Conscious magical poetry: Freetown Collective style
Somewhere, a poet is writing a verse that people ought to hear, but in the meantime I’ll settle for the conscious, raging words of Trinidadian group, Freetown Collective. Forget plain spoken words, they are messengers; delivering a message that people need to not only hear,
Questions raised about legality of Top Cop’s pay
With the extension of his tenure in office, Police Commissioner Henry Greene continues to earn a statutory salary, but PNCR-1G MP Deborah Backer said this is in violation of the constitution, which no longer recognises the office as a statutory one. Since Greene attained the age of retirement he was no longer entitled to a [...]
Rebel quits calypso competition
“I want to make it clear that I am not done with singing, just with competition” The Mighty Rebel has decided to quit singing at the competition level saying he was forced to retire because of shabby treatment by the state-controlled television station, but he admits also that the time seems right to exit now. [...]
Backer urges bipartisan solution to public safety collapse
Public security is so important in this country that it ought not to be politicised, PNCR-1G MP Deborah Backer said yesterday, as she harshly criticised the administration for allowing a breakdown in law and order to the point where murders, domestic violence and torture are daily headlines. The system is defined by a complete breakdown, [...]
Lawrence blasts ‘out-of-touch’ budget
Newly-appointed PNCR Shadow Finance Minister Volda Lawrence says the 2011 budget is disconnected from the realities of unemployment, tax burdens and climbing migration rates, among other things, which reflect on the real state of affairs in the country. She said the administration has rolled out a budget with “a few elections sweets,” and criticised the [...]
Five-year-old musician Akinsanya: a passion for drums
Akinsanya Anikulafo Mwanza beat his first drum when he was two years old, and since that day the rhythms have invoked a passion in him rarely seen among children so young. He beats the drum consistently these days. Known simply as Akinsanya in family circles, the boy, now 5 years old, regularly sticks to his [...]
Jagdeo appeals for united African-descent observances
President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday said government has no desire to control and or dominate the 2011 agenda for the people of African descent and as he officially launched a year-long programme in observance he called on opposition parties and aggrieved African-Guyanese groups to engage on issues of concern. Jagdeo declared the year of celebrations opened [...]
Corbin snubs launch of African-descended people year
Opposition leader Robert Corbin has turned down an invitation by the government to join the list of speakers at the official launch of the International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD) today, saying that he would not attend any state-sponsored programme. In a letter to Dr. James Rose, Director of Culture, Corbin criticized the [...]
Recognition of Palestine’s sovereignty welcomed
Former foreign minister of Guyana Rashleigh Jackson says this government’s formal recognition of Palestine’s sovereignty is “a welcomed development”, which he hopes will add momentum to the Israel/Palestine negotiation talks. “I welcome it because the people of Palestine have been denied their rights for too long, and you cannot uphold the right of one while [...]
Ministry denies it hijacked plans for Year of African-descended people
The Culture Ministry has rejected claims that major groups were not properly consulted on the agenda for International Year for People of African Descent (IYPAD) observances, saying that ACDA chose to discontinue its attendance and participation. The Ministry issued a statement registering its shock and disappointment with the claims by the organisations, which have expressed [...]
Featured poet scales up Upscale poetry night readings
Tuesdays are not my best days, but I am beginning to reason that if interesting things are incorporated into the day things would pick-up, interesting enough like poetry readings over a glass of wine. Since my last dispatch from the National Cultural Centre (ages ago) I feel the need to do another so here goes. [...]
Dr Thomas: Sugar unsustainable in present form
Renowned economist Dr Clive Thomas says that the sugar industry cannot be sustained in its present form and while it is not an option he favours, privatisation may give it the lifeline it needs. Professor Thomas says the sugar industry is in a long-term structural crisis that was accelerated after government agreed to the EPA, [...]
Jagdeo offers 5% to sugar workers -will cost $720M
President Bharrat Jagdeo has offered sugar workers a five percent one-off pay increase which they will receive before the end of the year—an offer that he said was outside of the ongoing wage discussions involving the sugar corporation. Since GuySuCo is heavily in debt, Jagdeo said he decided to make the offer but he resisted [...]
Audio visual testimony, paper committal laws hardly being used
Two years after government passed legislation to clear the way for paper committals, plea bargains and gathering evidence by audio visual link, the laws are hardly being used and some attorneys believe that implementing structures are needed. Plea deals are being discussed and, in some cases, accepted by the state, making it the only one [...]
Colleen Reis & Milady’s: cutting edge beauty care
Colleen Reis discusses skin and hair care with a passion rarely seen, and she has so much information at her fingertips you would think she lives and breathes it. For 18 years she has been the business brain and resident beauty specialist at Milday’s Beauty Salon; a cutting edge house of glamour where the goal [...]