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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
CHRISTMAS CARDS – Did you ever wonder who sent the first Christmas Card?
A RELATIVELY recent phenomenon, the sending of commercially printed Christmas cards originated in London in 1843. Previously, people had exchanged handwritten holiday greetings. First in person. Then via post. By 1822, homemade Christmas cards had become the bane of the U.S. postal system. That year, the Superintendent of Mails in Washington, D.C., complained of the need to hire sixteen extra mailmen. Fearful of future bottlenecks, he petitioned Congress to limit the exchange of cards by post, concluding, “I don’t know what we’ll do if it keeps on.” Not only did it keep on, but with the marketing of attractive commercial cards the postal burden worsened. The first Christmas card
designed for sale was by London artist John Calcott Horsley. A respected illustrator of the day, Horsley was commissioned by Sir Henry Cole, a wealthy British businessman, who wanted a card he could proudly send to friends and professional acquaintances to wish them a “merry Christmas.” Sir Henry Cole was a prominent innovator in the 1800s. He modernised the British postal system, managed construction of the Albert Hall, arranged for the Great Exhibition in 1851, and oversaw the inauguration of the Victoria and Albert Museum. Most of all, Cole sought to “beautify life,” and in his spare time he ran an art shop on Bond Street, specialising in decorative objects for the home. In the summer of 1843, he commissioned Horsley to design an impressive card for
that year’s Christmas. Horsley produced a ‘triptych’. Each of the two side panels depicted a good deed - clothing the naked and feeding the hungry. The centerpiece featured a party of adults and children, with plentiful food and drink (there was severe criticism from the British Temperance Movement). The first Christmas card’s inscription read: “merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you.” “Merry” was then a spiritual word meaning “blessed,” as in “merry old England.” Of the original one thousand cards printed for Henry Cole, twelve exist today in private collections. Printed cards soon became the rage in England; then in Germany. But it required an additional thirty years for Americans to take to the idea. In 1875, Boston lithographer Louis Prang, a native of Germany,
began publishing cards, and earned the title “father of the American Christmas card.” Prang’s high-quality cards were costly, and they initially featured not such images as the Madonna and Child, a decorated tree, or even Santa Claus, but colored floral arrangements of roses, daisies, gardenias, geraniums, and apple blossoms. Americans took to Christmas cards, but not to Prang’s; he was forced out of business in 1890. It was cheap penny Christmas postcards imported from Germany that remained the vogue until World War 1. By war’s end, America’s modern greeting card industry had been born. Today more than two billion Christmas cards are exchanged annually, just within the United States. Christmas is the number one card-selling holiday of the year.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Theatre Guild performances in hospitals and homes, bring smiles at Christmas MEMBERS of the Theatre Guild in Guyana last week completed a round of community performances at several city orphanages, homes for the elderly, the paediatric ward of the Georgetown Hospital and at homes of alumina who are currently not able to move about. Volunteers from the Guild’s Wednesday Night workshop, Executive Management Committee and general membership performed music, poetry and magic tricks to delighted audiences in several 45-minute performances. Coordinator of the
perform for. Manager of one elderly home in Georgetown was amazed to see all of their old folk dancing for several minutes during a carolling session. She said she had been trying to get them to exercise regularly for several months with mixed success. Young Shabaka Martin D r . M a r k performing magic tricks for Tumbridge, UK bornchildren of the Joshua House Guyanese based memberfor Children of the Guild wowed both was also present for children and adults with his who some of the sessions. menu of magic tricks which K eon Heywood, ranged from card tricks Kimberly Fernandez and Jennifer Kendall, young members of the Guild serenaded the groups with any song they requested. These included up-tempo hymns and reggae songs and standards like ‘Oh Holy Night’ and ‘Jingle Bells’. In total, 11 facilities were visited. A highlight of the outreach activity was the visit to veteran and award winning radio personality and actress Patti Gomes, Paediatric ward, Georgetown Hospital now 92. Now confined to be having suffered a stroke event Ms. Simeon Dowding to making things levitate some years ago Patti joined indicated that this event and appear and disappear. in the moment by laughing which started several years He was joined in some ago is one in which the young demonstrations by 8-year-old people of the Guild can see Shabaka Martin, son of Dr. the power of performance in Paloma Mohamed Martin, the reactions of those they Chair of the Theatre Guild,
Keon Yearwood serenading residents of Uncle Eddies Home
Members of the Theatre Guild after performing for 92-year-old Guild member Patti Gomes at her residence
and clapping her hands while conducting the singers who went to perform for her. The Theatre Guild of Guyana is a non-for-profit cultural training facility which was founded in 1948. The training and outreach work of the Guild is supported by members’ dues
and cooperate members such as Republic Bank, GBTI, Guyana Power and Light Inc, GT&T John Fernandes Ltd, Antarctica Maintenance and Repairs, Citizen’s Bank Guy Inc, Stabroek News, Horse Shoe Racing Co., Mings Products and Services, Noble
House Seafood’s, Ansa McAl Trading Ltd, Ready Mix, Demerara Distillers Ltd and Gafoors Ltd. Membership is open to the public. (Photos taken by and courtesy of Kojo McPherson , member of the Theatre Guild’s Executive Management Committee)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
The real story behind
Santa Claus
(CNN) -- Don’t tell the kids, but we’ve got Santa Claus all wrong. Countless Christmas songs tell us that Santa is basically the Judge Judy of juveniles. He decides who’s been naughty or nice, and doles out presents or punishments accordingly. But historians say Kriss Kringle was originally created to keep adults, not children, off the naughty list. Being crafty codgers, we ducked Santa’s surveillance, turning the spotlight on kids and dramatically changing Christmas celebrations. How did we achieve this very important historical victory? Picture this: It’s the early 1800s,
change the world with two little poems. Yep. Poems. But let’s back up for a minute. When the Dutch came to the New World in the 1600s, they brought a fellow from folklore named Sinterklaas with them, Bowler says. Sinterklaas, who wore a red bishop’s miter and a snowy white beard, was based on St. Nicholas, a 3rd century Greek who lived in modern-day Turkey. Despite being a bishop, this Nick was a bit of a bad boy. An archaeologist who dug up his bones in 2005 found that Nicholas had a broken nose, perhaps a result of the persistent persecution of Christians around that time, said Adam C. English, author of ‘The Saint Who Would be Santa Claus’. Or could it have been Christian-onChristian violence? According to one medieval legend,
America’s Christian leaders -- most of whom were Protestant Reformation-types -- had banned religious celebrations of Christmas as unscriptural and paganish. But people still wanted to party. Because, why not? It was midwinter, the crops were harvested and sailors were waiting for better weather to disembark. So, on December 25, working-class stiffs got fall-down drunk and stumbled around cities looking for stuff to loot. Imagine Black Friday, spring break and New Year’s Eve -- then smash them together like sumo wrestlers full of saki. That was Christmas in the early 1800s. A bunch of blue-blood New Yorkers decided all this fun must stop. “They wanted to domesticate Christmas, bring it indoors, and focus it on children,” says Gerry Bowler, author of “Santa Claus: A History,” and professor of history at the University of Manitoba in Canada. These grinches, who formed the Saint Nicholas Society of New York, would
Nicholas punched a heretic in the nose at the Council of Nicea -- the meeting in 325 that formed the first consensus on Christian doctrine. Early icons of Nicholas depict him without bishop’s garb, a subtle suggestion that he had been demoted, possibly for fisticuffs. Alas, the Nick at Nicea rumor is not true, said English. But people seem to love the story, which pops up like poinsettias on the Internet this time of year. Thankfully, St. Nicholas, was known for more than brawling. He also had a reputation for giving gifts and protecting children. The first quality comes from a story about a poor man with three young daughters. Without a dowry to offer suitors, the man worried that his daughters would fall into prostitution. Legend has it that Nicholas dropped three bags of gold through an open window in the man’s house, saving the women from the streets. The second story is a bit macabre: While staying at an inn, Nicholas discovered three
By Daniel Burke, CNN Religion Editor
A Palestinian dressed as Santa Claus distributes Christmas trees on Monday, December 22, 2014 along the wall of Jerusalem’s Old City
dismembered children in pickle barrels. He reassembled and resurrected the briny kids and punished the guilty innkeeper. These deeds, along with his everyman persona, (he wasn’t a martyr or hermit like so many other model Christians of the time), made Nicholas the greatest male saint of the Middle Ages, said Bowler. One measure of his popularity is the looong list of people, places, churches and Christian groups that list St. Nick as their patron. Bowler, Santa’s biographer, says that St. Nick’s feast day, December 6, (the day he supposedly died) was celebrated across Europe for hundreds of years, often by giving gifts to children. But, beginning in the 1500s, the Protestant Reformation swept away the cult of Christian saints, denouncing them as unbiblical and idolatrous. Christmas, too, went pretty much by the wayside for much of Protestant Europe during this time. Some countries, though, such as the Netherlands, kept alive traditions associated with Sinterklaas. And it was these customs that 19th century New Yorkers wanted to revive. As they sought to make Christmas more family friendly, the Saint Nicholas Society found the perfect front man in their namesake, who, after all, was known for being nice to children. It was a genius move. The real goal was getting drunks off the street, remember? Now they could do that by turning Christmas into a family event when children -- who had it pretty rough back then -- would receive gifts for good behaviour. But the Knickerbockers needed more than good cheer to change Christmas. They needed stories. Drawing on the Dutch legends about Sinterklaas, the American author Washington Irving wrote a series of sketches featuring St. Nicholas soaring high above New York
houses, smoking a pipe and delivering presents to well-behaved children. About a decade later, in 1821, an anonymous poem called “The Children’s Friend,” featured a magical figure called “Santeclaus,” who drove a reindeer-led sleigh full of “rewards” and filled obedient children’s stockings with little presents. Building on that, an Episcopalian scholar named Clement Clarke Moore wrote a poem for his big brood called “A Visit From St. Nicholas.” It’s now better known as “The Night Before Christmas.” Strangely for a seminary professor, Moore’s poem strips St. Nick of religious rhyme and reasons. Nicholas wears a fur suit, clambers down chimneys and gives presents to good children. But he says nothing about the “reason for the season,” as contemporary Christmas warriors like to say. Still, Moore’s St. Nick story went viral, spreading across the northeastern United States faster than reindeer on Ritalin. In some early depictions, Santa Claus looks like an overgrown elf; in others, he looks kind of scary, as American artists merged St. Nicholas with European traditions such as the German Krampus, who punishes bad children. By the early 1900s, Bowler says, Santa became standardised as the white-bearded, red-suited, twinkle-eyed benevolent grandfather that we all know and love. And we’re not the only ones. “Merchants seized on this guy right away,” Bowler says. “They immediately saw the possibility that this personification could be useful in their selling.” In other words, Santa was pitching products almost as soon as he hitched up his sleigh. But before you blame Kriss Kringle for commercialising Christmas, think back to what it was like before he came to town, when kids -- and many adults -- really had something to pout about.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Christmas trees from
around the world
5
– in pictures
FROM the traditional Norwegian Spruce in Trafalgar Square to the world’s largest digital Christmas Tree in New York’s Times Square here are just some of the festooned trees from around the world.
St Martin Place’s Christmas Tree, Sydney, Australia (Photograph: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)
The traditional Christmas tree, a gift from the people of Norway, stands in Trafalgar Square, London. (Photograph: Paul Brown/Corbis)
A Christmas tree stands against the Malaysian landmark Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (Photograph: Azhar Rahim/EPA)
Performers sing during the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony on the Ellipse, south of the White House in Washington, DC, US (Photograph: Pete Marovich/EPA)
A 85-meter-high Christmas tree in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is the world’s highest floating Christmas tree as registered by the Guiness World Records (Photograph: Yashuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty Images)
The illuminated Christmas tree in Macedonia’s capital Skopje (Photograph: Boris Grdanoski/AP)
A less traditional creation in the Piazza Gae Aulenti, Milan, Italy (Photograph: Vincenzo Lombardo/Getty Images)
A tall and golden Christmas tree in the central square of Plaza Puerta del Sol, Madrid, Spain (Photograph: Xavier Vila/ Rex)
A snowy scene outside Moscow’s GUM department store in Red Square (Photograph: Tass/Barcroft Media)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Christmas trees from
around the world
– in pictures
In Mexico City people decorate a Christmas tree decorated with pictures of the 43 students who have now been missing for more than two months and are now presumed dead after being attacked by police in southern Mexico (Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
The traditional Christmas tree outside the Coliseum in Rome, Italy (Photograph: Mazzarella/Sintesi/Rex/Mazzarella/Sintesi/Rex)
The Christmas Tree at Rahaman’s Park, Guyana
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Our Christmas traditions as strong as ever
...last minute Christmas shopping ‘a Guyanese thing’
By Clifford Stanley CHRISTMAS 2014 in Guyana has proven to be as “bright”, if not brighter than last year. There have been the traditional Christmas tree light ups in and around Georgetown and in many other parts of the country. The public servants got their annual salary increase and many put it to immediate use in shopping; in preparing the home; in making it ‘spick and span’ for the holidays. There have been numerous preChristmas staff parties for workers during which employees ate, drank and were merry, and there were numerous pre-Christmas parties for children countrywide, with Santa Claus being very conspicuous and taking an active role in the sharing of Christmas gifts. As is usual, preparations for
the season started in November with many householders beginning their cleaning up, painting up and upgrading their homes in many ways for the holidays. To date, many have completed what they call the “put away” of the old items of furniture or window blinds, with the main aim being to complete the decorations to the home on the night before Christmas Day. Many have decorated their houses on the outside with lights and holly wreaths and with a Christmas tree in the living room, with a star at the top, and decorated with garlands, tinsel, balloons and ornaments. For some adult males, especially lazy ones, their tradition continued: the tradition being that, Christmas Eve night is and has been the night to find an excuse to be away from the home, the night
to avoid doing the heavy lifting and the hammering and setting up of the curtains and decorations. Many returned home from hanging out with the boys and were in for a pleasant surprise at the newness and the fresh appearance of the home for Christmas Day. Their spouses and children were exhausted but generally very pleased with their handiwork. The preparations of the special dishes have been on-going. Families have enjoyed the Christmas foods: the pepperpot, the garlic pork, the ginger beer, the black cake and the sponge cake. Many know that they have been overdoing it with the eating, but have gone ahead anyway after solemnly promising themselves to get a good purging or “clean out” after the holidays The Christmas carols, the visits
‘LAST MINUTE SHOPPING’: Guyanese shoppers in down-town Georgetown earlier this week as they go about their Christmas shopping. (Cullen Bess-Nelson photos)
of relatives who reside overseas, but just can’t bear to stay away from their beloved Guyana during Christmas; the non-stop liquor and food; the well-attended Church services; the ingredients of a
great Christmas season have been evident. In 2014, as in the past years, the Guyanese Christmas traditions remain as strong as ever.
Carolsthe music of Christmas 8
as 129 AD of songs written specifically for Christmas celebrations. The majority of the first Christmas Carols were written in Latin which was understood only by members of the elite churched few. Because of this, by the Middle Ages (the 1200s), the majority of Christians lost
BEFORE being firmly associated with Christmas music, the word Carol long ago used to mean “ communal celebratory dance” or a “song to accompany dancing.” Over the years the word “carol” changed its meaning, referring only to certain kinds of songs and eventually becoming Christmas songs or songs about Jesus and the time when he was born. The birth of Jesus was celebrated by music: “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and good will towards all men” (Luke 2:13-14). Christians of the 1st century continued the tradition of the angels. There are historical records from as early
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Christmas Carols once again began to spread throughout Europe. Most of these new Carols were not based strictly on scripture but were simple lighthearted stories sung by travelling minstrels and changed from town to town to fit the desires of the various communities. These first carols were rarely sung in Church. Instead, the music resounded from the streets and in the homes. Because the Carols were not strictly scriptural and not written in Latin, there were those who considered them inappropriate. With the coming of Oliver Cromwell and the Puritans to England in 1647, the celebration of Christmas and the singing of carols disappeared from church services
interest in the singing of Christmas Carols. In 1223 the beloved St Francis of Assisi revived an interest in Christmas and in the singing of Carols. He started putting on musical plays in which the majority of songs were written in the language of the common people. Because of his efforts, the singing of
altogether. Christmas carols were banned between 1647 and 1660 in England by Oliver Cromwell who thought that Christmas should be a solemn day. However, the carols survived as people still sang them in secret. During the Great Reformation (beginning in 1570) there was a revival of hymns including the singing of Christmas Carols in the language of the people. And although it would be many year before the Christmas Carol would come into its own, new freedoms were coming to the common people including the right to worship as they chose and to sing music
how, when and where they pleased. During the Victorian era (1837-1901) two men by the names of William Sandys and Davis Gilbert published a collection of
Christmas songs old and new from various villages in England. Thus the singing of Christmas songs was revived. People began singing on the streets, in homes, in churches for money and for free. The tradition of Carolling from home to home was born along with the giving of alms (money, food, wassail, gifts) to the singers. In honour of the angles announcement to the shepherds and of the star leading the wise men, the custom of lighting candles while singing on Christmas Eve was instituted. This custom remains popular today and is often referred to as the Candlelight service. White Christmas by Irving Berlin is said to be the biggest selling Christmas song of all time. It is estimated to have sold approximately 350 million copies on record and sheet music. The carol Silent Night was written in 1818 by an Austrian priest name Joseph Mohr. O Come all ye faithful was written in 1843, Once in Royal David’s City in 1848; O little town of Bethlehem in 1868 and Away in a Manger in 1883. (Clifford Stanley)
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Pope Francis in Christmas speech outlines‌
The fifteen 'diseases' of the Roman Curia Francis invites his collaborators to examine their conscience to confess their 'sins' in today's speech. He mentions vainglory and feeling essential, as well as 'spiritual Alzheimer's' and hoarding money and power. The Pope also speaks of closed circles and worldly profit, as well as the 'terrorism of gossip'
It is the disease of those who 'lose their internal peace, their vivacity and audacity, to hide under papers and become "procedural machines" instead of men of God', unable to 'weep with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice!'. THE DISEASE OF OVERPLANNING 'When the apostle plans everything in detail' and believes that, through this, 'things progress effectively, thus becoming an accountant. Good planning is necessary but without falling into the temptation of wanting to enclose or steer the freedom of the Holy Spirit... it is always easier and more convenient to fall back on static and unchanged positions'. THE DISEASE OF BAD COORDINATION It is the disease of members who 'lose the community among them, and
BY ANDREA TORNIELLI (Vatican City) IN his second Christmas speech to the Roman Curia earlier this week, Pope Francis identifies and explains 15 shades of sin, inviting everyone to ask for God's forgiveness. The same God who 'is born in poverty in a cave in Bethlehem to teach us the power of humility', and was welcomed not by the "chosen" people but by the "poor and simple". Pope Francis asks his collaborators to really examine their conscience in preparation for confession before Christmas. Francis explains that these 'diseases' and 'temptations' do not only concern the Curia but 'are naturally a danger to every Christian and every curia, community, congregation, parish, and ecclesiastic movement'. The Pope, however, clearly identifies
these as present within the environment where he has been living for 21 months now. The Pope said that 'it would be good to think of the Roman Curia as a small model of the Church, that is as a "body" which earnestly attempts to be more alive, healthier, more harmonious and more united in itself and in Christ every day". The Curia, like the Church, cannot live 'without having a vital, personal, authentic and solid relationship with Christ'. And a member of the Curia who does not draw from that every day will become a mere bureaucrat. He adds that 'we will talk about the list of diseases which, following the Fathers of the desert, will aid us in preparing for confession'. THE DISEASE OF FEELING 'IMMORTAL' OR 'ESSENTIAL' 'A curia that does not practice self-criticism, does not keep up to date, does not try to
better itself, is an infirm Body'. The Pope mentions that a visit to cemeteries could help us see the names of many who 'maybe thought they were immortal, exempt and essential!'. It is the disease of those who 'turn into masters and feel superior to everyone rather than in the service of all people. It often comes from the pathology of power, the "Messiah complex" and narcissism'. THE DISEASE OF EXCESSIVE ACTIVITY It is the disease of those who, like Martha in the Gospel, 'lose themselves in their work, inevitably neglecting "what is better"; sitting at Jesus' feet'. The Pope recalls that Jesus 'called his disciples to "rest a little", because neglecting necessary rest brings anxiety and stress'. THE DISEASES OF MENTAL AND SPIRITUAL 'PETRIFICATION'
the Body loses its harmonious functionality' becoming 'an orchestra producing undisciplined noise because its members do not cooperate and do not live communally and have team spirit'. THE DISEASE OF SPIRITUAL ALZHEIMER'S That is a 'progressive decline of spiritual faculties' which 'causes severe disadvantages to people', making them live in a 'state of absolute dependence on their, often imagined, views'. We can see this in those who have 'lost their memory' of their encounter with the Lord, in those who depend on their 'passions, whims and obsessions'. THE DISEASE OF RIVALRY AND VAINGLORY 'When the appearance, the colour of the vestments and the honours become the first
objectives of life... It is the disease that leads us to become false men and women, living a false "mysticism" and false "quietism"'. THE DISEASE OF EXISTENTIAL SCHIZOPHRENIA It is the disease of those who live 'a double life, a result of the hypocrisy typical of mediocre people and of advancing spiritual emptiness, which degrees or academic titles cannot fill'. It often strikes us that some 'abandon the pastoral service and limit their activities to bureaucracy, losing touch with reality and real people. They thus create their own parallel world, where they set aside all that the others harshly teach' and live a 'hidden' and often 'dissolute' life. THE DISEASE OF GOSSIP AND CHATTER 'It takes hold of a person
Turn to page 11 â–ş
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
(A look back at ‘happenings’ in Guyana in December 1968. Compiled by Clifford Stanley)
SAYONARA IS BACK Man in mini skirt sent for (Reprinted from Guyana Graphic - December 7th, 1968)
LADY Sayonara, the exotic Caribbean and Latin American dancer, has returned to Guyana after an absence of six years. During her three week stay, Lady Sayonara will be available for bookings to perform at nightclubs and other entertainment spots including Dawn Palace and
the Hotel Belvedere. Sayonara who last performed in Guyana in 1962, has since been touring and has performed in 33 countries including Canada. Sayonara will star in a new show called ‘Calypso Goodbye’, a new production of interpretative calypso dancing which has already been staged in Cayenne and Surinam. In the new show her favorite dance is “the chair dance” but she will also do
the “calypso rhumba” and other exotic dances. While in Surinam, in addition to appearing in night clubs and entertainment spots Sayonara appeared in shows to advertise Guyanese products made by Booker BDH. When she leaves Guyana, the famed dancer will return to Cayenne where she is due to appear at the opening of a new night club on December 18.
Cycle Licences for ‘69 are coming in (Reprinted from the Guyana Graphic December 10th, 1968) THE first of 24,000 bicycle badges to be used next year have arrived and 58,000 more are on the way, a source at the Inland Revenue Department has said. It was disclosed that the
Government had imported 68,000 ordinary licences to be sold at $2 each to the general public. The badges are of enamel and have a green background with red letters. There are 14,000 school licenses which are painted with a light blue background and carrying red letters and figures. These will be sold at
25 cents each. There are 600 free licenses to be used by Government employees. They carry a yellow background with red writing and letters. It is expected that the last shipment of badges will arrive in time for sale during the first week in January.
psychiatric treatment
(Reprinted from Guyana Graphic - December 16, 1968) A YOUNG man, Compton Bowen of Bagotsville West Bank Demerara, who was found wearing a mini skirt on Sunday was yesterday ordered to be
sent to the Georgetown Hospital for psychiatric treatment. The order was made by Magistrate Aubrey Bishop when Bowen pleaded guilty to a charge of wearing female clothing for an improper purpose. The Prosecutor Sergeant
Chalmers said that the Police were on patrol on Sunday morning when they saw Bowen strolling along Water street wearing a mini skirt and carrying a wallet. The Prosecutor said that Bowen was twisting his waist from side to side like a female.
Sagewang (methylated spirits) drinkers say they cannot afford rum
(Reprinted from Guyana Graphic - December 1968) THREE sagewang drinkers who were found in an unoccupied house appeared before Magistrate Donald Robinson last Saturday charged with vagrancy. Allan Cuffie, Allan Teixeira and Anthony Bacchus were found in the house on Croal Street without the leave of the owner. They pleaded guilty
to the charge and were remanded to prison until Wednesday. The Prosecutor said the house is owned by Sylvia Samlal Singh. On Saturday morning last the Police were informed about the presence of the three men in the building. A Constable found them there and arrested them. They were drinking sagewang at the time. The Magistrate asked them their age and each said they were 24 years
old. He asked why they d r a n k t h a t s t u ff a n d Teixeira explained that they could not afford to buy rum. He warned them that they were destroying themselves and warned them to refrain from the habit. They told the Magistrate that they were sitting at the corner and some boys interfered with them. The caretaker of the premises, they said, then invited them into the house.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
(A look back at ‘happenings’ in Guyana in December 1968. Compiled by Clifford Stanley)
MACKENZIE HIGHWAY TO BE OPENED ON SATURDAY (Guyana Graphic - December 2, 1968)
WORK on the $17M AtkinsonMacKenzie highway was begun on August 6, 1966 under contract with B.B. McCormick and Sons. It was the largest single contract
ever signed by a Government of Guyana. The opening of the highway on Saturday December 7, 1968 will bring the mining town of MacKenzie within two hours drive of the capital of Georgetown. The highway passes through
some 20,000 acres of agricultural land and will help hasten further social and economic advance in the area and the country as a whole. Financed primarily by a $15 million “soft” loan from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the
The fifteen 'diseases' of ... making them "sowers of discord" (like Satan), and, in many cases, "cold-blooded murderers" of the reputation of their colleagues and brothers. It is the disease of cowards, who do not have the courage to speak upfront and so talk behind one's back... Watch out against the terrorism of gossip!'. THE DISEASE OF DEIFYING THE LEADERS It is the disease of those who 'court their superiors', becoming victims of 'careerism and opportunism' and 'live their vocation thinking only of what they must gain and not of what they must give'. It
might also affects the superiors 'when they court some of their collaborators in order to gain their submission, loyalty and psychological dependence, but the final result is real complicity'. THE DISEASE OF INDIFFERENCE TO OTHERS 'When each one thinks only of themselves and loses the truthfulness and warmth of human relationships. When the more experienced ones do not offer their knowledge to the service of less experienced colleagues. When, because of jealousy or cunning, we rejoice in seeing others fall, rather than
lift them up and encourage them'. THE DISEASE OF THE FUNERAL FACE It is the disease of people who are 'scowling and unfriendly and think that, in order to be serious, they must show a melancholic and strict face and treat others especially those, whom they think are inferior - with rigidity, harshness and arrogance'. In reality, adds the Pope, 'theatrical strictness and sterile pessimism are often symptoms of fear and insecurity about themselves. The apostle must strive to be a polite, serene, enthusiastic and joyful person...'. Francis invites
highway is planned to link eventually with other roads leading to Lethem, Ituni, Kwakwani and Rockstone. Feasibility studies of roads f ro m M a c K e n z i e t o R o c k s t o n e , Ituni and Kwakwani have been financed by the USAID.
From page 9
people to be full of humour and self-irony; 'How beneficial a healthy dose of humour can be!'
Even this disease starts from good intentions, but in time it enslaves all its members becoming "a cancer"'.
THE DISEASE OF HOARDING 'When the apostle seeks to fill an existential void in his heart by hoarding material possessions, not because of necessity, but only to feel secure'.
THE DISEASE OF WORLDLY PROFIT AND EXHIBITIONISM 'When the apostle turns his service into power, and his power into a commodity to gain worldly profits, or even more powers. It is the disease of those people who relentlessly seek to increase their powers. To achieve that, they may defame, slander and discredit others, even on newspapers and magazines. Naturally, that is in order to show off and exhibit their superiority to others'. A
THE DISEASE OF CLOSED CIRCLES When belonging to a clique becomes more important than belonging to the Body and, in some situations, than belonging to Christ himself.
disease that 'badly hurts the Body because it leads people to justify the use of any means in order to fulfill their aim, often in the name of transparency and justice!' Francis ended by recalling that he had once read that 'priests are like airplanes, they make the headlines only when they fall, but there are many who fly. Many criticise, and few pray for them'. He said this statement was 'very true, because it highlights the importance and the delicacy of our priestly ministry, and how much a single priest who 'falls' may hurt the whole body of the Church'.
10 strange Christmas customs
CHRISTMAS is mostly about celebrations, gift-giving, merry-making and church-attending. There are so many different elements that contribute to the celebration that we have come to know as Christmas: tucking into the Christmas feast of yummy pepperpot and bread, hanging up socks and leaving out cookies and milk for Santa, opening presents under the Christmas trees, and having a great time with family and friends. At least, that’s what the common notion of Christmas is to most of us. But in some parts of the world, you may find strange and bizarre traditions and customs that would raise an eyebrow or two. Here are some of the strange things people around the world do for Christmas in the name of celebration. 1. Go bananas with Christmas [India] - In India, only about 2.3% of the population are Christians, which is about 25 million people! Christians here celebrate Christmas with midnight mass and gift-giving like the rest of the world, but with the absence of fir trees or pine trees to decorate, they usually made do with banana trees and mango trees instead. That means instead of Christmas pine trees lining up celebrating households, you’ll find brightly lit, well-decorated Christmas banana or mango trees on the streets. They even use the leaves of those trees to decorate their houses. 2. Toss Your Shoes and Get Hitched [Czech Republic, Slovakia] - If you don’t want to celebrate another Christmas single, then try this: stand with your back to the door and throw a shoe over your shoulders on Christmas day! If the shoe lands with the toe pointing to the door, congratulations, you’re going to get married soon! There’s no clue as to how long before you meet your prince charming though. 3. Kentucky Fried Christmas (KFC) [Japan] - No kidding – just as how Christmas turkey is a must on Christmas, for the Japanese it’s the Colonel’s Chicken. Since the beginning of this marketing campaign four decades ago, KFC has been associated with Christmas in the minds of the Japanese for generations, a tradition passed on from parent to child in spite of its commercialized beginnings. More than 240,000 barrels of chicken will be sold during Christmas, five to ten times its
normal monthly sales. 4. A Christmas of Remembrance [Finland] - Families in Finland usually visit the graves of their ancestors and relatives on Christmas Eve to light candles in memory of the deceased. Even those who don’t have their kin’s graves nearby visit cemeteries to place candles in honor of their family members buried elsewhere. Hence, on Christmas eve, cemeteries would be lit up with candles presenting a beautiful sight. 5. Skating your Way to Christmas [Venezuela] - In the capital city, Caracas, before young children go to bed on Christmas Eve, they tie one end of a string to their big toe, leaving the other end outside their bedroom window. The fun part of the Christmas celebration is on the day of the "Early Morning Mass". Streets were closed off to cars until 8 a.m. for people to roller-skate to the service, and they customarily proceed to tug on any of the strings they see hanging. 6. Let the Goat Live until Christmas [Sweden] - In 1966 a 13-metre tall goat figure made of straw was erected in the town square of Gavle. At the stroke of midnight, Christmas Eve, the goat went up in flames. But the town never stopped
building it year after year, and vandals never stopped trying to burn the goat down! By 2011, the goat has already been burned down 25 times. The burning of the Gavle goat happened so often that bookmakers began taking bets for the survival of the goat since 1988. 7. Santa’s own Postal Code [H0H 0H0] - Where do you send your letters to Santa to? The North Pole? Santa’s workshop? Actually Santa has his own postal code, H0H 0H0 (with zeros instead of the letter ‘o’) and it’s in Canada where postal codes are alphanumeric. Letters – the kind that bypass parents – used to end up undelivered because there was no centralized address for Kris Kringle. 8. A Spidey Christmas [Ukraine] - Instead of glittering ornaments and tinsel, Ukrainian Christmas trees are covered with an artificial spiders and cobwebs. Why the eccentric taste in spiders? According to the local folklore, there was a poor woman who could not afford to decorate their Christmas tree. But the next morning, her children woke up to see the tree covered with webs and when the Continued on page 18
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
MARVELOUS LOVE!
- A touching sto
By Bill Bright
clutching her crying new born son. The missionary tenderly lifted the baby out of her arms. When the baby was 10 years old, his now adoptive father told him the story of his mother’s death on Christmas Eve. The young boy cried, realising the sacrifice his mother had made for him. The next morning, the missionary rose early to find the boy’s bed empty. Seeing a fresh set of small footprints in the snow outside, he bundled up warmly in a winter coat and followed the trail. It led back to the bridge where the young
ON a cold Christmas Eve in 1952, when Korea was in the throes of civil war, one young woman struggled along a village street, obviously soon to deliver a child. She pleaded with passersby, “Help me! Please. My baby.” No one paid any attention to her. A middle-aged couple walked by. The wife pushed away the young mother and sneered,
“Where’s the father? Where’s your American man now?” The couple laughed and went on. The young woman almost doubled up from a contraction as she watched them go. “Please . . .,” she begged. She had heard of a missionary living nearby who might help her. Hurriedly, she began walking to that village. If only he would help her baby. Shivering and in pain, she struggled over the frozen countryside. But the night was so cold. Snow began to fall. Realising that
the time was near to deliver her baby, she took shelter under a bridge. There, alone, her baby was born on Christmas Eve. Worried about her newborn son, she took off her own clothes, wrapped them around the baby and held him close in the warm circle of her arms. The next day, the missionary braved the new snow to deliver Christmas packages. As he walked along, he heard the cry of a baby. He followed the sound to a bridge. Under it, he found a young mother frozen to death, still
mother had died. As the missiona bridge, he stopped, in the snow was h shivering uncontro lay beside him in a closer, he heard th chattering teeth: “Mother, were me?” That story remi mother and Son who One winter night, J His glory and the
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
ory of sacrificial love
ary approached the , stunned. Kneeling his son, naked and ollably. His clothes small pile. Moving he boy say through you this cold for
inds me of another o sacrificed so much. Jesus left his home, warmth of heaven
to be born in a stable to an unwelcome world. Just before He was born, Mary, His mother, was not welcome in any of the cozy inns in Bethlehem. Instead, she delivered her baby in the darkness of a cold stable. The Creator of the Universe, the Perfect Judge who could destroy the world with a single word, was willing to endure this inauspicious beginning for you and me. That is unconditional love! God wants us to express His supernatural love to others. We become examples of God’s love to the world as we love our neighbors through
the enabling of His Holy Spirit. Nothing breaks the hardened ground of unforgiveness and bitterness like sincere acts and words of love. Sometimes you and I, by faith, must take the first step of restoration. A p o s i t i v e re s p o n s e may not be immediate, but keep on loving and reaching out.
The reason for the season
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By Michel Outridge
AT this time of the year, we all sometimes are so busy preparing for Christmas, we forget ‘the reason for the season’. As such, it is always advisable to take the time out to give thanks and share and care with the less fortunate. Of the little we may have, it would not take much to prepare a few bags with goodies for children in the neighbourhood, or to even share a meal with someone. It is important to observe the holidays so that everyone can have something to celebrate.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Even though it gets hectic around the days leading up to Christmas, as we are overwhelmed with house work such as cleaning and shopping and fixing up the tree and so on, we often forget to spread some cheer by sharing. It dawned on me the other day whilst shopping with my family how fortunate I am. I was waiting outside the store when I observed a homeless man sitting on a bench across the road, oblivious to the happenings around him. He was rooted to the spot as he gazed into nothing, dressed in rags without any material possessions. While the people around him
were engaged in other activities, the man just sat there with that far-away look in his eyes. A s h e w a s o ff e r e d a p i e c e o f c a n d y, h e accepted it and as he murmured a mild ‘Thank you’, his eyes lit up a bit and at this point I realised that it doesn’t take much to share
with others. At this time of the year, we share with our loved ones tokens of appreciation to show love and affection; but it is also a time for us to share with others. Even if it is a smile, do it and you will see how happy it can make someone, especially if it is done whole-heartedly. This year Christmas I urge us all to make a difference. Sharing and caring with others. Merry Christmas all!
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Coping with Loneliness at Christmas This the season to be…gloomy?
this us pain during us and cause ways to cope lm he w er ov ces can positive s circumstan e some suggestions for Some of life’ ar e er H . stivity season of fe
By Rusty Wright FEELING low this Christmas season? You’re not alone. Amid cheery songs, festive parties, gifts and good wishes,
many lonely people are crying or dying on the inside. Maybe you’re one of them. I was. During a horrible year, my wife of 20 years divorced me, my employer of
25 years fired me, and I had a cancer scare. As I drove home one night, lovely Christmas music came on the radio. Melancholy aching evidenced the deep pain of abandonment and loss that I was
still processing. No fun. BLUE CHRISTMAS Romantic estrangement, family strife, Turn to page 16 ►
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
Coping with Loneliness... and bereavement can make your holidays dismal. O n e o f E l v i s P r e s l e y ’s most popular songs was ‘Blue Christmas’. A lonely crooner mourns heartbreaking lost love. Performers from The Beach Boys to Celine Dion, Loretta Lynn, and Jon Bon Jovi have recorded it. Does even thinking
about that song make you depressed? The spoofed ‘Porky Pig’ version could get you laughing. Google will take you there. But please…wait until finishing this short article to search, OK?! Several factors can produce Christmas blues. Hectic activity can bring physical and emotional
stress. Overspending can produce financial pressure. Year-end reflection and focus on loss can magnify sorrow. McGill University psychologist Dr. Michael Spevack notes, “Over eating and over drinking combined with a decreased amount of sleep is also a formula for extreme
emotional swings.” Depression can lead to thoughts of suicide, especially among the socially isolated, he says. THE ‘EMPTY CHAIR’ Is your family apart this season by necessity or choice? Maybe an ‘empty chair’ reminds you of your pain. Does Christmas “Ho,
Ho, Ho” contrast with your deep anguish? One widow recalled how she felt during the Christmas after her husband’s death: “Little mattered to me. I didn’t want to hear carols. I didn’t want to be cheered up. I didn’t want to look at perky Christmas cards. I wanted the same thing I’d wanted every day for eight months: the strength to force myself out of bed in the morning, to brush my teeth and to eat.” One possible influence, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), is a form of depression the medical community doesn’t completely understand. The Mayo Clinic says genetics, age and body chemistry could be the culprits. Mayo recommends seeing your doctor if you feel down for days and have motivation problems. Symptoms can include changing sleep patterns and appetite, feeling hopeless, contemplating suicide, or seeking comfort in alcohol. COPING How can you cope with Christmas loneliness? Some suggestions to Solving Loneliness: 1. Spend time with people, especially positive ones who lift your spirits. Perhaps you’ll be grateful for their cheer. 2 . E x e r c i s e r e g u l a r l y. Blood pumping can help clear your mind. 3. Eat right. ‘Chocaholics’ beware. Overindulgence can mean temporary highs followed by disappointing flab. 4. Lights on! Enjoy sunlight, outdoors if possible. Brighten up your home and workplace. Light therapy sometimes helps SAD. 5. Budget your gift spending and stick with your budget. Prevent January bill shock. 6. Talk about your feelings. Keeping them bottled up can mean anxiety, ulcers, sour disposition, and/or
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explosion. Need a trusted, l i s t e n i n g f r i e n d ? Tr y a local church. 7. Give to others. Volunteer. Medical professor Stephen Post, PhD, is convinced that giving is essential for optimum physical and mental health in our fragmented society. He says some California physicians give volunteerism “prescriptions” to their Medicare patients. 8. Seek counsel. I used to be embarrassed to obtain professional counsel. Now I recommend it. We all can use good advice navigating life’s storms. 9. Develop spiritual roots. I’m glad that before my dark days began, I had a friendship with God. Tired of friends who b e t r a y, m a n i p u l a t e , disrespect, or desert you? God won’t. He cares for you, values you, will listen to you and comfort you. Yo u c a n t r u s t H i m . H e always wants your best. One early believer put it this way: “Since God did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t God, who gave us Christ, also give us everything else?” His point: God loved us enough to send Jesus, his only Son, to die on the cross to pay the penalty for our wrong, our sins. What a demonstration of love! I can trust a God like that. Then Jesus rose from the dead so He could live inside us and become our friend. YOUR CHOICE Would you like to meet Jesus, the best friend you could ever have? Wouldn’t Christmas season be a great time to place your faith in Him? You can tell Him something like this: Jesus, I need you. Thanks for dying and rising again for me. Please forgive me, enter my life, and give me eternal life. Help me to become good friends with you and learn to follow your lead.
Silent Night, perhaps the most recorded song in the world
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
THE words of Silent Night were written by a Priest called Fr. Joseph Mohr in Mariapfarr, Austria, in 1816 and the music was added in 1818, by his school teacher friend Franz Xaver Gruber, for the Christmas service at St. Nicholas church in Oberndorf, Austria. Fr. Mohr asked Franz Gruber to compose the melody with a guitar arrangement. It was several years later that Franz Gruber wrote an arrangement for the organ. Historians who have conducted research in recent years believe that Fr. Mohr wanted a new carol that he could play on his guitar.
There is a legend associated with the carol that says, Fr. Mohr wanted the carol to be sung by the children of the village at the midnight Christmas Eve service, as a surprise for their parents. But in the middle of practising, the organ broke and not a note would come from it! So the children had to learn the carol only accompanied by a guitar. They learnt the carol so well that they could sing it on its own without accompaniment. However, there are no records to indicate that a children's choir was involved or that the organ was broken! At Midnight Mass in 1818, Fr. Mohr and Franz Gruber sang each of the six verses with the church choir repeating the last two lines of each verse. Mohr set down the guitar arrangement on paper around 1820 and that is the earliest manuscript that still exists. It is displayed in the CarolinoAugusteum Museum in Salzburg. There are a number of manuscripts of various 'StilleNacht' arrangement that were written by Franz Gruber in later years. The original words of the song were in German (and it was called 'StilleNacht! HeiligeNacht') and translated in to English went: Silent night, holy night, Bethlehem sleeps, yet what light, Floats around the heavenly pair; Songs of angels fills the air. Strains of heavenly peace. It's thought that the song might have travelled around the area with an organ repairman, Karl Mauracher, who could have taken an early arrangement with him in about
1820. Then two singing families (like the 'Von Trappes' in The Sound of Music) seem to have discovered the song and performed it as part of their concerts. In December 1832, the Strasser family performed it at a concert in Leipzig. It was first performed in the USA in 1839 by the Rainer family, who sang 'StilleNacht' at the Alexander Hamilton Monument outside Trinity Church in New York City. During this time the tune changed to the one we know and sing today! It was translated into English in 1863 by John Freeman Young. The carol was sung during the Christmas Truce in
the First World War in December 1914 as it was a song that soldiers on both sides knew! By the time the carol was famous, Fr Mohr had died. Franz Gruber wrote to music authorities in Berlin saying that he had composed the tune, but no one believed him and it was thought that Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven had written it! But then the 1820 manuscript was found and in the top right corner Fr Mohr had written: 'Melodie von Fr. Xav. Gruber.'. It's now one of the most, if not the most, recorded songs in the world!
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10 strange Christmas customs
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
first light of Christmas morning touched the web threads, they turned into gold and silver and the family was never left for wanting again. Hence, it is believed that seeing a spider web on Christmas morning brings luck. 9. Don’t Stuff It in My Socks [Phillipines] - Christmas is huge in the Phillipines since 80% of the population is Christians. Celebrations last all the way to January. Children will leave their brightly polished shoes and freshly washed socks on the window sills for the Three Kings to leave gifts in when they pass through their houses at night. The "Feast of the Three Kings" marks the end of the Christmas celebrations. 10. Pudding & Wishes [Britain] - The Christmas pudding is served on Christmas Day but the traditions we’re looking at has to do with how it is made. Every member of the family (especially the kids) is to stir the mix clockwise while making a wish. Earlier traditions include putting a coin in the mix which brings wealth to whoever finds it in their serving. Other additions include a ring for luck in marriage and a thimble for good luck in life.
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
First Lady spreads Christmas - thousands feted cheer across Guyana By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally AS the curtain came down on the First Lady’s Foundation Christmas parties, some 2,330 children were feted with presents and goodies. First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar first visit was to Black Bush Polder in Region 6 where she visited Yakusari Primary, Jonna Primary, Mibikuri Primary and Lesbeholden Primary distributing gifts and snacks to some 600 boys and girls. The children entertained the First Lady with poems and dances, while the ‘Elves’ and helpers of the First Lady sang carols, played games and danced with the children. Speaking with the Guyana Chronicle, the First Lady explained that this is her favourite time of the year and feels the best way to celebrate this festive season is to spend it with children. “It’s a period where you share with children and I always feel fulfilled when I do this” she said. She deemed the first of the four distributions a complete success as they were able to present each child present with a Christmas gift.
Children after receiving their presents from Santa.
First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar at Lesbeholden Primary
Santa and Mrs Ramotar caroling with the children
President Donald Ramotar singing carols with the children.
President Donald Ramotar and First Lady Deolatchmee Ramotar mingle with the children at State House (Adrian Narine photos)
Linden Region 10 was the second stop on December 16 where 400 children were entertained by carols and games as well as they were given presents and goodie bags. Mrs Ramotar visited the St John the Baptise Primary School in Bartica distributing gifts and snacks to 350 children. During her visit to Bartica she explained that even though this is the time of the year to enjoy yourself, it is very important to have a good education. While urging the children to attend school, Mrs Ramotar said “with a good education you can be good leaders and help to move our country forward.” State House came alive with peals of laughter and the sound of little voices singing carols as the First Lady Foundation feted 600 children on Sunday December 21. President Donald Ramotar even interrupted his usually
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busy schedule to speak briefly with the children, wishing all gathered a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year, while he encouraged the boys and girls to continue to be good children. He explained that like many others, this is also his favourite time of the year, and he is very happy to be able to share Christmas joy with the children. The Head of State put his vocals to the test as he belted out numerous Christmas Carols with some assistance from the children present. He told them that although the season is apt for enjoyment, they should not neglect to make their education a priority. The First Lady’s Foundation final stop for this year’s Christmas parties was at Coomaka in Linden Region 10 where the foundation entertained some 380 children.
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
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GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
AT CANE GROVE REUNION ANNUAL HAMPER-SHARING PRESIDENT SAYS...
I do not want to perpetuate myself in Government – calls on all Guyanese to be their brothers’ keepers
President Ramotar presenting a hamper to a senior citizen. Seeraj is seen at centre
By Parvati Persaud-Edwards LAST Sunday the Cane Grove Reunion Group Inc. once again brought joy and relief to senior citizens and vulnerable groups within that community through the donation of sizeable hampers fully packed with groceries and care packages.
President Donald Ramotar presenting gifts to children at the Group’s Children’s party
Assisting in the sharing of the hampers was President Donald Ramotar, who has been gracing the occasion, and other activities sponsored by the organisation every year since his accession to the highest administrative office in the land. Each Christmas senior citizens and vulnerable groups in the Cane Grove/Strathavon/Mahaica communities receive care packages; as well as other forms of assistance
throughout the year, inclusive of medical outreaches and monthly grants of $3,500 each. This event, as well as a children’s Christmas party, have become calendar activities organised by members of the Cane Grove Reunion, which is based in New York and currently spearheaded in the local chapter by Dharamkumar Seeraj, M.P., General-Secretary of the Guyana Rice Producers Association (RPA). Seeraj, chief organiser of the local chapter, who originated from Cane Grove, briefly outlined the work of the organisation, which includes an annual gala dinner and dance, as well as other fund-raising events and generous donations by Diasporean members of that community. Among those whom he praised highly for honouring and taking care of the elderly and other community-care activities they plan and implement were Kenrick Gopaul, Ivor Ramphal and others of the New York-based chapter. These efforts, he said, are complemented by local members of the community who work untiringly to effect the successful implementation of the various programmes sponsored by the organisation throughout the year. President lauds Cane Grove Reunion Group for remembering their home community President Donald Ramotar opined that the activity last Sunday was the Cane Grove Reunion’s recognition and appreciation of the contributions of the elderly to the society during their prime years. Taking Turn to page 23 ►
GUYANA CHRONICLE Tuesday December 23, 2014
I do not want to perpetuate myself... From page 22
care of the elders, he asserted, is the group’s way of expressing thanks. He exhorted other Guyanese in the Diaspora to use as an example this worthwhile initiative by the Cane Grove Reunion Group in their drive to enhance the lives of the elderly and other vulnerable groups in their respective home communities. He expressed his satisfaction in sharing, once again, the group’s attempts to honour the elderly in their home community, despite being domiciled in another country, which he acclaimed as a tremendous contribution to the Cane Grove community, in particular, and the country as a whole. G u y a n a ’s H e a d - o f - S t a t e extolled the work of the diasporic committee and its local chapter for great humanitarian efforts to show respect for, and take care of the elderly in the society; which he said parallels the PPP’s continuum of appreciation to the contributions made by the patriots of yesteryear to the various freedom struggles, as well as the development of the country, by the Government’s pension scheme and various grants to Guyana’s senior citizens. In an earlier address, the President had expressed appreciation to the Cane Grove community for having been always supportive of the PPP in all its nation-building endeavours. At that occasion he said that the immense achievements of Dr. Cheddi Jagan and Mrs. Janet Jagan, and the development of the country to date could not have been possible without the contributions over the years of the elders of the society and informed the gathering that a Diaspora Committee has been formed in the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate such activities, as well as to establish a data base of expertise that the Government could tap into whenever the need arises. Asserting that the Cane Grove Reunion Group has set a very good example, worthy of emulation by other Guyanese in the Diaspora, President Ramotar adjured all Guyanese to be their brothers’ keepers in like manner. Seeraj reminisced that during his boyhood he had never met, not even seen in life then President L.F.S. Burnham, whereas the presidents of the successive PPP/C Governments are easily accessible to young and old alike. He invited the seniors to use the opportunity to present their concerns to the President Among those who sought out the President was one elderly gentleman who advised the Headof-State to continue the prorogation process every six months until his
term of office had been completed before calling elections, but the President reiterated his oft-repeated assurance that he does not want nor has any intention to perpetuate himself in office. He proffered a guarantee that elections would be held at the earliest possible time in the new year. Cane Grove Reunion Inc. Other activities in the community that are sponsored by the organisation included toy drives and distribution of gift packages and a Christmas party for children, medical outreaches and donations of medical supplies and aids, such as wheelchairs; as well as donations to sporting activities to encourage the youths of the community to engage in productive recreational pursuits. In 2009, three computers were donated to the Vi r g i n i a P r i m a r y School and two to the Cane Grove Primary school. The group has also made a number of contributions to religious communities since its formation in 2008. To date, included in the packages were medical care packages, wheelchairs, walkers, sets of crutches, footballs, volleyballs, tennis racquets, cricket gear, packs of tennis balls, among other donations to religious bodies, schools both in training of volunteers and the provision of equipment, such as computers and school kits. The Group gives back to the community in another way, in that the provision of the hampers is contracted to local businesses – a different one every year. Among the local volunteers are Modas Sukhna, Tandika (Pet) Gonzales and her son To n y, M r. & M r s . Hakim Allim, Indira and others. The Cane Grove Reunion Group Inc. is a non-governmental organisation that is run by an overseas based group.
23 As a joint effort by the Cane Grove overseas based group and the Culture Ministry, the residents of Cane Grove were a l s o r e c i pi e nt s of m e di c a l supplies and sporting equipment donated by the Cane Grove Reunion Group of New York and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Minister Frank Anthony, in his remarks at the distribution ceremony, stated that the activity would not have been possible had it not been for the tireless efforts of those residents responsible for laying the ground work in Cane Grove, and those from the community who had migrated. He also said the efforts of mostly those of the reunion group residing in New York demonstrate commitment towards improving the lives of those in the village of which they have fond memories.