Guyana: Flowering Georgetown in April 2016 – By Francis Quamina Farrier

Flowering Georgetown in April 2016

By Francis Quamina Farrier

During the past three decades, Georgetown, which was previously referred to as “The Garden City of the Caribbean”, sadly degenerated to the level of a “Garbage City”. There was garbage here, there and everywhere. Mounds and mounds of stinking garbage. Over the years, from time to time, there were “Clean-up Campaigns”; but, sometimes within hours after those clean-up campaigns, the garbage returned, almost like magic. Actively involved in some of those clean-up campaigns, were some members of the Diplomatic Corps.

“How shameful”, a youngster said to me during one such clean-up campaign, as he looked at those foreign diplomats with protective out-fits, cleaning up the mess which Guyanese had made. For decent, law-abiding citizens, it was a big embarrassment. That state of affairs continued well, until the massive Post General Elections of May 2015, clean-up campaign. There is still lots more cleaning-up to be done, but the City of Georgetown is so much cleaner than it was in April 2015. 

“From the Diaspora, With Love” – by Francis Quamina Farrier

“From the Diaspora, With Love” –  by Francis Quamina Farrier

Fred and Zena Bone – Boxes to Guyana

When I dropped by the Maryland, USA, home of Fred Bone and his wife Zena last Sunday, I was shown ten sizable containers in their garage. The jumbo-size cardboard containers were already packed, sealed and ready for shipment to Guyana. Fred hails from New Amsterdam, Berbice, and Zena of the Stoll clan, hails from the lower Pomeroon river.

Fred is a retired University Professor. Zena is the overseas-based Manager of the attractive Adel’s Place Tourist Resort, located on the lower Pomeroon river. Fred and Zena Bone are two overseas-based Guyanese, who like many others, have not given up on doing what they can, for those who need a hands-up, back in their native Guyana; especially the youngsters. Both Fred and Zena are matured individuals who still have the energy, and spend lots of their time sourcing items to send to Guyana.  

PORK-KNOCKERS: A DYING BREED By Francis Quamina Farrier

PORK-KNOCKERS: A DYING BREED   By Francis Quamina Farrier

Dick Manning, Pork-Knocker

The days of the Pork-knockers are just about over. That is the opinion of one who prefers to be described as  a “Small Miner”. In an interview with veteran Pork-knocker, Dick Manning, he advanced the view that what has traditionally been referred to as “pork-knocking” no longer occurs. Small groups of men who use pick axes, shovels, and sheer mussel power to dig for gold and diamonds, is all but extinct in this the second decade of the 21st. century.

“We are no longer Pork-knockers”, Manning told me with a practical expression on his weather-beaten, yet handsome face, which is adorned with an extremely long white beard, separated into eight lengthy plaits.  

Twenty First Century Father’s Day – By Francis Quamina Farrier

TWENTY FIRST CENTURY FATHER’S DAY;  a declaration of War by Francis Quamina Farrier

A USA-based Guyanese father congratulates his son who had just graduated from college in 2014 in Maryland.

This is a declaration of WAR, of sorts; it is intended to be a war against otherwise, sweet, brilliant, law-abiding and normal folks, but who tend to go bonkers on Father’s Day. They blast ALL men – the good, the bad and the ugly. Now, let me say right away that this article is not a “War of the Sexes”, and not intended to pit males against females. NO. It is about the fact that Father’s Day has been kidnapped, so to speak; it is now more the day when some well intention people, address audiences and congregations about the bad guys; fathers who have not done what they should do as fathers. Thank goodness there are still those who do the right thing about honouring the good fathers on Father’s Day.

Independence Observance in Maryland – by Francis Quamina Farrier

INDEPENDENCE OBSERVANCE in MARYLAND -by Francis Quamina Farrier

Ms Marina Patricia White

“Clap him. “Clap her”. That was the repeated exhortation to the Guyanese audience by Jamaica-based Guyanese Educator, Ms Marina Patricia White, the Principal Speaker, as she listed the names of many great Guyanese. They included Sir Shridath Ramphal and Baroness Valerie Amos. The event was a pre-Independence Day Celebration at the St. Mark’s Episcopal/Anglican Church in Maryland in the USA, on Sunday May 25, 2014.

The annual Guyana Independence Day celebrations at the St. Marks church in Maryland, is conducted in two segments. The first is a Service in the church at which prayers are said for Guyana and the Guyanese people, both at home and abroad. Priest-in-Charge, The Reverend Canon Daniel Darko, who is from Ghana, extended best wishes to Guyana on this their 48th Independence anniversary. Patriotic songs of Guyana were sung at the Service as well as the Guyana National Anthem.

Guyanese saves Ghanaian from drowning – by Francis Quamina Farrier

GUYANESE SAVES GHANAIAN FROM DROWNING by Francis Quamina Farrier

“All I can say is, it’s a miracle I am currently breathing”. So says Ghanaian Horatio Nii Dodoo, who was saved from drowning. The young man and three friends were having some fun on a beach in Ghana, when he was saved from drowning, by a Guyanese. “Can’t stop thanking the Lord for making Lawrence come to the beach that day.” The Lawrence who Horatio Nii Dodoo is referring to, is former Saint Stanislaus College student, Lawrence Lachmansingh.

The married Guyanese father of three, was on the beach with his family; being at the right place at the right time to save someone from drowning. Horatio Nii Dodoo, the Ghanaian who was rescued, informed me by e-mail, that he and others were at the beach, having fun, taking photographs, when he got into trouble in the water. “Unfortunately for me, I don’t know how to swim, so I struggled a bit and called for help”, Dodoo stated. However, the help was very limited.