Dear Editor,
Once again reminiscent of their first Diwali celebration the Old Kara Kara Community Development Committee sparkled. It presented a splendid Emancipation Day show which like the Diwali celebration attracted a large attendance by residents of Old Kara Kara and beyond.
The usual clean-up and decoration that have become very important ingredients for all of its functions was followed. A large banner was placed near the entrance of the community welcoming visitors and highlighting the day’s activities, with bunting strung in criss-cross pattern along almost the entire Old Kara Kara main road. If there is one community in Linden that epitomizes cooperation, I say that community would have to be this tiny Old Kara Kara. In true cooperation and in the spirit of the freedom fighters who occasioned this August celebration both children and adults joined hands and worked in unison for a wonderful and successful celebration that made the entire community proud. Under a very big tent filled to capacity, with a relatively large and a nicely decorated stage with a metal base, which the audience was told would soon have zinc-sheet roofing, the mostly young performers of Kara Kara entertained their audience with a variety of African cultural snippets. There was a short historical reading; an account of their trials and tribulations; dramatic poetry; serious, wonderful acrostics; a mixture of dances including Queh Queh and masquerade, with an artistically crafted long-lady and butting-cows, songs and superb drumming by the Parkinson brothers who were specially invited and who in their introduction gave a brief explanation of the various types of drums, their beat, the reason for them and their significance.
The fashion segment by both the little lasses and grown-ups and which appeared to be the highlight of the stage performances was splendid; the pieces presented were simply a fashionable array of African styles. Of note and something which must be commended, was having the accompaniment of Guyanese music and folk songs, during which there wasn’t a dull moment. My take for the treat of the celebration was the sumptuous and wide range of African dishes: cook-up, metemgee, salt fish and float, fry fish, conky, pone, black/white pudding etc, freely and lavishly served to all in attendance.
Also a very important point to note was the attention paid to the educational aspect where prizes were awarded to students in recognition of their excellent performance at their exams. Once again Mr Basil Jaipaul, head of the Old Kara Kara Community Development Committee and capable team must be commended for a fine job done of which the entire community was proud; they are indeed getting better and better.
Among some of the special invitees were Linden Mayor Mr Orrin Gordon and his wife, Deputy REO Maylene Charter, Pastor Richard McDonald, Councillors Stanley Humphrey of the WPA and Audwin Rutherford of the AFC.
Yours faithfully,
Frank Fyffe
