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
Jonestown Documentary on CNN, My wholehearted concerns and opinions…
November 15, 2008
I’m sure you have heard about Jim Jones and the massacre at Jonestown that occurred on November 18, 1978. As stated on the site, CNN did a documentary 30 years later with survivors of this horrendous incident. Jonestown’s incident is known as the worst mass murder/suicide in the entire Western Hemisphere. What was said, that 909 people died that day. 1/3 was children. 400 of those people who were not identified were flown to Oakland, California and buried in 1 large grave, isn’t that what we call humanity? Not only were these people forced to stay with a hideous leader and then during their final rites, buried in a giant hole.
Firstly, I’m quite outraged that CNN went to Guyana, South America and never even thought of speaking to any Guyanese authorities, residents and or politicians (and we know how those Guyanese Ministry of whatever-his-face loves camera time). How was this kept so exclusive that only Americans were filmed? 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
Guyana Government to host Cockroach Congress
November 12, 2008
Georgetown) Following a successful hosting of the bee-keepers congress, the government is set to hold a cockroach congress next week.
In an exclusive interview Sunday, Home Affairs minister, Clement Rohee said that the proliferation of the insect in homes nationwide, has “created opportunities for expanding the hidden economy”. Mr. Rohee explained that since cockroaches lived in cracks and corners, where they were rarely seen, it was only logical that their contribution to the economy be unseen.
Housewives are expected to descend in droves and all roads would lead to the International Convention Centre, where the event is being held. Asked about her views of the hotly-anticipated event, which the cream of society is expected to attend since they were all Read more
Mr. Byron Lee from the “Byron lee and Dragonires” Band has died.
November 7, 2008
According to the family of Mr Lee, he suffered from a long standing battle with transitional cell cancer and more recently with bladder cancer. Mr. Lee passed away at the University Hospital of the West Indies earlier this week at the age of 73. He was surrounded by his family and closest friends. He is survived by his wife, Sheila, sons Byron Jr, Edward John, daughters Deanna, Judith, Julianne and Danielle as well as grandchildren Amelia, Alexander, Jessica, Victoria, Amanda, Jaden and Dylan. The band that Lee pioneered(The Dragonires) at the young age of twenty was known for global hits such as Tiny Winey and for also globalizing Soca music in the very same way the band had a standing impact on the expansion of carnival worldwide. The Baiganchoka Team would like to wish the family of the late Mr. Byron Lee our sincere condolences. May the music be sung by generations to come.
The Baiganchoka Team
It’s good to be brown today?
November 6, 2008
On the train ride all around NYC today, all you hear is everyone talking about the elections and how grateful they are that newly President B. Obama won. I’m as happy as the next person but I still have my skepticisms about the new “changes” that you hear so often about in the media. I’m grateful to witness and be a part of the generation that has elected a non-white president who is educated and isn’t old and haggard, which I feel represents America more accurately. Who would have thought we would witness females and African Americans running for the positions of president and vice president? It really does give me hope that our country isn’t so unspokenly misogynistic and racist, when we do see and may experience it on a daily basis. I’m upset at the fact that hearing people’s reasoning for voting was solely based on race. Read more
Tonight America has spoken…Obama obliterates McCain in the Elections
November 5, 2008
The people of the New United States of America have spoken and they have requested change and now that request lies in the hands of the first African American President, Barack Obama to deliver. Without doubt, Obama will be tested and scrutinized on all fronts and indeed a tough battle lies ahead. Will Obama fulfill his campaign promises? The American people are hoping he does or will he be another democrat that segregates the house and gets nothing done? We hope he ends this war and initiate policies that will turn this economy around. God knows America needs this more than ever now. All eyes are on you now Mr Obama. A tough road lies ahead. God bless America in all its’ abundances.
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
Government, ESSO reaffirm oil exploration commitment
November 2, 2008
As efforts continue for oil exploration activities to recommence in the Guyana/Suriname basin, President Bharrat Jagdeo and Area Manager, Jan Claire Phillips of ESSO Exploration and Production Guyana Limited today signed a supplement and addendum to the existing Petroleum Prospecting Licence and Petroleum Agreement which have reaffirmed the parties’ commitment to this exploration.
The Agreement was signed in the credentials room at the Office of the President.
The contract area is known as the ‘Stabroek Block’ and the key aspects to which the Agreement speak are the alignment of the said area to conform with the Guyana/Suriname maritime boundary and the rescheduling of the Licence term during which the ESSO work obligations will be expected to be undertaken. Read more
Death of a Legend, Vic Taylor from the Byron Lee and the dragonaires band.
October 30, 2008
Lead singer Vic Taylor from the acclaimed band Byron Lee and the Dragonaires has died, Sources said that Taylor died from Cardiac arrest at Mercy Medical Center in Long Island, New York. According to the family, Taylor had not been feeling well for the past couple of weeks and complained of chest pains. Taylor was the lead singer during the 1970’s and 1980’s with famous Byron Lee and the Dragoniares band. The guys at Baiganchoka.com would like to send the family of Vic Taylor our sincere condolences.
The Baiganchoka Team
The Great “Bowl Theory”
October 27, 2008
Don’t you sometimes feel like a show monkey on display for your family? It’s as if all they worry about is how you make them look in our society. No matter how great a dancer, musician, artist or any sorts of creative energy is indulged, they seem to snip it by ridiculing you of the “nonsense you create and do”. It seems as if expressing yourself is the true evil in our society.
Think of the time you had your last music recital, art show, poem read. Did your parents clap? Did they tell you how proud they were? Were they super excited when you brought home your trophy/award and it wasn’t in math? What makes me sad about this entire ordeal is that as culture, we are surrounded by the arts. How many of us are rhythmically inclined, every second you have you hum something that would be an amazing song but even in the back of your head, you don’t think its special enough. You ever wondered if you took that song to the next level and made it your own, took the time to give it your personality and then share it with others? Read more
Conductor Rudolph Dunbar of Guyana
October 25, 2008
BBC Radio 4 program on Rudolph Dunbar broadcast on August 7, 2007 should read Echoes of Rudolph Dunbar on the BBC.
“At a concert this week in Berlin, Berlin’s famed 65-year-old Philharmonic Orchestra was led by a U.S. war correspondent in battledress. Besides being a war correspondent, the guest conductor was a Negro, born in British Guiana. The 2,000 Berliners and the 500 Allied soldiers in the audience found it quite an experience. They applauded warmly when the conductor led the orchestra through Webber’s familiar Oleron and Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique. They broke into cheers, and called him back five times, when he gave them Berlin’s first hearing of fellow-Negro William Grant Still’s boisterous, bluesy Afro-American Symphony. Read more
Trinidad’s Big Shame by Caribbean Writer
October 21, 2008
Another year is soon coming to a close and for Trinidadians and Tobagonians, it will end as the bloodiest in their 46 years as an independent nation.
Equally startling is the public perception that government and the security forces of the land have lost the battle against the criminals as blood continues to spill daily in homes, on the streets and in vehicles.
A Port of Spain businessman a few days ago expressed concern that the public was no longer reacting to the upsurge in violence in the country. It’s not that they are no longer concerned but there is a deep sense of apathy among the population which I wrote about in this space some weeks ago. Read more
Bracing for the Fallout by Caribbean Writer
October 21, 2008
Most Caribbean countries, if not all, will be affected by the financial turbulence that continues to unfold in the United States which has seen the collapse of long standing financial houses and the buy-out of assets and nationalisation of some others.
These include the US$85 billion bailout for the world’s largest insurance company, American International Group by the administration, the collapse of Lehman Brothers, the US$50 billion buyout of Merrill Lynch by the Bank of America and the nationalisation of the assets of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to save the two largest mortgage firms from collapse.
At the time of writing, President Bush and Congressional Democrats were pressing ahead with a rescue plan of US$700 billion for the battered financial markets which were having repercussions on the markets in Russia, the UK and parts of Europe. Read more
Our nation is Mismanaged by Peter Ramsaroop of Vison Guyana
October 19, 2008
INTRODUCTION
Nowhere in the corporate world will you ever find a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) being hired without any experience in managing people and more importantly how to manage profitability of a company. I believe the mismanagement we have seen in the way our country has been directed over the last decade is a result of inexperience at the highest levels of Government.
We have a President that never managed an entity in the private sector and most ministers that are in portfolios never had any experience. You can judge which ones fit those criteria. Read more