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.
Hurricane Gustav: Update from the Cayman Islands
August 29, 2008
My name is John Cormack; currently based in the Grand Cayman and reporting for the Baiganchoka.com with updates on Tropical Storm Gustav in the Cayman Islands.
Across the Cayman Islands, employees were sent home on Thursday afternoon ahead of the storm’s expected arrival. The island is very gloomy, windy and has been experiencing torrential rainfall for the past few days.
The people are not going out right now. Workers are removing signs, bins, banners, outdoor furnitures, putting on shutters on their windows and securing enough water and food items. All stores are closed and will reopen until Tuesday. There are no tourists on the island, no cruise ships coming in, no one at the beach, evacuation at some hotels and no public transportation on the road. However, few residents are in chaos, trying to find a grocery store that is opened to do their last minute shopping. Most shelves at major grocery stores empty for the past week because everyone bought food items by the bulk while others complained about the increased prices.
The Owen Roberts International Airport [GCM] is now in full emergency mode, streamlining the departure check in process in tent facilities outside the terminal building. Cayman Airways added 25 extra flights to their schedules in an effort to evacuate tourists and residents wanting to get off the islands.
Tropical Storm Gustav is moving away from Jamaica and headed towards the Cayman Islands where it is expected to hit later this afternoon. Currently, maximum sustained winds are near 65 miles per hour, but strengthening is likely and forecasters predict Gustav could become a hurricane as early as today. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Cayman Islands. An island wide curfew could be issued if weather conditions start deteriorating.
The National Hurricane Center said Gustav had winds of 100 kilometers an hour. The center said the storm could produce more than half-a-meter of rain in some parts of Grand Caymans. If Gustav becomes a hurricane, it would happen three years after Hurricane Katrina, which devastated the city of New Orleans, killing hundreds and causing more than $100 billion in damage.
John
Wow! What took them so long?
August 25, 2008
All CARIFESTA X venues except the National Stadium now Ticket Free
THE CARIFESTA Secretariat yesterday announced that all CARIFESTA X performance venues except for the National Stadium will not require a ticket.
Persons are, however, advised that entry to events will be on a first come, first served basis.
This decision took effect from yesterday. - Guyana Chronicle
It seems like Guyanese living in Guyana can actually get to see and partake in some of the Carifesta festivities. But the question is how many will? According to our sources living in Guyana, Carifesta flames went up in smoke on Friday night where many across the nation and other parts of the Caribbean switched off their television sets in the midst of the proceedings. Moreover, it seems like the Guyana Chronicle and Stabroek News are at odds with each other. Both prints are running opposite stories. Guyana Chronicle staying on the positive side and Stabroek News on the negative side. What’s going on? That’s the question. I’ve watch a few of the videos on YouTube and Stabroek news, and the scenes were as ghetto as ever. If what I saw was not a display of disorganization then, I don’t know what is. But Guyana again is not ready to host any type of regional event at all and I hope other Caribbean nations have noticed the same too. What was Frank Anthony thinking when he thought he support an event of such magnitude? I do hope for the remainder of Carifesta, working Guyanese actually get to attend some of these events because is a time for all Guyanese to enjoy, not the privileged few.
Andrew
What you may not know about the Caribbean
August 24, 2008
Bahamas
-Approximately five percent of the World’s Coral Reefs can be found in the Bahamas.
Suriname
In 1667 The Netherlands accepted Suriname in exchange for Nieuv Amsterdam, now known as New York City, in an agreement with Britain.
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago has more species of birds than any other Caribbean island.
Bermuda
The majority of Bermuda’s slaves were imported from Slave markets in the West Indies.
British Virgin Islands
More than 50 per cent of the population are immigrants. And more than 55 percent of government’s direct revenue comes from financial services.
Guyana
St. Georges Cathedral is one of the tallest, free standing wooden buildings in the world. Its spire is over 40 meters high.
Haiti
Haiti is the world’s first Republic founded by Blacks [January 1st, 1804] and also the second oldest Republic in the Western Hemisphere.
Haitian volunteers fought in the American War of Independence on the side of the colonies.
Jamaica
Jamaica has more churches per square mile than any other country in the world.
Dominica
Dominica was the only British Caribbean colony to have a black controlled legislature in the 19th century. [1838].
St. Lucia
The giant Samaan tree located in Derek Walcott Square, Castries is more than 400 years old.
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands are the world’s leading registry for large luxury yachts, having some 20 per cent of the world’s market for yachts over 120 ft in length.
Turks and Caicos Islands
John Glenn landed down just off Grand Turk in 1962 after his first space flight.
The world’s only Conch Farm was establishes on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Island in 1894.
Antigua
-Long before the arrival of Columbus, the Siboney or “stone people” inhabited Antigua. It is believed that the Siboney were the first inhabitants of Antigua and their settlements date as far back as 2400 BC. Traces of the Siboney are found at jolly Beach, Deep Bay and the North Sound.
Montserrat
The national bird of Montserrat , “the oriole’ also known as the ‘Tannia Bird’, is found nowhere else in the entire world except Montserrat.
The Langs Soufriere Volcano located in the Soufriere Hills, St. Anthonys, Monsterrat erupted in July 1995 after having been dormant for 400 years. The volcano continues to be active and has resulted in more than half the population leaving the island.
Belize
The 180.2 miles barrier reef is the longest in the western hemisphere and the second longest in the world.
Belize was the center of the Maya Empire, which flourished AD 300-600.
Grenada
Grenada produces one third of the world’s output of spices, and is the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg.
The cliffs of La Mourne des Sauteurs or “leapers hill” are the site of mass suicide of Carib Indians in 1651, when about 40 men, women and children leapt to their deaths rather than submit to the French domination!
St. Kitts and Nevis
The Cottle church, formally known as St. Mark’s Chapel of Ease, located in Nevis and opened in 1825, was the first Anglican Church in the Caribbean where both blacks and whites worshipped together.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent is the world’s largest producer of arrowroot. It was first used by the Caribs for arrow wounds.
Apsana
Photo Blog of Montego Bay, Jamaica
August 17, 2008
The Following photos were taken early February 2008 in Montego Bay Jamaica at the Holiday Inn all inclusive Resort. Jamaica, I must say is economically diverse like many countries in the Caribbean. Montego Bay like many world renowned beach destinations is quite wonderful with warm waters and pristine beaches. The town of Montego Bay carries its’ own identity by simply being graced with colossal mountains. You seem to feel as if you exist in a microcosm that is quite gratifying in many ways. On the flip side, poverty and drugs is quite apparent. From the moment you exit the hotel, you are more likely than not to be approached by a micro-dealer asking you to buy a bag of Ganja. But thats just the reality. Hope you enjoy the photos.
Andrew
CARIBANA 2008
August 5, 2008
Caribana 2008 in Toronto was quite an artistic cultural experience. I was privileged to attend the parade at Ontario Palace, SocaVivor at Water World and part of the closing concert on Centre Island on Sunday August 4th. I first noticed how well the events were organized; the city of Toronto seems to embrace diversity in its’ truest form unlike some of the experiences I’ve noticed living in New York. Caribbeanites from all corners of North America during Caribana festivities take timeout from their busy schedules to embrace their roots with song, dance, and costumes. Read more
Must Read! AIDS in the Caribbean: The second-most affected region in the world.
June 12, 2008
At the end of 2007, an estimated 230,000 people were living with HIV and AIDS in the Caribbean. Some 17,000 people were newly infected during 2007, and there were 11,000 deaths due to AIDS.
In three of the larger countries in this region - the Bahamas, Haiti and Trinidad and Tobago - more than 2% of the adult population is living with HIV. Higher prevalence rates are found only in sub-Saharan Africa, making the Caribbean the second-most affected region in the world. More than half of adults living with the virus are women. Read more
Earth Day 2008 and its impact on developing Caribbean Countries.
April 20, 2008
What are you doing to help the environment?
It seems like a far cry from the realities of daily life for developing Caribbean nations to be impacted by the symbolism of Earth Day. With the world’s economics in crisis, developing Caribbean nations are holding the short end of the stick. Read more
Obama receives endorsement from Jamaican artist
April 5, 2008
Jamaican reggae artist Cocoa Tea endorses Barack Obama. Read more
The real Jamaica is all about Aids, Crimes, Drugs and Sex.
March 8, 2008
Jamaica is emerging as the “Murder Capital” of the Americas, where the Caribbean region is rated as the world’s most crime-ridden area. Hijacking, burglary, kidnapping, drugs, rape, murder, criminal gangs, illegal weapons, police corruption, and poverty are all on the rise.
The way that Jamaica is going right now everyone will experience death of a family member at the hands of a murder. It’s an image that cannot be forgotten no matter the amount of time that has passed. Read more
Jamaica
February 12, 2008
Blue waters, colossal mountains, and all inclusive hotel chains grace the shore as you exit Sangster’s international airport. Montego Bay is a vacation hotspot for visitors all around the globe. Warmed by year round sunshine, cool Caribbean breezes and swaying palm trees, Montego Bay welcomes the most distressed of souls and heals them from the chaotic North American/European lifestyle. But my intention is not to bestow accolade on the municipality of Montego Bay but to decipher the economic constitution and quality of life for populace of Montego Bay and Jamaica as a whole and make some comparison to that of living for middle class American in the United States. Read more
Caricom Hustling to Deal With the Escalating Crime Rate
February 11, 2008
A recent article publish in the Guyana Chronicle dated 02/08/2008 titled “SOLVING CRIME AS A CARICOM PRIORITY” noted the inception of the Caricom inter-Sessional Meeting of Heads of state for 2008 which will focus on the escalating crime rate that is now a staple part of the Caribbean menu. The article notes that Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana are among the reigning nations that top the list for murder rates and other serious offences. Read more
A Critical Analysis of Cultural and Intellectual Dissimilation
October 24, 2007
Living in New York for quite a number of years now, I have personally had the privilege to examine cultural dimorphism as it pertains to West Indian migration to the United States. But dissecting West Indian culture is excruciating difficult as it is for any culture but more so for Caribbeanites because of the colorful blending that brands us as West Indians. Read more