm leaves spread out on theground. Before she fell asleep, she smiledand whispered, “One down and three togo. What would I do without miningcamps and timber grants in the forest?Sex and male humans are my nature andI must do what I have to do to live.”

Peter Halder

25

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

GUYANESE POETS AND POETRY

The arrow of your loving pierces my heart

My heart’s blood washes the far shores of your mind

I am shaken, shaken to the very foundations of my being

Your teeth, like pearls of love, flay me

My skin is stripped, I am laid bare

My flesh is your flesh; your soft tongue is a spear, an assagai

I am gored, I bleed red; Red is the color of my love for you

Your fingers are gentle drumsticks on the pulse of my heart

Your hands are firm and gentle on the skin of my drum

The rhythm of my life is yours, my spirit dances for you

My heart is the song; your loving is the melody

A Love PoemT. Eric Matthews

ABOUT THE POET:T. Eric Matthews, a Guyaneseand former teacher with NewYork City Public SchoolSystem, resides in Fairburn,Georgia.

26MA, NANI, AUNTIE, NENEN, BHOWJIE: WOMEN AND LIFE’S CHALLENGES


As a male person, I will never know how it feels tobe a mother, more so to bear a child who was con-ceived as a result of a sexual assault.

To be the mother of such a child is not only a challengebut also an emotionally traumatizing and socially debili-tating experience. The ideal condition of becoming amother is to be in love with the one who fathers thechild and to enjoy a close relationship with the offspring,representing core family values and kinship structure.The mother of a child, who is the result of a rape,endures a horrific experience, finding it difficult todemonstrate unconditional love and affection because ofthe haunting memories that lingers in her mind. The after-math of such trauma vacillates between complete emo-tional collapse and measured resilience, depending oncommunity awareness and response, and level of supportfrom significant others.

Invariably, family support and counseling is required tohelp her cope and effectively nurture that off-spring whostarted life’s existence under inconceivably violent cir-cumstances. The fact that a mother ruefully conceivesunder such conditions and has to subsequently care foran infant as it grows day by day is a constant nostalgicunpleasant recall. She would have to be physically andmentally strong to live with the daily atrocities life has tooffer, given those conditions.

Please permit me to relate one such incident whichoccurred two decades ago when a victim of rape was acover up tale. At that time I produced a weekly RadioSeries entitled "The Eighty Plus Club" on Guyana Radio.In that era I encountered women from all walks of life,who were mothers from a cross section of the Guyanesesix raced community and also from practically everyCaricom country, the USA, Canada, Australia and NewZealand. Some of these mothers were in their teens, oth-ers in their forties.

There was one interview that stood out when I was visit-ing Wapishana, South Rupununi Savannah. What Iobserved in that community, is the way mothers spoke oftheir children, who by then were parents and sometimeseven grandparents themselves.

For most mothers, their children, regardless of age, arealways juvenile to them. As I interviewed the mothers formy "The Eighty Plus Club" , they would sometimes remi-nisce about the birth of their children, and on a few occa-sions, the conception. Among my interviewees was MamaMay (pseudonym), a dedicated school teacher who dis-cussed her first pregnancy after being sexually assaultedat age 22. Her story goes back to the early 1900s whenthere was no protection for young female teachers fromsexual advances.

Mama May told me that the Headmaster locked her in hisroom one afternoon and "had his way" with her. She con-ceived and her teaching career ended. The Headmasterdid not take responsibility for fathering the child, eventhough he would make 'gifts' to her to help her out. Inthe eyes of the public, he was the generous benefactor

and no one knew the identity of the child’s biologicalfather. Mama May kept the ‘family secret’ from everyone. Shetold me that she did eventually inform her son when he was"a big man" after the Headmaster had died. But she neverrevealed it to anyone else, until that interview with me, at theage of 92. As Mama May related the traumatic experience,tears were cascading down her wrinkled cheeks, albeit 70years later. As I was leaving, her Caregiver said: "Mr. Farrier, Iheard her tell you that she was raped. I was with her all theseyears and she never told me about that!” Of course I was sur-prised and wondered why she confided in me.

The reality and moral of this case is that rape is not onlyphysically violent, but also dehumanizing and psychologicallydevastating, causing shame, denial, clinical depression andself-doubt. It scars a woman for life, especially when it resultsin her becoming a mother. Mama May’s tears were sympto-matic of a Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome, which can last alifetime. The emotional pain was with her 70 years later.Domestic violence is still prevalent in various ethnic commu-nities and the workplace, where employees are vulnerable tosexual advances. Unfortunately, violent sexual assault onwomen, one of the many tools of perennial gender oppresion in our region, has not until recently, been given seriousattention. I am certain that there are other women whocould attest to similar tales. There is much work to be done,since too many mothers even today are victims of like cir-cumstances.

Too many mothers,victims of

circumstances

Francis Quamina Farrier

“Well I’m a 100. Imagine that …” exclaimed the glam-our girl, who happily said that in her earlier days, she hadmany boyfriends and did not pass up on the “drinks.”However, that lifestyle did not inhibit Dorothy Ivy Pile-Roth from attaining the coveted age of 100. She celebrat-ed the milestone with a simple ceremony on April 29,2013.The niece-in-law of the late Walter Roth, after whom thefamous museum was named, does not see herself as arole model but as someone from which young peoplecan learn a few key principles.Though the meek yet humorous Roth experiences chal-lenges with her hearing and sight, she still managed to sitwith Kaieteur News for a candid interview.Born on April 29, 1913 at Plantation Tuschen, she is thedaughter of Emma Maria De Lapara and Joseph ErnicePile who produced 12 children during a long lasting mar-riage.As she took a stroll down memory lane, she spoke abouther husband, Walter Jerald Roth whom she rememberedto be sweet, caring and a fine looking gentleman. But sud-denly, she took a detour from reality and told KaieteurNews with much vigor “Don’t fatigue me with that any-more.”In her still bubbly spirit, Mrs. Roth said that she wishedshe could still have her favourite drink “ Rum and gin-ger or Rum and coke” but sadly she has no other choicebut to settle for a plain old “I-cee cream soda.”As the corners of her lips turned into a glowing smile,she said, “Oh my! How I loved icing cakes and plantingflowers when I was 20. Though I have no children I amcontent with my life. It is filled with countless beautiful

moments.”She recalled those golden days of her youth when shedid the foxtrot at the Portuguese Hall and the AssemblyHall. Once again she exclaimed that those were sweetmemories but “Don’t fatigue me with that anymore.”Members of the Uncle Eddie’s home along with some dis-tant relatives who visited her on the special occasion,told Kaieteur News “She is a woman filled which muchhistory. She is a celebrity in our eyes and not to mentionwhat a diva she was in her youth. Her dressing wassophisticated. She was envied by the very best as shelived a high class life and is known to be a personalfriend of Janet Jagan. “She is very frank. Many people donot know that the porkknockers in the GuyanaMuseum were actually made by her. She made themout of balata and the hats she made from limes thatshe sliced in half and turned the two halves inside out.”However, the outspoken centenarian did inform thisnewspaper that she still reminisces about her manylovers.With a light chuckle she stated, “Oh my, I have had somany lovers, I really don’t know where to start. But Ihave a secret; I was in love with a guy overseas namedEstorga. I loved him dearly. He has my heart.”

Moreover, when asked what is her advice to young girls

she said, “These young girls always wearingsome tight up clothing. They give no mystery.But they don’t listen to old people like me. Butdon’t bother me about that anymore.”

27MA, NANI, AUNTIE, NENEN, BHOWJIE: WOMEN AND LIFE’S CHALLENGES


‘Glamour Girl’Dorothy Ivy Roth is now a centenarian...she remembers dancing the Foxtrot at the Portuguese

Hall and at the Assembly Hall


RYHAAN SHAH’S

“WEAVINGWATER”GUYANESE ARTISTBERNADETTE PERSAUD PROVIDES COVER ARTFOR BOOK WHICHFOLLOWS THEFORTUNES OFSEVERALJAHAJIS WHO MADE THELASTCROSSING FROM INDIA IN 1917, ABOARDTHE SS GANGES

28

Photograph of Ryhaan Shah by Dwayne Hackett.

BOOKS, ART & THE ARTISTS

BOOKS, ART & THE ARTISTS


29

Guyanese artist, Bernadette Persaud, has provid-ed the cover art for “Weaving Water”, RyhaanShah’s second novel, which was released on

Monday (May 20th) by Cutting Edge Press, London,UK. Both writer and artist live in Guyana.

The novel follows the fortunes of several jahajis whomade the last crossing from India in 1917 aboard theSS Ganges. A baby, Neela, born aboard the ship growsup to move through the events that unfold. She is alink with beliefs that go back to ancient times and asource of strength for all that the jahajis face in theirnew home.

“Weaving Water” is written as a mythical tale of tri-umph and defeat, of heroism and struggle, as the char-acters face social upheavals, and the political turmoilthat has marked the Guyana landscape.

Shah says that the idea for the central character,Neela, came from a friend who told her about hergrandmother who was born aboard one of the lastships to bring indentured labourers from India toGuyana, and whose birth certificate stated: Born atsea.

“I thought: a baby girl born at sea and with no tiesto the earth. It was magic, and the story was woven,so to speak, from that central magical idea,” Shahsays.

The novel is available immediately as an ebook atamazon.com. The print edition will follow shortly.

The photograph for the book’s jacket was done byDwayne Hackett.

Shah’s third book, “A Death in the Family”,will bepublished by Cutting Edge Press in July.

Her first novel, “A Silent Life”, was published in 2005by Peepal Tree Press, and won the Guyana Prize forthe Best First Book in 2007.

Ryhaan Shah’ssecond novellaunched inLondon

Carl Hazlewood


HOMEMADE TOYS ENCOURAGED CREATIVITY,

CHALLENGED OUR RESOURCEFULNESS &

STIMULATED OUR INVENTIVENESS

SUMMER HOLIDAYS, FOLK GAMES & FOLK TOYS

30

Godfrey Chin deceased: GuyFolk Magazine 2008

SCAVENGED AND SCROUNGED FROM DISCARDSAND WASTES AROUND THE HOUSEHOLD


Today’s top toys for the young ones includevideo games, transformers, X-Box, radio con-trolled helicopters etc., all in the pricey $50 to$100 range. Yesteryear our toys costed us $1.00to .50 cents, because they were homemade;scavenged from discards and wastes around thehousehold.

Those toys, however, provided barrels of fun,the joy of hands-on creativity that challendedour resourcefulness, taxed our ingenuity, flexedour brains, stimulated our inventiveness andengendering youthful pride of achievement.

Here are some of homemade toys of my child-hoodWAR TANK: Serrate edge of cotton reel, rub-ber band, pointa, candle wax, wind up andwatch tank climb book obstacles.PARACHUTE:A handkerchief, 4 short piecesof string from the 4 corners, add a stone orweight.PUPPETS: Cut out wooden puppets- genipleaves can work, build small stage for plays.SUBMARINE: Cut out wooden submarine,sand, tin fins and propeller, rubber bands for propulsion, may need to swim and dive to retrieve.

SCOOTER: 2 castors, 2 staves, wire forstrapping and pinning.GO-CART: 3 or 4 castors, 2 planks, shortcord for steering, your “padnah” pushing fromthe back with a pole.BUCK TOP: Awara seed, 2 holes top and bottom, third 15 degrees, place in ants nest to be hollowed out, short dowel, bees wax to seal, tooth brush handle and string.SLING SHOT: Tree fork branch, strips of bicycle rubber,leather tongue, and the birds and animals in the neighborhood in nuff trouble.

ROLLERS:Wooden circles, wire rings, bicycle rimes,wood or wire to steer.PLAY TELEPHONE: Two empty cans, nocover, long string attached to the bottoms,extend talk and listen-it works. Also walk oncans like robots. You can also use half of adried coconut shells to walk on.

Homemade Toys and GamesSUMMER HOLIDAYS, FOLK GAMES & FOLK TOYS

31


32


Hopscotch (Pronounced hop-sko-ch) has beenplayed by children in the streets, schools an gardensfor decades, however, most of the time, people jstthrow the stone and hop. It seems that very fewpeople know the actual RULES for hopscotch. Thishub will not only show you how to play hopscotch,but will tell you about its history, give you tips tohelp you win, help you choose the perfect stone toplay with and tell you what hopscotch can do foryour health!

The History of Hopscotch

Hopscotch started in ancient Britain, during theearly Roman Empire. Original hopscotch courtswere used for military training and were over 100feet long. Roman foot-soldiers would run the coursein full armour and field packs to improve their foot-work. Roman children then made smaller imitations,added a scoring system and so hopscotch was creat-ed.

Below is the old layout of the hopscotchcourt:

Hopscotch In Other CountriesIn France, Hopscotch is called "Marelles", "Templehupfen"in Germany, "Hinkelbaan" in the Netherlands, "Rayuela" inArgentina, , "Pico" in Vietnam and "Ekaria Dukaria" inIndia.

The English term Hopscotch comes from the word "hop"which means "to jump" and "escocher", which is a Frenchword meaning "to cut".

What Do You Need To Play Hopscotch?1. Chalk (or a stone that leaves white marks on pave-ment)

2. A stone for each player

AND THATS IT!!! SIMPLE!

What Does a Hopscotch Court Look Like?

THE HISTORY AND RULES OF PLAYINGHOPSCOTCH, CORRECTLY

33


There was a time in Guyana, more particularly when itwas British Guiana, when most boys played marbles,or pitched marbles, or pitched taw. All those expres-

sions mean the same thing.

There were many varieties of taw, but the most popular inGuyana were one-hole and three-hole taw. The boys playedfor buttons – the type sewed on to clothes. Typically, eachplayer would stake ten buttons, which were laid out on theground. In three-hole taw, three holes would be dug in theyard, at home, at school, in the street or even in mud some-where. The holes could be in a straight line and at somedistance from each other. The challenge was to take yourmarble or taw, aim it at the first hole from one side, rollyour taw into it; stand at the second hole and roll your tawinto the third hole; turn around, stand at the third hole andgoing back roll the taw into the second hole, and then intothe first hole. The player who could do that would be achampion and would take away all the buttons at stake.Problem is, that would be rare. Often, it is difficult to makethe first hole.

Many factors determined the course of the game. One isthe kind of marble. Sometimes, but rarely, little glass mar-bles like those used in checkers were used. There wereother glass marbles twice the size of the checkers marbleor larger. These larger marbles are now collectors’ items.There were also the homegrown marbles such as theaccouri seed, the kuru seed, and the awara seed – all ofthem seeds of a palm trees grown mostly in the interior ofthe country. Occasionally, there were also the iron marbles,ball bearings that dads got from the sugar estate foundryfor their boys. These however could be dangerous.

The playing area was also a factor. The more level the landwas, the better one could direct the taw. Was the hole largeor small? Was there a gradual slope towards the hole or wasit abrupt? How far apart were the lines? These were all fac-tors. The most important asset however was a straight andsteady hand.

During the game, as players tried to get from one hole tothe other, the spectators cheered their favorites and jeeredthe others. The game allowed for a player to use his taw to

hit an opponent’s taw as far as possible from the hole he istrying to reach. The player could also roll his marble nearhis opponent’s marble and if it comes within one hand-span of it, the opponent could be penalized.

There were a few types of one-hole taw. In one of them,called “bouncing”, a hole was dug near to a tree trunk. Theboys would then keep bouncing the taw against the treetrunk and catching it, unless they felt that the bouncewould allow it to land perfectly in the hole, in which case,they would let it fall. If it fell into the hole they won.

Jummin’ (pronounced “JOO-min”) was also done. This ishitting one taw with another. In one instance, one player’smarble was set up on a mound and the other player wouldthen aim and, with the swing of the arm, hit it as hard aspossible. Some taws were so hard they caused the othertaws to crack of break apart. Players would therefore care-fully choose the palm seeds they used and carefully andlovingly dressed them - smoothing the two ends into asnear a perfect circle as possible.

Gam is another game of taw, often played with the kuru seed.

In America, boys talked about “shootin' taw.” Numerouskinds of games were played using marbles, some of themquite different from the Guyanese games. It seems that inmany parts of the world, boys love to play marbles.

When did boys play taw? Whenever they could.Schoolwork was sometimes left undone and errands wereinterrupted or even forgotten because of taw. Many boyscame to grief because they were so engrossed in the gamethat they didn’t do what they should have done. They werejummin’ instead.

A pastor of a church in New Jersey tells that, as a boy, hegot so caught up with pitching taw that he failed to gethome from the store in time with an item his grandmotherneeded to prepare dinner. She taught him a lesson. At din-nertime, he uncovered his plate only to find nothing buttwo marbles sitting there. It was a painful reminder thattaw time should be the right time. But boys have alwaysfound it hard to remember.

Silver Torch


TAW TIME PLAYING MARBLES


34

The April edition of the On-Line Magazine highlight-ed the challenges Guyana (and other countries)face as they grapple with the safe and final disposal

of garbage, the majority of which seems to be in the formof discarded plastic, particularly in the form of bags andbottles. We cannot think of garbage without thinking ofthe products we consume in plastics.

The Earth Policy Institute reported that the health of theplanet is affected by the amount of water consumed inplastic bottles. Billions of people globally use (more than41 billion gallons (154 billion liters) annually. Bottledwater is not necessarily healthier than tap water. It canbe 10,000 times more expensive than gasoline, whentransportation and packaging are taken into account asbottled water produced on one continent is consumed onanother.

The United States is listed as the world’s biggest con-sumer of bottled water, about 7 billion gallons (26 billionlitres) annually. Mexico has the second highest consump-tion rate, followed by China and Brazil. Meanwhile, inmany developing countries, tap water is either unavail-able or unsafe, making bottled water a better option, butnot too many people can afford to buy the amount need-ed. Hence the reuse of the bottle with tap water!

Tons of PlasticEven when bottled water is safe to drink, the packagingcan threaten environmental health. Worldwide, some 2.7million tons of plastic are used to bottle water each year,according to the Environmental Protection Index (EPI).About 86 percent of plastic water bottles in the USbecome garbage or litter, according to the ContainerRecycling Institute in Washington, D.C. To quenchAmericans’ thirst for bottled water requires more than 1.5million barrels of oil annually to make the needed plas-tics, enough to fuel some 100,000 U.S. cars for a year,according to an EPI executive. Moreover, manufacturingplastics use up about eight percent of world oil produc-tion.

About 300 million tons of plastic is produced globallyeach year. Only about 10 percent of that is recycled. Ofthe plastic that is simply trashed, an estimated 7 tons endsup in the sea each year, where it breaks down into smallerfragments over the years. The tinier the pieces, the moreeasily they are swallowed by marine life. (One studyfound that fish in the North Pacific ingest as much as24,000 tons of plastic debris a year).

Because plastic is inexpensive, lightweight and durable, it

is used in almost every industry. However, because it islight and cheap, there is a lot of it and due to its is sodurable, it does not “go away.” Plastic accumulated overhalf a century is still out there.

Environmental impacts of plasticPlastic is not biodegradable. It has a footprint of about400-1,000 years. Even burying it deep within the earthdoes not keep it from impacting the environment. Plasticsare the primary product in landfills; chemicals containedin them eventually seep down and contaminate groundwater.To prevent plastic from getting into the environment in the first place, individuals and companies have to assess their own plastic footprints, not only to raise awareness of the problem but to prompt individuals and organizations to change their consumption patterns. This could be done by reducing wasteful use, by collecting, reusing or recycling plastic trash; and by stepping up the use of recycled plastic or of more easily biodegradable materials. Some companies have already made progress here: Electrolux, for example, has has introduced a range of vacuum cleaners that are madefrom recycled plastic;

PLASTICS AND THE GARBAGE CRISISWe cannot think of garbage without thinkingof the products we consume in plastics.

THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR HEALTH

Muriel Glasgow


35

Coca-Cola has devised a plastic bottle that also containsplant-based materials, etc.The plastic most commonly used is polyethyleneterepthalate (PET), which is derived from crude oil. Tohelp alleviate environmental harm from PET, some com-panies are adopting a more eco-friendly bottling alterna-tive. For example, one company is using a bottle madefrom a biodegrable plastic derived from corn which isexpected, with the right conditions, to disappear in 75-80days.Technological advances may soon influence the process-ing of plastic trash, being petroleum based, into fuel withaccess to a reliable supply of plastic waste. Given its durability and adaptability, it is said that plasticshould be treated as a reusable rather than a disposablecommodity. Reusing and recycling plastics are fast becom-ing entrepreneurial activities globally. Innovating the pro-duction process as shown earlier can produce a morebiodegradable plastic going forward.

Some recommendations to alleviatethe garbage situation in Guyana: • Institute a water and sanitation

education program to influence effective

sanitation behavior;

• encourage the population to help

manage the garbage load in their homes

through the use, reuse and recycling

of plastics;

• establish recycling programs from

which young entrepreneurs can learn

how to recycle and refashion plastics;

• develop a public/private partnership to

address the management of garbage at

the community and municipality levels.

Source - Scientific American; National Geographic News;

Environmental Health News

PLASTICS ANDTHE GARBAGECRISIS

THE ENVIRONMENT AND OUR HEALTH

Muriel Glasgow

CHUCKLESCORNER

Edgar Henry

Mothers Day

A proud mother of five told her kids she wanted tobe treated very special on Mother’s day and sheneeded to be pampered; so the kids bought hersome diapers.

The Professor

A Guyanese professor at the University of Guyanaembraced a new controversial concept on the“Relativity Theory.” The professor was very eager forpeople to grasp his proposal that he gave the samelecture at every forum in order to gain recognitionand also to attract the eyes of graduating studentsacross the country. The professor was a very busyperson and he had the same chauffeur for approxi-mately ten years. The association engendered a close-ness and camaraderie between them. One evening asthe Professor was being driven home a conversationensued. The professor told him that he had to makea speech the following day to the 2013 graduatingclass. The chauffeur asked if he could make the pre-sentation on his behalf. Of course the professorobjected and was somewhat surprised at his requestexplaining the importance of it. The chauffeur insist-ed and told the Prof that he heard his presentationso many times and at so many different functionsthat he was well versed and was very knowledgeableon the topic. With some hesitation the Prof agreed.The following day the Prof dressed as the chauffeurand the Chauffeur wore his best suit to make thepresentation. The chauffeur presented a fantasticspeech that warranted a standing ovation. He alsohandled the question and answer segment admirably.However, the very last question baffled the chauffeurto which he responded. “That question is so simpleand elementary I will defer it to my chauffeur who issitting over there at the back of the auditorium.”

36 THE GODFREY CHIN PRIZE FOR HERITAGE JOURNALISM

ENTRY FORMReporter’s name:____________________________________________________________

Reporter’s e-mail address:_____________________________________________________

Publication:_________________________________________________________________

Work address:_______________________________________________________________

Work phone:_________________________________________________________________

Home address:________________________________________________________________

Home phone:_________________________________________________________________

Title and short description of article/articles submitted. (Description should be concise.)_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

PublicationDate/dates:_______________________________________________________________________

Description of the reporting effort involved including any special obstacles in obtaining information aswell as the impact of the articles on the public interest (such as public actions). Limit to 300 words ifpossible. If needed, attach a separate sheet.______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Mail five completed entry forms with five copies of the submission to:

The Godfrey Chin Prize for Heritage Journalismc/o Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc.

1368 East 89th Street, Suite 2Brooklyn, NY 11236, USA


37


The annual Godfrey Chin Prize forHeritage Journalism, administered by theGuyana Cultural Association of New York,Inc. was established in 2011 and isinspired by Godfrey Chin’s indefatigableefforts to preserve, promote, and propa-gate Guyana’s rich cultural heritage andcreativity.

The prize has been established to encourageand reward writers whose publishedworks promote an understanding andappreciation of the diverse strands ofGuyanese heritage and contributes to celebration of the common histories thatunite the people of Guyana.

The prize (a total of US$1000.) will bedivided between First, Second and Thirdplaced authors — and it will be awardedto the entry that best embodies the spirit,intellect and wit of Godfrey Chin.

Submissions are invited from Guyanesemedia professionals working in Guyana orin the Guyanese diaspora.

ENTRY GUIDELINES:• All submissions must have been published in aGuyanese newspaper or magazine or on thenewspaper or magazine’s Web site during the2012 calendar year. Web-based news organiza-tions that follow a strict code of journalisticethics and publish original reporting on a regularbasis may also submit entries. No broadcast-onlyentries are allowed.

• Entries may include a single story, a relatedseries of stories, or up to three unrelated stories.Columns and editorials are eligible. Individualsare encouraged to submit their own entries.

• In case of a series, at least half the individualstories must have been published during thecontest year (2012).

• Entries should be submitted in five copies,each with a completed entry form.

SEND ENTRIES TO:The Godfrey Chin Prize forHeritage Journalismc/o Guyana Cultural Association

of New York, Inc

1368 East 89th Street, Suite 2

Brooklyn, NY 11236

USA

The date appearing on the newspaper or maga-zine will determine the entry's eligibility in thecontest year.

The judges shall have discretion as to whetherthere shall be honorable mentions in addition tothe winner(s).

The judges' selection of the winner will be finaland not subject to review by the Board ofTrustees of the Fund.

Winners in any one year will be eligible forfuture awards without restriction.

All applications for the 2013 Godfrey ChinHeritage Journalism Prize must be post-marked by September 30, 2013.

THE GODFREY CHIN PRIZE FOR HERITAGE JOURNALISM

SUBMISSION DEADLINESEPTEMBER 30, 2013

Vibert Cambridge

INTERNATIONAL EVENTS

38 3 May World Press Freedom Day - with the theme “Safe toSpeak: Securing Freedom of Expression in All Media” onits 20th anniversary in 2013. The Media have the opportu-nity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press free-dom; assess the state of press freedom throughout theworld; defend the media from attacks on their indepen-dence; pay tribute to journalists who have lost their livesin the line of duty.

8-9 MayTime of Remembrance and Reconciliation forThose Who Lost Their Lives during the SecondWorld WarThe UN General Assembly declared 8 or 9 May as a timeof remembrance and reconciliation. The choice of daydepends on Member States and their national recognitionof days of victory to pay tribute to all victims of theSecond World War. Source:http://www.un.org/en/events/remembranceday/

12 May International Nurses’ DaySince 1965, the International Council of Nurses (ICN) hascelebrated this event on 12 May, the anniversary of thebirth of Florence Nightingale. ICN distributes theInternational Nurses’ Day Kit for use by nurses every-where. National Nurses’ Week is also celebrated between6-12 May Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Nurses_Day

13-15 MayInternational Telecommunications Week (ITW) -Companies and delegates meet annually at this signatureevent of the Telecommunications Community to networkand promote their business and services. GuyanaTelephone and Telegraph (GTT) is stated to be among the2013 participants. Source: http://www.un.org/en/events

13-15 May International Conference on Forests for Food Securitywith a focus on exploring policy options and the role oftechnology on the impact of forests, trees on farms andagroforestry on food security and human nutrition, espe-cially in developing countries.

15 MayInternational Day of Families - 2013 theme is “Advancing Social Integration and IntergenerationalSolidarity” and is observed worldwide.The UN preparesbackground information on the family for use byGovernments, the UN system, including the regional com-missions, and UN Information Centres and NGOs. Anannual message of the Secretary-General is prepared forwide distribution. Source:http://www.un.org/en/events/familyday/

17 MayWorld Telecommunication and Information

Society Day (formerly World Telecommunication Day)annually helps raise awareness of the Internet and otherinformation and communication technologies (ICT), theirimpact on societies and economies, as well as of ways tobridge the digital divide. Source:http://www.itu.int/en/wtisd/Pages/about.aspx

19-27 May 21st African Union (AU) Summit - the theme is “PanAfricanism and African Renaissance”. Source:http://uncsd.iisd.org/events/21st-african-union-summit/

21 May World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue andDevelopment provides an opportunity to deepen ourunderstanding of the values of cultural diversity and tolearn to live harmoniously. In a grassroots campaign “DoOne Thing for Diversity and Inclusion” you can partici-pate in the events through a dedicated Facebook Page -https://www.facebook.com/DoOneThingforDiversityandInclusion

22 MayInternational Day for Biological Diversity, toincrease understanding and awareness of biodiversityissues. Biodiversity is the source of the essential goodsand ecological services that constitute the essence of lifefor all. Source: http://www.cbd.int/ibd/2005/default.shtml

24 MayDay of “Vesak” - Day of the Full Moon is the mostsacred day to millions of Buddhists around the world. Itwas on the Day of Vesak two and a half millennia ago, inthe year 623 B.C., that the Buddha was born. It was alsoon the Day of Vesak that the Buddha attained enlighten-ment, and it was on the Day of Vesak that the Buddha inhis eightieth year passed away. The General Assembly, byits resolution 54/115 of 1999, recognized internationallythe Day of Vesak to acknowledge the contribution thatBuddhism, one of the oldest religions in the world, hasmade for over two and a half millennia and continues tomake to the spirituality of humanity. Source:http://www.un.org/en/events/vesakday/

29 MayInternational Day of United Nations Peacekeeperswho, since 1948, have been helping the internationalcommunity through Member States, host countries, UNpartners and regional organizations to address globalthreats to international peace and security. It is an occa-sion to salute the 120,000 peacekeepers serving in 17missions in some of the world’s most volatile and danger-ous environments. This Day is also a time to mourn fallenpeacekeepers. So far, nearly 3,000 “Blue Helmets” havedied devoting their lives to peace. This year the Day high-lights the global partnerships that help sustain UNPeacekeeping and make it the success that it is. Source:https://www.un.org/en/events/peacekeepersday/


39


MAKIN’ STYLE MAGAZINENY LAUNCHSUNDAY, JUNE 2, 201395 Halsey Street(Corner of Nostrand Avenue), Brooklyn, NY5.00 - 9.00 p.m.

THE BISHOPS’ HIGHSCHOOL N.Y. TRI-STATEALUMNI ASSOCIATIONInternational Food BarST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH GROUNDS

133-04 109th StreetSouth Ozone Park, NY 11420June 22, 20131.00 - 7.00 p.m.Adults - $25.00Children - $10.00 (12 & under)

THE CITY OF EAST ORANGE ANDGUYANA AMERICAN HERITAGE FOUNDATIONGUYANA 47TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARYFLAG RAISING & CULTURAL PRESENTATIONFRIDAY, MAY 31, 2013: 5.00 - 8.00 P.M.EAST ORANGE CITY HALL44 CITY HALL PLAZA, EAST ORANGE, NJAllison Butter-Grant - 973 223 9165Lady Ira - 973 951 9898

IMPRESSIONS DANCE THEATRE INC.11TH ANNUAL DANCE RECITALLIGHTS CAMERA DANCETHE JOURNEY CONTINUESSUNDAY, JUNE 30, 2013 4.00 P.M.

JAMAICA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER153 -10 JAMAICA AVE.CORNER OF JAMAICA AVE & 153RD STS.

ADULTS $25 CHILDREN $15 FOR INFO CONTACT VERNA WALCOTT-WHITE{347} 432 2856/ {718} 374 3782

ATLANTIC CRICKET CLUBBreakfast of the ChampionsSaturday June 8, 20139.00am to 12.30pmSt Gabriel's Church331 Hawthorne Street BrooklynD.J CrackerAdults $20; Children $10Contact ;-Leslie (Tulu) Lewis 347-554-4268

THE NEW YORK TUTORIAL SUPPORT GROUP INC.Spring Fling DanceFriday, June 21, 2013;10:00 pm – 3.00 a.m.; DJ Hannah

St. Gabriel’s Church Hall, 331 Hawthorne Street, Brooklyn, NY 11225Contacts: J. Callender (347) 564-0678; Dale Edinboro (347) 563-0847; J.Grannum (718) 735-9186 & other C/Tee members

JOB FAIRThursday, June 6, 2013Public School 37546 McKeever Place(b/w Sullivan & Montgomery Sts.)11am - 3pmBring Resumes and Business Attire is strong recommended.For more information call, (718)284-4700Sponsors: Council Member Darlene Mealy, State Senator Eric Adams,Well Care, Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce Youth America

COMMUNITY CALENDAR

guyana cultural association of new york inc. newsletters - indian arrival in guyana

Documents

republic of guyana

cultural heritage foundation

mothers day

east orange new jersey

caribbean heritage month

role models

prominent role

city ofeast orange