Miss Guyana Sari Pageant left something to be desired
November 18, 2008
The recently concluded Miss Guyana Sari Pageant, 2008, held on Saturday, October 25, 2008 at the National Park was an embarrassment. My first question to the Diwali Committee members is why was alcohol allowed and sold in the park? The contestants and the general public were made to understand that no alcohol consumption would have been allowed in the park on the night of the pageant!
Secondly, what were the criteria for the selection of judges? And why weren’t the judges introduced to the contestants? Probably right after the introduction of the contestants would have been a good time to introduce the judges. I can understand that a lawyer was selected to judge the pageant. Read more
Pictures Of Pirates Week In Grand Cayman
November 17, 2008
The tradition continues with fun at Pirates Week in Grand Cayman. Its a promotion to attract tourists to the island during the slow season which has blossomed into a countrywide event that grow each year. Highlights of the festival includes: costume competition,song fest,trail of the pirates fun,fireworks,cardboard boat race and local band.Due to hurricane Paloma the event was postponed and made a comeback on Saturday.However they managed to beefed up the festival a bit. An economic impact study done on the festival by the University of West Indies showed that the Pirates Week festival generates a return of roughly $700,000 a year for the economy.Here’s a few pictures… Read more
Courts Caribbean lights up on Main Street in Guyana
November 15, 2008
COURTS ushered in the Christmas season last evening by hosting its 8th annual Christmas Concert and tree lighting ceremony along with the Stash of Cash Promotion in the avenue outside its main branch on Main Street in the city.
The theme this year was “Give a Gift this Christmas from Courts” and was hosted by television personality Ms. Wanita Huborn.
Minister of Social Security and Human Services Ms. Priya Manickchand, ceremoniously lighted the tree by using an imaginary green button placed in her hand by Courts representative Howard Lorimer. Read more
Must Watch Tonight 11/13/2008: “Escape from Jonestown” on CNN
November 13, 2008
Solidad O’Brian hosts “Escape from Jonestown” tonight 11/13/2008 at 9:00pm est on CNN.
This is the story of Jim Jones and the tragedy the occurred in Guyana thirty years ago.
Tonight Solidad will share some of the stories from the survivors that managed to escape from Jonestown.
Andrew
Review:VISIONS 2008 “An Evening of Songs & Dance”
November 2, 2008
Saturday Oct 1st 2008, VISIONS which can be described as an organization focused on nurturing the artistic/cultural talents of children and young adults in the West Indian centric community of Richmond Hill, had their annual talent show at Richmond High School. The evening was filled with songs and dance from young Benny Mitesh Parag, Sarika Sherman, Samatha Ramkissoon, Pt Manoj Jadubans, Denna Maharaj, Katherine Ann Ramsingh, Vauhini, Nikita, Rajendra Persaud, Dexter Raghunanan, Hema Devi Thakoordeen, Ranjeev Ramdeen, Lisa Balram, Samantha Persaud, Wanita Ramnarine, Annand Sayroo, The Natya Tilakam Dance Academy and The Shahara Dance Group. Read more
Annual Halloween Parade in New York (Greenwich Village) 2008
November 1, 2008
What a great turnout! We were happy to see New Yorkers at their best. From where we were standing at the corner of 14th street and 6th avenue, the view was superb. Those who were masquerading welcomed the camera in attempt to showoff their costume and what a fine job they did. We had wonderful laughs. What was beautiful to see, were the flag and some pan music from a band representing Trinidad and Tobago. Then and there we thought how welcoming it would be to see the flags of other nations in the Caribbean raised. There was never a dull moment on the parade route. We hope that next year and the years to come, individuals from Caribbean nations will join in representation since we occupy quite a large part of New York. Read more
Kids First Fundraiser Canada November 8, 2008
October 26, 2008
Dear Friends,
Kids First Fund is having a fundraiser on 8 Nov, in Canada; please come if you can and tell your friends and family to support us.
We are trying to raise enough money to take 10 children to India for open heart surgery. Our target is US$96,000 we have raised US$22,304 which leaves US$73,696 to find.
Please support this worthy cause!
Best Wishes
Varshnie Singh
Sakhi.Org Support Group Meeting in Richmond Hill September 2008
October 16, 2008
Richmond Hill, an area dominated by Punjabi and Indo-Caribbean immigrants, is underserved and isolated from most government services and non-profits. We plan to make the following services more accessible to this community: Read more
Review: 2008 Miami Carnival
October 13, 2008
Every year caribbeanites from all corners of the United States and parts of the Caribbean gather in Miami, Florida for the annual Caribbean carnival celebrations. It is a time to relax, unwind and get on bad to the latest Soca tunes from top performing Soca artists. Moreover, it is a time of rejuvenation and camaraderie for caribbeanites that have made the United States their permanent home. Read more
Spirtuality Workshop and Church Service
October 8, 2008
Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD) - Guyana in collaboration with the Guyana Rainbow Foundation (GuyBow) and partnership with Sunshine Cathedral Jamaica (SCJ) is proud to host in Guyana a Spirituality Workshop under the theme “Responding to Faith-Based Homophobia” on Saturday, October 11, 2009 from 10:00 am at the headquarters building of the Guyana Red Cross Society, Barrack Street, Kingston, Georgetown and a Church Service on Sunday, October 12, 2009, from 5:00 pm at the conference room of the Regency Suites Hotel, 98 Hadfield Street, Werk-en-Rust, Georgetown.
For more information, please email sasod_guyana@yahoo.com or call +(592) 698-1174
New Jersey: Reggae Sumfest 2008 with Barrington Levy, Bennie Man and more..
September 22, 2008
Yesterday, Sunday 21st of September, New Jersey’s annual Reggae Sumfest occurred in Newark area on Hasley Street. Top performing artists that graced the stage were Mother Africa, Barrington Levy, Ninja Man, and Bennie Man. Among many other local artists that had the opportunity to showcase their works prior to top stars coming out. However the show which was advertised to commence at 2pm did not actually begin until 5pm, which I think had to say a lot about lack of planning and preparation from promoters at Road Block Radio. Moreover, during the show there was an hour stint prior to the top artists coming on stage where it was rumored that a disagreement had occurred being the artists and promoters. This led Bennie Man to candidly note to the audience after he performed that there was a financial agreement between the artist and promoters and that the promoters need to do a better job at prompting. Bennie’s comment I think was noted in light of a promoter coming on stage during the stint and openly noted that it was no fault of theirs’; it was that of the artists. Despite it all, Reggae fans got to see a few of their favorite artists on local grounds.
Andrew
Carifesta IX: Photographs from Guyana
September 14, 2008
The origin of CARIFESTA “the Caribbean Festival of Creative Arts” was held in Guyana in 1972. Two successive Conferences of outstanding Caribbean Writers and Artists in 1966 and 1970 recommended to then Prime Minister of Guyana, Hon LFS Burnham that they would welcome the invitation to an annual Festival of the Arts. Prime Minister Burnham had related his vision of a cultural mecca for the Region’s people. It was a vision of peoples with roots deep in Asia, Europe and Africa coming together to share, to perform their art forms. The dream embraced the literature inspired by our peculiar Caribbean temperament, paintings inspired by our tropical jungles and art visualising our forefathers in the distant past.
The following Photos were taken by Michelle Singh for New York. The Baiganchoka team would like to thank Michelle from sharing her photos with us.
An Evening of Hope” for the less fortunate children and seniors in Guyana
September 10, 2008
Give, and it shall be given to you. For whatever measure you deal out to others, it will be dealt to you in return. When you look into the eyes of a lonely child you see the reflection of yourself and God. Read more
Brooklyn: West Indian Day Parade on Eastern Parkway
September 2, 2008
West Indians all know that Carnival is a time to Party. Every Year on Labor Day, West Indians living in New York gather in the thousands on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn to share their unique culture and embrace the similarites that make us one caribbbean people. This year 2008 was no different. What I wittnessed was cultural cummunion like no other. The breathtaking costumes and soca/reggae music, are two of the unique aspects that are are Caribbean centric in nature and can only be found where West Indians are gathered. The folllowing pics were taken by Annand who is a member of the Baiganchoka Team. He told us that he was gettin’ on bad in the middle of the crowed while snapping those pics. Read more
What happens after the Mexico City XVII International AIDS Conference 2008
August 19, 2008
Human Rights Violations, Gender Inequality, Stigma, Discrimination and Homophobia Lead to HIV:
What happens after the Mexico City XVII International AIDS Conference 2008?
Human rights violations, gender inequality, stigma, discrimination and homophobia were unequivocally identified as major, structural drivers of the global AIDS pandemic at the recently concluded XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City , August 3 – 8, 2008 (AIDS 2008). SASOD delegates, Joel Simpson and Namela Baynes-Henry, joined over 25,000 scientists, community and political leaders from around the world, region and country calling for “universal action now” to tackle these underlying drivers of HIV vulnerability and reverse the tide of the AIDS epidemic. Read more