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Independence Magazine

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Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

O

n April 29, 1966, in the British House of Commons’ sitting, British MPs discussed the Guyana Independence Bill.

Here are excerpts of that Bill taken from Hansard 1803– 2005 records.

11.13 a.m.

The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. Frederick Lee): The main purpose of the Bill is very simple. Indeed, in the words of the Preamble, it is to provide for the attainment by British Guiana of fully responsible status within the Commonwealth", and although I see from the Order Paper that some of my hon.

Friends have certain reservations at this point in time, I am, nevertheless, sure that the House will welcome the attainment by British Guiana of independence and that we all have the desire that Guyana, as the new nation is to be called, will remain, as she intends to, within the Commonwealth. … Turning to more recent history, British Guiana has, I believe, had more than its share of conferences, constitutions and commissions, and, unfortunately, of violence and racial strife. I do not intend to dwell on the rather unhappy history of the advanced form

of Constitution which was introduced in 1953 but then had to be suspended in the same year.

Nor do I think that this is the occasion to comment in too much detail on the unhappy events of the early 1960s, when violent disturbances in each of three successive years and the failure of political parties to reach agreement at constitutional conferences frustrated our renewed attempts to bring the country to the point of independence. … After exhaustive discussion, from which I think no relevant matters were excluded, the conference agreed to a form of independence constitution, which it is proposed to embody in an Order in Council to be made under the Bill now before the House.

The conference also agreed that Guiana should take its place among the free nations of the world on the date which appears in Clause 1, namely, 26th May, 1966. ... I would not think it in the interests of either my hon.

Friends or the House that any delay should now take place in bringing independence to British Guiana.

11.51 a.m.

Mr. Julius Silverman (Birmingham, Aston) We in this country, and especial-

John Stonehouse, British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Colonial Office in 1966. He would later fall into disgrace for faking his own death in 1974 after bad business deals and an extra-marital affair. He died April 14, 1988, aged 62

ly in this party, are proud of Britain's record in the liquidation, the dissolution, of the Empire. In 1947, we took that great act of liberation which liberated India, Pakistan, Burma and Ceylon and which set in motion a movement of liberation which embraced the whole world.

We are proud of that, but I am sorry to say that I am

Hugh Jenkins, Baron Jenkins of Putney (1908 -2004)

not proud of the record of Her Majesty's Government in Guiana. It is not a creditable phase in our history, and I say that bluntly.

Reference has been made to the 1964 election in Guiana and the lack of co-operation from Mr. Jagan. The view of Mr. Jagan—with which, to some extent, I concur—is that the 1964 election was based on a Constitution deliberately organised to keep him out and to put in a Government more amenable to the United States.

That indeed happened.

When the debate on the Constitutional Order took place my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister called it a "fiddled Constitution", and I believe that it is. The present Commonwealth Secretary described the Constitutional tactics as "jiggery pokery", and I think that they were.

However, that has now happened and such a Constitution operates in Guiana.

I am afraid that I am not

as optimistic as either of the Front Bench speakers today about a country which is deeply divided right down the middle on the basis of race and politics. For one-half of the country it is not merely a question of lack of co-operation, but the knowledge that it is virtually excluded from the seat of Government.

These people face the sort of thing I am describing today. The prospects are gloomy and I wonder whether, after independence, even the safeguards of present Constitution will be maintained. I am sorry to say that, but I cannot accept the rosy picture which my right hon.

Friend painted.

12.43 p.m.

Mr. Hugh Jenkins (Putney) My interest in British Guiana began in the early 1950s, when I was fortunate enough to meet Mr. Burnham and Dr. Jagan together at a much happier time. They were members of the same party, and it seemed possible that the country would advance along a course which would proceed to inde-

pendence, not without difficulty, trouble and trial, but without violence. Unhappily, that hope was not realised…

2.13 p.m.

The Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies (Mr. John Stonehouse) …If we did what is advised and held up independence we would see a return to conflict in British Guiana and the holding back of economic development—including work on mineral development—educational advance and reforms of all descriptions. We should contribute not to stability, but to instability.

I repeat that the present situation is unsatisfactory and that we do not like it any more than my hon. Friends do.

It would be far less satisfactory to hold up independence, for that would contribute to a worsening of the situation and hold back worthwhile developments in Guiana.

I appreciate the feelings with which my hon. Friends have spoken and I applaud the humanity which inspired them to make their speeches, but I now implore them to withdraw their Amendment and not vote against the Bill and to let Guiana have a message from a united House that we look forward to its making a success of its independence from 26th May onwards, an independence which can give the people an opportunity for better relations with Surinam and Venezuela being a very important part of their becoming a sovereign State, to concentrate on the priorities of providing better education and to provide economic development, to allow individual standards to improve and, above all, to contribute to a stability which can help racial co-operation which is so essential if Guyana is to succeed… …I commend the Bill to the House.

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Former Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan

By Odeen Ishmael

T

hroughout the early part of 1966, preparations for Guyana's independence celebrations went in full swing. A special committee appointed by the Government designed the new coat of arms and selected the Canje pheasant as the national bird.

The design and colours of the new flag, appropriately called "The Golden Arrowhead", had already been chosen during the period of the PPP Government from entries submitted through an international competition.

The winning five-coloured design was submitted by an American, Whitney Smith. The name chosen for the independent nation - Guyana - was also chosen

for the zeal of nation building; black border, depicting the people's endurance; and white symbolising the natural water potential of the country.

A nation-wide competition, sponsored by the National History and Arts Council, also helped to select the words of the new National Anthem. The winning entry, "Green Land of Guyana", was written by Reverend Archibald Luker, and the words were set to music by Cyril G. Potter, a prominent Guyanese educator and musician.

Guyana became an independent nation on Thursday, 26 May 1966, but the independence celebrations began four days before and continued until 29 May. Public buildings and business places were brightly decorat-

Times Independence Magazine 3 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

mast. Just before the flag raising ceremony before a huge crowd, Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and Opposition Leader Cheddi Jagan publicly embraced each other, indicating their satisfaction that Guyana had finally won its political independence.

With the raising of the new flag, fireworks burst across the sky in various parts of the country.

Then around mid-morning, the State opening of the Parliament of Guyana took place. It was preceded by a military parade accompanied by much pomp and pageantry.

Significantly, for this occasion, a portrait of Sir Walter Raleigh decorating the wall of the Parliament chamber was removed and replaced with a portrait of Prime Minister Burnham.

The meeting of Parliament was chaired by the Speaker, Aubrey Alleyne. The Duke of Kent read a throne speech on behalf of the Queen, after which on behalf of the sovereign, Queen Elizabeth, he handed over to Prime Minister Burnham the constitutional instruments designating Guyana an independent nation.

Immediately after, there were speeches by Prime

The Duke of Kent presents the instruments of independence to Prime Minister LFS Burnham, May 26, 1966

the date of independence.

This, he said, was generating fear throughout the country and was detrimental to the struggle for peace and security.

He also highlighted the view that his party was "the victim of repeated constitutional manipulations designed to keep it out of office." He added, "We are confident that despite these

Forbes Burnham (third from left) and Cheddi Jagan (third from right) in 1953. They were both satisfied Guyana had finally won political independence

since 1962 by a select committee appointed by the House of Assembly.

The flag of Guyana was designed with a golden arrowhead along its middle to signify Guyana's journey into the future. The golden arrowhead, with narrow white and black strips along its sides, was set on a green and red background with narrow white and black strips along the sides of the arrowhead.

The five colours were also seen as symbolic to the country various assets: green for the agriculture and forests; gold representing the country's mineral wealth; red

ed with streamers and buntings bearing the colours of the Guyana flag.

On the evening of 25 May, a grand cultural performance took place at the Queen Elizabeth Park (later to be renamed the National Park). Dignitaries in the audience of thousands included the Duke and Duchess of Kent, representing Queen Elizabeth, and representatives of foreign governments.

Then at midnight, the Union Jack, the symbol of British colonial rule for 163 years, was lowered and the new flag of Guyana, the Golden Arrowhead, was raised to the top of the

Minister Forbes Burnham and Leader of the Opposition Cheddi Jagan.

Burnham, in an appeal to Guyanese nationalism, declared: "The days ahead are going to be difficult.

Tomorrow, no doubt, we as Guyanese will indulge in the usual political conflicts and differences in ideology. But today, to my mind, is above such petty matters. For today Guyana is free."

In welcoming independence, Dr. Jagan seized the opportunity to point out that the Burnham government was abusing its powers through the extension of the state of emergency beyond

manipulations the People's Progressive Party can be triumphant at future elections if these are fairly held."

Later that afternoon, Sir Richard Luyt was sworn in by the Duke of Kent as

Guyana's first governor general at a ceremony in the ballroom of Guyana House, the official residence of the governor general.

During the period of the independence celebrations, many public events were also held. These included carnival-style parties, exhibitions, float parades and public rallies addressed by Burnham and his ministers.

On achieving independence, Guyana became the 23rd member of the British Commonwealth. The new state received instant recognition internationally.

However, in its note of recognition signed by Foreign Minister Iribarren Borges, the Venezuelan Government stated that it "recognises as territory of the new State the one which is located on the east of the right bank of the Essequibo River".

The Venezuelan note claimed that the boundary between Guyana and Venezuela ran "through the middle line of the Essequibo River, beginning from its source and on to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean".

In a response to the Venezuelan government (sent on 18 August 1966), Burnham rejected this assertion and expressly stated that the "Guyana constitution stipulates that the territory of Guyana embraces all that area, which immediately before the 26th May, 1966, comprised the old Colony of British Guiana, together with the area which by Act of Parliament may be de-

clared as part of the territory of Guyana."

He added: "The territory which extends between the middle line of the Essequibo on the east and the boundary of the old Colony of British Guiana all along the rivers Cuyuni and Wanamo on the west, was already included on the 26th May, 1966, judicially and administratively, within the old Colony of British Guiana and forms part of the State of Guyana."

Lowering the British flag to hoist the Golden Arrowhead at the Independence Day ceremony, May 26, 1966

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Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

By Isahak Basir, CCH

W

hen the late Dr. Cheddi Jagan began his political journey around Guyana, his primary objectives were for every Guyanese to enjoy the right to vote at the age of 21 and independence for Guyana.

By 1961, Jagan made

from being granted independence. He was given internal self-government in 1961, but the colonial governor has the final say in work of the government of the day.

In 1964, the colonial government and local agents were able to install a government with Burnham in charge.

The British had no alternative but to grant Guyana

MV Malali

Former President Burnham

Former President Jagan

several overseas visits to Britain to argue his demands with the Colonial Secretary. Prior to 1955, the late Forbes Burnham was also on the demand trail to achieve independence.

There were many political manoeuvres to avoid Jagan’s PPP government

independence on May 26, 1966. The expectation for this magnificent obsession was great since Jagan raised the concern of the Guyanese working class.

Even though there were political differences between Jagan and Burnham, they shared the same platform

and other mandates to welcome and usher in this historical event.

In Essequibo, the M.V. Malali was well decorated with flags and kept her horn bellowing across the river from Parika to Adventure.

The main police headquarters at Suddie, with pomp and splendour, raised the Guyana flag with a 21- gun salute.

Tassa drums in several villages went into action and broke the midday silence. Several schools in the ancient county held activities to express their hopes and expectations.

At Charity, banners were

placed across the Roman Catholic Church, which had its bells tolling to welcome the event. In the Pomeroon, the Stolls, Reberios, Vanslutmans, Barakats and Basirs had their motor launch with ‘Petromaland Colman’ gas lamps well lit, and drove for miles in the river. Some names of the launches were Magdalene, Queen Mary, Napoleon Chamberlin and Titanic.

At Siriki District, the Gouveivas, Garraways, Melvilles and Caldeiras made homemade guns out of bamboo and, with petrol, that device sends a loud blast for about two miles.

On Independence Day, the two legendary politicians made inspirational remarks. Jagan said, “While we welcome independence with our new anthem, flag and Coat of Arms, we need to continue our struggle for genuine political and economic freedom and to build a society free from discrimination and want.”

Burnham said, “Though emotionally satisfying, this is not an end in itself. It has to be an instrument building a cohesive nation, liberating the people from the economic yoke imposed by the governor and building a self-reliant and free society.”

G

uyana will celebrate 49 years of independent rule on Tuesday May 26, after 135 years of being ruled as British Guiana, a colony of England.

stitutional change on the colony.

By the 1920s several “voluntary associations” arose to assist groups to improve their social conditions, such as The League of Coloured People (LCP); The East Indian Association (BGEIA); The Chinese Association, the Portuguese Benevolent Society, and the Marcus Garvey United Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

Beginnings

Guyana was first colonised by the Dutch in 1580. The early Dutch settlements in 1580 in Essequibo and Abary creek were essentially trade depots for bartering with the native Indians.

Then in 1624, a few Dutch settlers moved to Berbice and established a trading post there. By the early 17th century, the Dutch settlement was moved to a small island at the junction of the Essequibo, Mazaruni, and Cuyuni rivers, and the area became known as the Dutch colony of Essequibo.

They also established a small post at the mouth of the Demerara River.

After a brief invasion

by France in 1712, the colonies endured several occupations during the wars from 1780 to 1815 between the French and the British.

The colonies were restored to the Dutch in 1802, before once more changing into British hands at the Peace of Paris in 1834 after being ceded to Britain by the Netherlands in 1814.

After almost three centuries of invasion and conquest, the three colonies of Demerara, Berbice, and Essequibo were finally

At that time, I was an American-trained dental technician practicing in Pomeroon and on the Essequibo Coast, and riding a B.S.A Bantam motor cycle.

I will never forget that event: the banners on passengers busses, the blowing of midnight shells and many church services. I can still sing the songs “God save our gracious queen” and “London Bridge is broken down”.

I will always pay homage to the legendary leaders who made this day a reality, and emulate our motto “One People, One Nation, One Destiny”.

Empire

united to become British Guiana in 1831, a colony whose industry would come to depend upon the harsh labour of its slaves and indentured immigrants.

Independence stirrings

It is suggested that it was after the abolition of slavery that Guyana’s struggle for independence began, and included the clashes in 1869 at Leonora and 1888 at Enmore and

other villages along the East Coast, as well as at Versailles and Metenmeer-zorg on the West Coast of Demerara.

However, some historians suggest that Guyana’s independence efforts began as far back as the 1763 and 1823 slave rebellions.

After slavery was abolished and indentured labourers introduced, economic and international circumstances began to create a growing middle-

class of local professionals.

Together with the rising local business class, they began to demand an equal existence with the white planter class.

By the turn of the 20th century, the stirrings of resistance to colonial domination began to be strongly felt within the colony.

Rigid social discrimination and even physical restrictions, where workers were not allowed to move from one estate to another

if they choose to, led to resentment against the imperial hegemony.

The social conditions added to the general discontent, poor housing and medical conditions along with low wages and obvious racism that viewed the colonised as inferior, stifled any opportunities for social advancement.

As early as 1887, a “Reform Club”, later called the Reform Association, was created to initiate con-

Britain too began to relinquish many territories of her empire in the early 1940s. With the rise of Germany and the United States as economic powers, Britain’s economic power was reduced; combined with the costs of two world wars, Britain’s empire fell into decline.

Facing increasing tensions in her colonies who were clamouring for their own independence, Britain began granting self-rule then ultimately independence to her colonies.

Guyana’s road to independence

By the time British Guiana was granted independence, there were many former colonial territories already free from British rule.

However, independence to Guyana came after almost two decades of political alliances, splits, manoeuvres, and civil unrest.

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By Janet Jagan

A

s we celebrate the anniversary of Guyana’s independence, it is a fitting time to see how it began.

Certainly, the seeds of seeking an end to colonialism must have been planted in the hard days of slavery and indentureship when life was unbelievably difficult and the reason for the crushing oppression and cruelty was easy to define.

Billions of words have been written about slavery, the middle passage, the unbearable cruelty of the slave masters and the many uprisings against slavery.

These were dealt with in ways which are almost beyond belief.

Cheddi Jagan in his book “The West on Trial” writes about the prisoners in the

may 2015

the manager’s house they rubbed salt pickle on their backs.”

With these experiences and much more, the spirit of resistance against those who caused the sufferings was inlaid and would later be expressed in a desire ‘to be free of such exploitation.

Guyana’s history shows that the very beginning of the recognition of the need to be independent of Britain began with the formation of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP) in 1950.

The ‘concept of a struggle to free British Guiana of colonialism probably had its origin in Cheddi Jagan’s studies, while a student in the USA, of the writings of Jawaharlal Nehru and Mahatma Gandhi.

At that time, India was on a course aimed at complete independence from

Cheddi Jagan and Janet as a young couple

Berbice uprising: “...53 of the defendants were condemned to death. Next day, 15 of them were burnt to death over a slow fire and 16 were broken on the rob rock.

The remaining 22 persons were hanged...”

After slavery was abolished, indentured labourers for the many sugar estates were brought to this country. Their conditions were slightly better than the slaves.

Dr. Jagan in his book quotes Elizabeth Caesar, a labourer of Pln. Vreed-enHoop: “...the Coolies were locked up in the sick house and next morning they were flogged with a cat-o’-nine tails; the manager was in the house, and they flogged the people under his house; they were tied to the post of the gallery... I cannot tell how many licks; he gave them enough. I saw blood.

When they were flogged at

British rule. The struggle inspired many in the British, Dutch, French and Belgium colonies in all parts of the world to follow suit.

As early as 1945 Cheddi Jagan, in an article wrote: “It therefore behoves the working class people to get control of government through their Constitutional ballots in our forthcoming election, with a view towards complete independence.”

And after the PPP was founded, in its first Manifesto, the Party declared: “The People's Progressive Party recognising that the final abolition of exploitation and oppression, of economic crises and unemployment and wars will only be achieved by the socialist reorganisation of society, pledges itself to the task of winning a free and independent Guianese society in which security, plenty, peace and freedom shall

Times Independence Magazine 5 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

be the heritage of all.”

Thus began the struggle in the then British Guiana for independence.

Somewhere in the psyche of the onetime slaves and indentured workers lay the elements of resistance to those who brought about the misery of their forefathers. It took time for most Guyanese to accept the idea that Guyana could be a free and independent nation.

Many scoffed at the advocacy, by the PPP, of independence from Britain. British Guiana is too small to be independent they said. There was talk of an amalgamation of the three Guianas British, Dutch and French into one country.

Conservatives and recipients of favoured positions from the British, the business and religious community (Christian), were against such an “outrageous” idea.

There was, indeed, a lot of opposition to the concept of independence.

The PPP pursued its ob-

Janet Jagan feverishly fought for a free Guyana

jective through the years.

Former allies fell out and I can recall, would only support independence if Jagan were not at the head of government. The Cold War, too, had its negative effects which led to political interference and a nation in dire conflict.

Despite the long and difficult struggle for indepen-

dence, which many countries also experienced, Guyana became a free and independent nation 40 years ago and proudly took its place in the United Nations and other organisations, like the Non-Aligned Movement, the OAS, etc.

All Guyanese can be proud that we have overcome oppression, exploi-

tation and attempts at a dictatorship. Guyana is a democracy that upholds all the finest principles of a democratic state. We have our problems, serious problems, but they will be overcome. Unity is the password to our future. (First published in GINA’S 40th Independence Anniversary magazine)

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Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

The Shaping of Guyanese Literature

Book Review by Petamber Persaud to proper nutrition and education. The millennium goals include eradication of hunger and poverty.

The writer of “Sunday’s Child” had gone to great lengths in order to show that the old saying is still evident: “children should be seen and memoir is usually writnot heard”. This is played out ten because there is an in the story of Anne, an innointeresting story to tell. cent girl, who is living with That story is usually a success her uncompromising and cruel story. Seemingly mundane grandmother. stories are also told, recordGrandmothers are usued to preserve one’s heritage. ally gentle, loving, kind, unSome memoirs go further than derstanding and forgiving. presenting a mere story in However, under that façade, that they deal with real issues grandmothers can be monfaced by the writers in order Author Anne Lyken-Garner sters, monsters of abuse. to empower persons – both the Anne’s grandmother made her victims and the abusers. This wish she didn’t live in such a empowerment comes by way of offering solu- house where the grandmother smelled like tions to similar situations. hate. Where Anne was beaten naked and had “Sunday’s Child” deals with real con- salt rubbed into her wounds. Where she had temporary issues affecting the child and of- to go into the ‘rum shop’ to buy cigarettes and fers solutions. Offering of solution is what rum for the grownup, where she was called made this memoir stand out as a remarkable names and forced to beg and thief. Where book – engaging, inspiring and empower- her face was punctured by a piece of wood ing. “Sunday’s Child” deals with some of the implanted with nail during a beating; where millennium goals and with the rights of the she preferred to be sucked by Ole Higue and child. The rights of a child is a grave issue stand all day in the food lines rather than mainly because grownups ignore those rights stay at home. and the child, on the other hand, unaware of Home was a place from she wished to esthose rights cannot claim the proper oppor- cape before becoming the ‘next ingredient for tunities to do their utmost and become the Mammy’s [the grandmother] nervous breakbest they could be. down pot”! In most cases the abuse is not The rights of the child include the right seen or exposed so it cannot be dealt with. to security, protection from cruelty, the right “Sunday’s Child” exposes this abuse viv-

“…home to me has always been just an iron enclosure of tension and unhappiness, a place where you keep your head down, stand out of harm’s way and listen…and wait with breath drawn and muscles tense….”

A

idly in a way as when it is experienced firsthand. The story is a simple and straightforward one of a girl about ten years going on 11…12…going on 15, whose story is a continuous struggle and triumph over hardship while living with an abusive grandmother after her parents went their separate ways.

The backdrop of the story is not that simple, for the memoir is set in the 1970s Guyana of shortages of food and essential items that made life for the grownups a challenge and a misery for children. It was not an easy life negotiating shortage of essential household items.

Anne had little to eat and many times the food lacked any nutritional quality…she had little to wear…no proper housing…no proper sleeping arrangement…she was bereft of basic school material.

Against all of those discomforts, Anne had to deal with the grandmother who would give all grandmothers a bad name.

Another significant aspect of the book is that it is written through the eye of the child as she tries to interpret the world around her and this interpretation is forever influenced by adult perceptions. It is remarkable that the writer was able to this with raw honesty and raw innocence.

But there are redeeming moments in the story like Anne listening to music, viewing Indian movies, being helped by her school friends and most of all being helped by her aunt, Theresa, who was like an angel sent to save Anne.

In addition, one motif sustained the victor in this abusive situation. That motif is found in the cat she was forced by her grandmother to stray but which would return, repeatedly,

for more punishment. Often Anne had to remind herself of the cat in order not to succumb to the older woman’s cruelty.

The first chapter set the tone of the book – an innocent girl enjoying school days is stalked by a molester but saved just in time by a Good Samaritan. Anne is saved in the end by moving out of the reach of her abuser when her mother returned from living abroad to set up a home for her and her abused child.

Here’s the link to the author and the book: http://www.amazon.com/Anne-LykenGarner/e/B0050T6XC0 Responses to this author telephone (592) 226-0065 or email: oraltradition2002@yahoo. com

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S

everal coins were issued to commemorate the 10th anniversary of Guyana’s independence.

One was a 100 Guyana dollar coin. According to the Bank of Guyana, the 10th Independence Anniversary Issue coin of 1976 was struck in .500, Fine Gold.

The 25.25 mm in diameter coin depicts the country’s coat of arms on its obverse and an Arawak indigenous Indian on its reverse, along with the denomination.

The obverse is inscribed: “Our people-our most precious asset”, over the coat of arms, while its reverse is inscribed “Eldorado 1596 - A new Guyana 1966”.

Weighing some 5.74g, the gold coin is listed on one coin collecting website, as among the rare coins collected by its

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Times Independence Magazine 7 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

members. It is said to be valued almost GYD25, 000 today.

Some are also described as “1976 100 Dollars Proof Gold Coin”, which is considered to mean that it was struck using a special, highquality minting process, and made especially for collectors.

Another coin minted in 1976 to mark the occasion was the GYD10 coin. The 43.23g round coin was, according to the Bank of Guyana, struck in silvercopper. There would later be proof coins from 1976 -1980.

This coin features on one side a representation of our national hero Cuffy, with the words “Collective responsibility”, while its other side features the coat of arms as described of the abovementioned gold coin.

Another 10th I n d e p e n d e n c e Anniversary Issue coin is the GYD5 coin. This coin is said to have been engraved by one William Shoyer, and bears a representation of Guyana’s celebrated labour leader, Nathaniel Critchlow.

Parliment Building n.d.

Stabroek Market, Georgetown circa 1960s (Photo by P Llyn-Jones)

Struck in .500 silver, the 37.3g round coin includes the inscription “Collective Work” over the portrait, and the coat of arms on the opposite side. This coin too was minted from 1976 - 1980.

Other commemora-

tive coins included animals like the hoatzin (50 Guyanese cents), harpy eagle (25 Guyanese cents), monkey (10 Guyanese cents) jaguar (5 Guyanese cents) and manatee (1 Guyanese cent).

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Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

By Isahak Basir, CCH

S

uddie is one of the many villages located on the Essequibo Coast at the mouth of the Essequibo River and northwest of Hamburg Island.

In the 1920s, Suddie emerged as the epicentre of the Administrative. Suddie and its adjoining village, Maria’s Lodge, was purchased from the Trustees by Sasenarine Maharaj, with the exception of the administrative block.

ident surgeon’s house, the Post Office and the hostel for nurses.

All transactions were done at Suddie, whether it was appointment, tender, shop licence or birth registration as the function of the High Court. Beside a plant breeding station and cinema, Suddie was serviced by J.P. Santos Super Stores and a rum shop.

Suddie Public Hospital is still a masterpiece of architecture, built with pitch pine material and facing the

responsibilities.

With the change of time, Suddie remains a tourist destination, and the tall imposing historic hospital building signals to hundreds of mariners at sea that they are near the Essequibo Coast.

From one medical doctor in the 1980s, Suddie Hospital is now managed by many Cuban-trained medical personnel, Eye Care Centre, dental facilities and a diagnostic centre. Beside medevac air service as required, Suddie is supported

Entering Maria's Lodge from Suddie

The new Magistrates' Court

Old colonial house

The block is a one-mile stretch of flat sand above sea level and was created by accretion of mighty Essequibo River, several hundred years ago. However, the sea is now reclaiming the area, swallowing the once beautiful beach and eroding the seaside trees. Even the old Dutch groyne has fallen under the pressure of the high waves. That part of the Essequibo River is very shallow at low tide and is not navigable.

Prior to the implementation of the 1980 Constitution of Guyana, the county of Essequibo was administrated by a district commissioner, and his office was located in Suddie. The office also entailed education, forestry, revenue and public health.

At Suddie, several colonial buildings were used by different offices to help administer county requirements. These buildings are the present public hospital, the police station, the police training school, the res-

Atlantic breeze. One of the few senior citizens remaining is Sonny Lord, a proprietor of the first hotel in the area. He served in the National Service.

Suddie has at its perimeter, fuel stations, supermarket, a large housing scheme developed by Food for the Poor Inc. and the Central Ministry of Housing. In the same vicinity, there is the original Boy’s School, renamed the New Opportunity Corps (NOC).

One of the buildings at NOC still has its Dutch orientation. It was used from 1860 to 1920 as the Suddie Hospital, which served not only the county of Essequibo but also the Essequibo Islands. The original port to get to Suddie was an area known as public waterside, which was located in Aurora and was the terminus of the traditional midday bus.

However, with the decentralization of the regional system, Suddie was relieved of its many administrative

Suddie car park

by a well-established library.

The vision of an airstrip at the back of the New Red Village is being examined.

Notably, Suddie is also the gateway to the Ituribisi Lake, and the Rooster Holiday Resort is now the centre of attraction for lavish entertainment. (Photos

by Marco Basir)

Entrance to the hospital

Suddie hospital

Richard Faikall Police College

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Times Independence Magazine 9 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

From colonial coins to financial Independence M

oney was first introduced to Guyana by the Dutch colonists, but there was never much in circulation.

Previously, according to Guyana.org, there was an informal barter system among the original inhabitants of the territory before they began trading with Dutch colonists and traders for European goods such as knives and cutlasses.

Even after the Dutch introduced money, they rarely used it for large business transactions. It was normal for them to write promissory notes, which eventually would be redeemed from their agents in Amsterdam

where they sent their sugar and other produce to be sold.

The Dutch colonists introduced the guilder and other coins such as pennings, stivers and bitts whose values fluctuated over time. Side by side with these coins from other European nations circulated. These included the English guinea, the Mexican dollar, and the Portuguese gold ducat, moidore, and joe.

Paper money and English coins

By the end of the 18th century, a type of paper money issued by the government or the banks in Europe began appearing in Guyana.

Usually, when a person

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British Guiana currency

had accumulated a quantity of paper money, he would exchange the notes for gold at the Receiver's Office for Colonial Taxes. This office would then re-issue the paper money to the public again.

When the British seized Guyana in 1803, English coins began to make a gradual appearance. However, the Dutch coins continued to be the main means of commercial exchange throughout the rest of the century, by which time the Portuguese and Mexican coins could hardly be found in circulation.

Many slaves saved coins that they acquired by doing odd jobs during their free time, or through the sale of the produce from their provision grounds.

The first bank to be established was a savings bank for the slaves in 1828.

This occurred at a time when the British government was implementing policies aimed at improving the social condition of the slave population in its colonies.

In 1836, two other banks, the Colonial Bank and the British Guiana Bank, were

such as the half penny, penny, sixpence, twelve pence, shilling, florin, half crown, crown, sovereign and guinea.

Official British paper money was also introduced into Guyana at this time.

This system of currency remained until 1951 when

of Guyana Ordinance No. 23 of 1965. Actual operation commenced on Oct. 16, 1965, seven months before the country gained political independence.

This Ordinance established the Central Bank as an ‘autonomous institution' with headquarters in the capital city of Georgetown.

The early establishment of the Bank was promoted by an agreement of the U.K. government (acting for the still colonial members of the British Caribbean Currency Board (BCCB) and the Trinidad & Tobago government), for the dissolution of the BCCB by mid-1967 and the cessation of issuance of currency after 1965.

At its establishment, the Bank was housed in temporary premises in three locations. The governor operated from an office assigned to him in the Parliament Building.

Office space was rent-

Early independent Guyana one cent coin

Guyana joined with the British Eastern Caribbean territories to use common Eastern Caribbean coins and currency notes, even though many of the British coins continued to circulate for a while.

Independence

Guyana, on attaining independence in 1966, withdrew from the Eastern Caribbean currency board

ed from the Colonial Life Insurance Company, High Street, Georgetown, to house the Research Department while the BCCB's office in the General Post Office Building, Georgetown, executed currency operations on behalf of the Bank.

The Bank commenced issuing the new national currency notes on November 15, 1965, to replace the BCCB notes, the issuance

Keisha Edwards

rtistic, talented, fashion-forward and resolute are attributes describing local designer Keisha Edwards, who receives rave reviews and imprints her name on the minds of all in the designing world. Keisha Tonicia Edwards is one of eight siblings. She attended St. Joseph’s High School, earning several CSEC passes then moving on to the University of Guyana, graduating with a sociology degree and a diploma in social work. Despite her academic successes, Keisha yearned for her other love: designing. As a child she would keenly observe her mother, who was a seamstress, and create designs in her mind, adding her personal flare.

This motivated her to sketch her designs and start sewing. Beginning with designing outfits for her friends, Keisha devoted her time to her passion and soon received accolades for her many designs. She also attended programmes at Burrow’s School of Art and Carnegie School of Home Economics, which also helped her new career. She soon launched her personal label ShaSha which began as what she called “emo punk rock”. She has since launched numerous glamorous collections and held many successful fashion shows, and in a recent interview noted that she has since evolved. “My aesthetic presently is a lot of vintage/Victorian type looks… A lot of elegant stuff,” she revealed. She also had the opportunity to travel to Washington DC to participate in an international fashion show at the White House.

Bank of Guyana (Photo: ksmoses)

set up. The former, many years later, was taken over

by Barclays Bank, while the latter, during the second decade of the 20th century, was absorbed by the Royal Bank of Canada.

In 1900, the Dutch coins were withdrawn and were replaced by British coins

and began to issue its own coins (one cent, five cents, ten cents, twenty-five cents, fifty cents) and currency notes with values of one dollar, five dollars, ten dollars and twenty dollars.

The Bank of Guyana, as noted on its website, was established through the Bank

of which was expected to cease by December 31, 1965.

However, national coins were not issued until mid1967.

The Ordinance establishing the Bank was revised and became the Bank of Guyana Act. CAP:85:02.

This Act was further revised in 1995, 1998 and late 2004.

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Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

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uyanese designer Sonia Noel recently put on a mesmerizing display of her latest designs in St Lucia, while displaying the beauty of her country on the catwalk.

Noel’s latest collection ‘First Resort’ received accolades at the recently concluded Hot Couture, a fashion event as part of St Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival.

Chic white lace jumpers, dresses and suits were the talk of the show, while images of Guyana’s flag and scenery set the mood on the catwalk.

“This is my second year at the Hot Couture show and the response has always been tremendous. It’s a great feeling to attend St Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival and seeing so many prominent women proudly wearing my designs,” Noel expressed in an interview with Guyana Times Sunday Magazine.

For more info on the collection, contact the designer on 226-3099. (Photos by Andrea De Silva)

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may 2015

icole Scherzinger is an American singer, dancer, actress and television personality. After reaching one-hit wonder success with girl group Eden's Crush, she signed with Interscope Records in 2003 as a member of the Pussycat Dolls, a burlesque troupe turned-recording act. The group's second and final studio album, Doll Domination (2008) spawned the worldwide hits "When I Grow Up" and "I Hate This Part" and a collaboration with A. R. Rahman on a pop version of "Jai Ho" entitled "Jai Ho! (You Are My Destiny)" from “Slumdog Millionaire” (2008), established Scherzinger as a solo artist.

Following her departure, Scherzinger won season ten of “Dancing with the Stars” (2010). In 2011 she released her long-delayed debut studio album, Killer Love to moderate success and featured singles "Don't Hold Your Breath" and "Right There". Scherzinger left Interscope Records in late 2013, signed a multi-million dollar contract with Sony Music Entertainment and released her second studio album, Big Fat Lie (2014). From 2012 to 2013, Scherzinger served as a judge on the UK version of The X Factor and won with James Arthur in her first year; Scherzinger was also a judge for one season on the American X Factor in 2011. As an actress she appeared in films such as “Men in Black 3” (2011) and received critical acclaim for her performances in “Rent” (2010) and her “West End” debut starring as Grizabella for the revival of the musical “Cats” (2014–15), for which she received a nomination for Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical. Outside of her work in the entertainment industry, Scherzinger is involved in charitable activities including her work as an ambassador for the Special Olympics.

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12 Times Independence Magazine

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Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

'Too old' Gyllenhaal, 37, sparks Hollywood sexism debate

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scar-nominated actress Maggie Gyllenhaal was told she was too old at 37 to play the lover of a 55-year-old man, she said in comments published Thursday which went viral online.

"There are things that are really disappointing about being an actress in Hollywood that surprise me all the time," she said in an interview with TheWrap Magazine.

"I'm 37 and I was told recently I was too old to play the lover of a man who was 55. It was astonishing to me. It made me feel bad and then it made feel angry, and then it made me laugh."

The remarks immediately trended on Twitter and Facebook, with Salon.com

commenting that the incident "lays bare just how delusional and hilariously sexist Hollywood truly is."

Earlier this month the

American Civil Liberties Union called for government action to confront "widespread exclusion of women directors" in the US film and television industries.

In letters to federal and California state civil rights authorities, it said women directors face "a systematic pattern and practice of discrimination and exclusion" that cannot be allowed to stand.

In 2014, it said, women accounted for only seven per cent of directors on the year's top 250 grossing films, down two percentage points from 1998.

Gyllenhaal, the older sister of actor Jake Gyllenhaal, was nominated for an Academy Award for 2009's "Crazy Heart." (ctvnews)

Johnny Depp snubs claim of fleeing 'Pirates 5' sets to save marriage

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ohnny Depp has denied leaving the sets of “Pirates Of The Caribbean 5” in Australia all of a sudden, and head back to US to solve marriage troubles with Amber Heard.

The 51-year-old actor's rep, Michael Singer, reportedly clarified to an Australian publication, that the reports were untrue and Depp was planning to go only for his daughter Lily James's upcoming 16th birthday, the Mirror reported.

Singer added that Depp had been filming on schedule.

The film, “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” is the 5th instalment in the saga, filming for which began shortly after the pair tied the knot this year. (Times of India)

Daily Mail Apology B.B. King to be laid to rest next week in Mississippi Delta J.K. Rowling Says Her

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B. B. King onstage in Toronto, Canada in 2007

he body of blues legend B.B. King will return next week to the Mississippi Delta where his life and career began.

His body will be flown on May 27 to Memphis,

Tennessee, the place where a young King was nicknamed the Beale Street Blues Boy. Organizers in Memphis said a musical tribute is scheduled near a blues club that bears King's

name. After that, the body will be driven to Indianola, Mississippi, which King considered his hometown.

A public viewing will be at the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Centre in Indianola, and the funeral will be at May 30 at the nearby Bell Grove Missionary Baptist Church, the museum announced Wednesday. The 15-time Grammy winner will be buried later that day in a private ceremony at the museum, which King helped develop.

In the statement announcing King's funeral plans, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant called the bluesman "one of our state's most beloved native sons."

B. B. King died May 14 at age 89

'19 Kids and Counting'

TLC Yanks Show From TV Schedule

"Reputation Has Been Restored", Wins New Legal Battle

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.K. Rowling feels "fully vindicated" and says her "reputation has been restored" after the U.K. newspaper The Daily Mail's apology to her over an article about her time as a single mother was read in London's high court as part of a libel settlement.

The 49-year-old Harry Potter author made her comments in a statement that a solicitor read on her behalf on Thursday, BBC News reported. This marked another legal victory against the outlet's parent company, which had filed an appeal against a London high court ruling that stated she could have a unilateral statement read in open court "in the terms of

the draft she had submitted" for approval. Last week, the Court of Appeal dismissed the newspaper's bid.

"In these circumstances and this statement having been read out in court, [Rowling] now considers that she has been fully vindicated, her reputation has been restored and accordingly is happy to bring these proceedings to a close," her solicitor said.

Rowling had two children with husband Neil Michael Murray and has a daughter from a previous marriage.

The Daily Mail had last year printed an apology and paid damages to Rowling over a 2013 article titled "How J.K. Rowling's Sob

Story About Her Past as a Single Mother Has Left the Churchgoers Who Cared for Her Upset and Bewildered."

The report was based on an essay Rowling wrote for a Gingerbread, a single parents' charity in which she serves as president, describing her past experiences.

"Our September 28, 2013 article...suggested that J.K. Rowling had made a knowingly false and inexcusable claim in an article for the Gingerbread charity that people at her church had stigmatized her and cruelly taunted her for being a single mother," The Daily Mail said in its apology. "In fact, Ms. Rowling recounted only one incident where a visitor to the church stigmatized and taunted her on a particular day."

"We accept that Ms. Rowling's article did not contain any false claims and apologize for any contrary suggestion and have agreed to pay substantial damages to Ms. Rowling, which she is donating to charity, and a contribution to her legal costs," the outlet added. (eonline)

'World War Z' sequel set for June 2017

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LC has just pulled all airings of "19 Kids and Counting" from its lineup ...

TMZ reported Friday.

Sources familiar with the situation told TMZ that the fate of the show is uncertain, but there's now so much heat in the wake of Josh Duggar's molestation confession ... the network had to make the decision.

TMZ said they absolutely have not made a long-term decision, but it's clearly a bad sign for the show.

And there's this ... a rep for General Mills tells TMZ, they have already blacklisted the show and removed it from their company's current advertising schedule.

TLC ran a Duggar marathon Thursday, prominently featuring Josh. There was big backlash, not the least of which came from Mama June, who felt TLC was giving the Duggars a pass for far worse conduct than hers, which caused TLC to pull the plug on “Honey Boo Boo.” (TMZ)

he sequel of Brad Pitt's 2013 apocalyptic action horror film "World War Z" will be released June 9, 2017, Paramount Pictures has announced.

Earlier, the studio hired Steven Knight to write the sequel, which is cofinanced by Skydance. J.A. Bayona will direct the zombie movie, reports variety. com.

Plot details of the movie, based on Max Brooks novel, have been kept under wraps. Pitt will produce the tentpole alongside Jeremy Kleiner and Dede Gardner.

"World War Z", directed by Marc Forster, earned more than $540 million worldwide in 2013 and became the highest grossing film of Pitt's career. (TOI)

ay Bhanushali is an Indian actor. His biggest break as an actor came when he was selected by Ekta Kapoor to play the role of protagonist Neev Shergill in her soap opera “Kayamath”. The role not only earned him praise for his portrayal, but he also won several awards for his performance.

Bhanushali went on to win Indian Telly Award for Fresh New Face - Male, Indian Telly Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role and various other awards for his performance. In 2009, Bhanushali hosted “Dance India Dance” and participated in “Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 2”, which marked his debut in reality shows. The actor won Boroplus Gold Award for Best Anchor (2010 and 2012), Zee Rishtey Award for Favorite Host (2009, 2010 and 2011) and several other accolades as host of “Dance India Dance”. Bhanushali made his Bollywood debut in 2014 with “Hate Story 2”.

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Jay Bhanushali

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Akshay Kumar to launch 'pocket friendly' clothing line

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ollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has been discharged from hospital after undergoing knee surgery. The 49-year-old actor is on bed rest for four days after the operation yesterday. SRK, who was shooting for Rahul Dholakia's “Raees” despite the pain, took to Twitter Friday to thank his fans for their well wishes.

"Do they do Frequent Fliers Miles in Hospitals?

If yes, I would own some of the hospitals! Thanks all for standing by me as I pray on my knees...," Shah Rukh joked while referring to his previous hospital visits.

Sanjay Desai, who operated on the "Happy New Year" star, said, "SRK has undergone Arthroscopic surgery of left knee at

Breach Candy Hospital.

Khan has been suffering from repeated pain and swelling of left knee over the last several months...

He has recovered well..."

Shah Rukh is expected to resume shooting after a

short break. The actor has suffered many injuries in the past. During the promotion of Farah Khan's "Happy New Year" last year, he had hurt his knee.

He shot Yash Raj's "Fan" despite health issues. (TOI)

Bollywood Actresses React to Cannes' 'Flatgate' Controversy

Raveena Tandon and Taapsee Pannu

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he Cannes film festival is synonymous with glitz and glamour, one of the biggest highlights in the fashion industry's calendar. But this year's edition had its fair share of controversy after female guests were denied access to a film screening for not wearing high heels.

One of the 'victims' of this strange fashion policing was the wife of Asif Kapadia, whose Amy Winehouse documentary titled “Amy” received a thunderous applause at the festival. She was eventually allowed on the red carpet when she introduced herself.

In another incident, numerous members of film companies and a woman who wore flats for medical reasons at the premiere of Cate Blanchett's “Carol” were also turned away for not wearing heels.

The no-flats diktat triggered a storm of protests on various platforms, including the social media, where many termed it as a sexist dress code policy. Following the backlash, festival direc-

tor Thierry Fremaux issued an apology, although seeking to downplay the controversy.

The furore, however, is yet to die down. Several Bollywood celebs have condemned this unwritten high heels enforcement policy.

Hitlist asked a few Bollywood actresses for their opinion on this issue.

Raveena Tandon

The '90s diva, who has been part of several film festivals and glamorous events, minces no words while expressing her displeasure about the diktat. "The festival is pushing the high heeled attitude a bit too far.

What if someone has a medical condition? Do they need a special permission?" she asks.

Taapsee Pannu

The Baby actress does not seem to find anything wrong with the footwear code. "Well, if wardrobe can be a criterion to walk the red carpet, so can heels. If we have dress codes, why not shoe codes?" she asks.

Kiara Advani

Regularly spotted at red

carpet galas, this young actress also thinks making high heels obligatory is wrong. "Personally, I love wearing heels on the red carpet. However, I do not support this compulsion. I understand the occasion requirement is formal, but to enforce wearing heels is a little short of autocracy.

Stature and elegance are inner traits; it would take more than heels to cultivate that," she reasons.

Dia Mirza

The actress-producer says, "Every formal event has a dress code that must be respected. But to have heels as a mandatory requirement is ridiculous.

What next? Will they specify how high the heels must be?"

Sara Jane Dias

Currently attending the international fest for the first time along with the team of her upcoming musical, the actress calls it "just a formality" that Cannes had enforced. "It has been revoked now, so there is nothing offensive about anything," she adds. (ndtv)

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ctor Akshay Kumar will soon be launching his own clothing range on an online home shopping TV channel he coowns with Raj Kundra.

The “Namastey London” actor took to social networking website Facebook, micro-blogging website Twitter and photo-sharing website Instagram to announce the

new line among his fans and followers.

"I'll soon be launching my very own clothes line on Best Deal TV and wanted to make the range as affordable as possible," the actor wrote alongside a photograph of himself and some clothes from his range.

The range seems affordable too.

"So would you'll be willing to pay Rs. 999 for a tshirt like this? Reply with a yes or no, any other feedback welcome," Akshay wrote.

With his clothing line, Akshay has joined the likes of other tinsel town celebrities including Salman Khan, Shraddha Kapoor, Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor, who have ventured into adding their creative inputs to fashion collections. (Times of India)

When Aamir had to ditch Jackie Chan

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ollywood superstar Aamir Khan has shot down reports that he will star opposite Chinese kung fu star Jackie Chan in upcoming Indo-Chinese action comedy film `Kung Fu Yoga`. The actor says he would love to be part of the project but his commitment towards `Dangal` has left him no time for another project. “'Kung Fu Yoga' is a film that Jackie has been planning with director Stanley Tong, who has made a number of Jackie's films.

The film is not possible for me to do because they are shooting it this year,”Aamir said in an interview here. `I would have liked to do it, but they are shooting it in September and October.

During that time I'll be working on “Dangal”.

My shooting is from September to December.

“Kung Fu Yoga” is part of the three-film agreement signed between the two countries

during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to India last year. Looking at the growing popularity of Bollywood films in China, the agreement is meant to help both the countries.

Talking about his love for Jackie Chan, Aamir, who went to China for the premiere of “PK”earlier this month, said: “Jackie is a lovely guy. I met him at the event where films were being launched and then he invited me for dinner that night.

“So, I spent the evening with him. I've been a big fan of him since “Police Story 2”.

When I saw “Police Story 2”, I didn't know who is the actor. But after watching the film, I liked it so much that I watched it again. Since then, I have been liking Jackie.

Not only is he an action hero, but also his comic timing as a performer is really amazing.” (santabanta)

Busted: Sidharth often stays at Alia's house?

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idharth Malhotra is apparently spending most of his time at rumoured ladylove Alia Bhatt's house these days The industry has been abuzz with stories about Alia Bhatt and Sidharth Malhotra's closeness after they spent New Year's Eve in the US. Now we hear that Sid, apart from regularly hanging out with his rumoured ladylove, stays at her house off and on.

The duo was launched

by Karan Johar in “Student of the Year” (2012), which also marked the debut of Varun Dhawan. A source says, “Alia and Sidharth have been spotted together on many occasions and though they speak highly of each other, they have never admitted to being in a relationship. Now, it seems they have gotten really serious and he stays at her house on most days.”

For the last few months, the alleged couple is said to be avoiding getting clicked together at public events.

The source adds, “Alia

wants to keep the media guessing about her relationship status with Sid and she won't speak about it unless she is sure it has a future. As Sid stays alone in the city, he regularly visits Alia, who lives with her mother and sister, to spend

time not only with her but also with her family.”

Sidharth and Alia, who will share screen space in an upcoming Karan Johar production titled ‘Kapoor & Sons”, were not available for comment. (santabanta)

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“I am determined to retrace our footsteps and build a united nation for all our people. We must break down prejudices and barriers. These hopes and aspirations of our ancestors and past generations to build our country into One People, One Nation, One Destiny have again come alive under our new government.”

– Former President Dr Cheddi Jagan “The attainment of independence on 26 May 1966 remains, and will always be, an outstanding landmark in the long history of the struggles of our people for freedom. It was the culmination of centuries of monumental battles...”- Former President Bharrat Jagdeo

Times Independence Magazine 15 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

“As citizens we must cherish our political independence, our freedom and responsibilities, our democracy and our unique brand of culture and history. This is a time for understanding and tolerance.

This is a time to renew our faith in our people and country and to pledge by those who fought for our freedom, to build a united, prosperous and free Guyana.” –Former President Janet Jagan

“The lowering of the British flag and the hoisting of the Golden Arrowhead was an emotional-filled moment, which brought memories of the hard and bitter battles fought to make Guyana ours.” – Former Prime Minister Samuel Hinds

“What our experience of independence has proven is that we are a people of strong moral fibre with the patience to preserve the capacity to achieve.” – Former President Hugh Desmond Hoyte

“Today is historic, primarily because we are indulging in an exercise which is the first of its kind by the Parliament of Guyana. After 150 odd years of British rule, and in some cases misrule, we are now independent. But we harbour no bitterness... It is difficult and impossible to change the facts of past history and, in the circumstances, though we welcome with enthusiasm our new status, we are prepared not to spend the time ahead of us abusing those who once dictated to us, but rather to seek means of cooperating with them to our mutual advantage - shall I say, self-interest.” – Former President L F S Burnham

Memory Lane

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tamps released on an envelope are referred to as “Official First Day Covers” - signifying the first day of release. In addition, information leaflets known as “Stamp News” may also be issued providing collectors and users with the historical background and significance of the said stamps.

Stamps provide a vivid reflection of history through the ages. At the time of issue, virtually every stamp has clear historical significance. There are various types of stamps issued for several occasions.

Commemorative stamps honour important people, events or special subjects of national appeal and significance. Their subjects frequently are former presidents, statesmen, other prominent persons and national shrines.

Perusing the vast collection of stamps and medals of Mr Netram, owner of an antique store in Craig, East Bank Demerara, Guyana Times Sunday Magazine was able to discover first day covers celebrating Guyana’s independence, which were released on May 26, 1966.

Netram is very passion-

ate about his collection and was kind enough to share it with Sunday Magazine.

Postmaster General, Henry Dundas, in an interview with Sunday Magazine said that stamps are significant because they highlight a country’s culture and rich history. He added that first covers are still made by the Guyana Post Office upon requests by companies, government ministries and other entities.

He noted that first covers are mainly made to commemorate momentous occasions and may worth a lot in future years.

First Day Covers celebrating Guyana’s independence found in Netram’s collection

Independence Message from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

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message delivered by the Duke of Kent to the people of the new Nation of Guyana, on behalf of the British queen: “I have entrusted my cousin, the Duke of Kent, the duty of acting as my representative at the celebrations of the Independence of your country.

My husband and I recall with pleasure, kindness and the warmth of the welcome we received from the people of Guyana during our visit to you earlier this year.

The memory of the happy experience enables us to picture the enthusiasm with which you will now be celebrating your country’s Independence.

It is with special pleasure that I welcome you to the Commonwealth of Nations.

My thoughts are with you today. I send my good wishes and I pray that God may bless and guide you throughout the coming years.”

Queen Elizabeth meeting with Guyanese during her visit to British Guiana in 1966 just before the country gained independence

Thousands crowded the streets to get a glimpse of the queen

The queen on one of the trains in British Guiana

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Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

Independence Arch on Brickdam (Photo by Amanda Richards)

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n Guyana’s independence, the country received numerous gifts and tokens of congratulations on the historic occasion. Some of those gifts are still with us today.

A gift that is still prominently displayed is the Independence Arch, which now frames the 1763 Monument when looking east up Brickdam.

Another Independence Arch once straddled the Ruimveldt Public Road but

it was removed in 2004 as the road was made into a 4-lane highway, and the arch became too small to span the road.

It was called the Ruimveldt Independence Arch, and was constructed by the firm GEO. A. Hamilton and Sons in 1966 for independence commemorations.

Germany presented 400 transistor radios for use in schools, while the United States provided a US schol-

arship valued $170,000, along with books for schools, to the value of $780,000.

The Vieira family of Houston Estates Limited presented a piece of land that housed former Methodist School pupils at Houston. Additionally, rent was also waived for the building, which the government hired to use as a school.

According to an article in the Sunday Graphic of May 15, 1966, the govern-

ment had up to that date received more than $600,000 in Independence Day gifts from several local companies.

One such company, the Demerara Holdings Group of Companies, had already announced that it would be presenting a portrait of Prime Minister Burnham, and later added that it would be making an additional presentation.

The firm pledged to endow a chair at the University of Guyana to be called the Sandbach Parker Chair of Public Administration and Government.

Other firms that pledged gifts to mark the historic occasion included D. M. Fernandes Limited, Sankar Bros. and Tang’s Drug Store.

The City Council also

One of the more auspicious Independence Day gifts was the Speaker’s Chair in Parliament. Made of teak and costing about $1,800 at the time, the chair was blessed Nov 14, 1966 by Neville Laljie, Archdeacon of Demerara, and formally handed over to Burnham by the Assistant High Commissioner of India, Kunden Lal on Nov 15, 1966

confirmed that it would sponsor nine scholarships at the University of Guyana in arts and natural sciences as its gift to Guyana on its attainment of independence.

Several other firms later presented monetary donations to benefit a suitable local entity. Vice President of Continental Oil Company of the USA, Richard Hittle, presented a cheque for $5,000 to Prime Minister Burnham, which was pledged to buy books for the National Library.

William Keen, manager of the local Chase

Manhattan bank also donated $5,000, which was presented to Ptolemy Reid.

The funds were said to be pledged to the creation of a youth camp at Atkinson Field.

The UN through its representative, W. M. Harding, presented an Amerindian village scene made of balata to the people of Guyana.

Lynette Dolphin received the gift on behalf of the government. The sculpture was designed and created by Harold Macdonald, and presented June 1, 1966.

On June 12, 1966, Guyanese artist Aubrey Williams chose to present one of his most valuable paintings, “Guyana” (1964). The 12’X5’ painting, then valued $20,000,was a gift to the people of Guyana on independence. The artwork was part of an exhibition called “Art Treasures of the Commonwealth” which was held in 1965 at Burlington House in London (Photo courtesy of Castellani House)

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ourda Green was once called Bourda Pasture. It was a neglected field before becoming a favourite spot for large political meetings.

From the late 1940s and into the 1950s, Dr Cheddi Jagan and Forbes Burnham addressed mass meetings there calling for an independent Guyana during various rallies.

Homestretch Avenue was built on the ‘homestretch’ of the former D’Urban Park Race Course, named after Governor Benjamin D’Urban.

Benjamin D’Urban’s tomb can be found in Pointe Claire’s Field of Honour, Canada.The Papineau cemetery, where his remains were originally buried, was in the way of building a new access ramp to a bridge. D’Urban’s remains, along with those of other Canadian soldiers who have served internationally since the 18th century, were transferred in 1944 to Last Post Fund’s National Field of Honour in Pointe Claire, Montreal, Canada.

Durban, in South Africa’s KwaZulu-Natal province, is also named after Sir Sir D'Urban's gravesite in Canada

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Times Independence Magazine 17 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

Town Hall circa 1900

Walter Roth (April 2,1861 –April 5, 1933)

Benjamin D’Urban who was also governor of the territory.

A museum displaying the history of the Guyana Police Force was founded in 1932, but left neglected until 1975, when it was resuscitated by John Campbell, a writer who ‘undertook the task of redesigning’ the mu-

seum. The John Campbell Police Museum reopened in 1993 near Eve Leary in Georgetown.

The first Europeans to settle in Guyana were the Dutch who cultivated cotton.

Sugar was first produced on the Pomeroon River at the village of New Middelburg.

On May 27, 1938 American pilot and mechanic, Art Williams, along with John Henry Hunterm, registered a new company in British Guiana called the British Guiana Airways Limited.

In July 1955 the colonial government purchased B.G. Airways Limited and renamed it the British Guiana Airways (Government) On September 1, 1963, the Guyana Airways Corporation, established under the Public Corporations Ordinance, took over operations of the B.G. Airways (Government).

In 1965, the entire G.A.C operations were moved to the Atkinson Airfield, now known as the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, or the Timehri International Airport. Flight operations had previously been carried out at the then Mackenzie

Airport, Ruimveldt and Atkinson Field.

According to Lloyd Luckhoo, Guyana is the only country in the world in which the Prince of Wales (in 1920) and Her Majesty the Queen (in 1966) actually attended race meetings – the Prince at Bel Air Park and Queen

in Georgetown, Guyana has been named in his honour.

The city once used a tram service around the town.

It began and ended on the Georgetown Seawalls.

In 1891, Lady Gormanston turned on the first electric lights in Guyana.

On July 17, 1879 Lady

world’s highest sheer drop-off of water.

“I drifted almost to the lip and was rescued by an Amerindian as I was holding on to weeds 10-15 yards (metres) from the edge,” the former infantryman in the crack Highland regiment said by telephone from Lichfield,

Guyana Airways Corporation airplane

Elizabeth at D’Urban Park.

In 1943, Vincent Roth became the curator of the Guyana (British Guiana) Museum. He also established the zoo in the Botanical Gardens. Roth arrived in British Guiana in 1907, when he was 18 years old, after completing his schooling in Tasmania. He joined his father, Dr Walter Roth, who had taken up the post of Government Medical Officer in the North West District of British Guiana in 1907.

Vincent Roth departed for Barbados in 1964, and died in 1967.

In 1906, Walter Roth was made protector of Indians in the Pomeroon district of British Guiana. In 1924, his valuable work, “An Introductory Study of the Arts, Crafts, and Customs of the Guiana Indians” was published. Roth retired from the government service in 1928 and became curator of the Georgetown museum of the Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society, and government archivist.

The Walter Roth Museum of Anthropology

Kortright, wife of Governor Cornelius Hendricksen Kortright, ceremoniously lay the foundation stone of Stabroek Market.

The Town Hall (now the City Hall) was opened in 1889 in the city of Georgetown.

Pvt. Robert Howat of the Scottish Black Watch took the most dangerous dip on record when he swam across the top of Guyana’s Kaieteur Falls in 1955, drawn by both the challenge and the flower blossoms on the far bank.

Howat was on the final leg of his risky round trip and “hungry for dinner” when he got caught in a whirlpool and was spat out toward the

England.

“It was put into the Guinness Book of World Records in 1970-71 as the most dangerous swim recorded, but it was taken out again in 1980 because they didn’t want anyone else attempting it,” said Howat, who was 25 when he took the plunge.

To date no one else has gone to such extremes to get a bird’s-eye view of the gargantuan waterfall. (forests. org) Members of a geological survey team that included C. Barrington Brown, a British geologist, discovered the Kaieteur Falls on the Potaro River on April 24, 1870.

18 Times Independence Magazine

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may 2015

Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

Independence Day Recipes

Ingredients Ingredients 12 oz. Corned Beef 2 whole scallion, finely chopped ½ onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, minced 10 sprigs thyme leaves removed and

chopped ¼ tsp. black pepper 1 tsp. parsley, finely chopped 1 tbsp. canola oil + enough to fry bake 1 tbsp. butter 1 float bake recipe

Method

Make the dough for the bake, then set it aside to rise.

Meanwhile place a large frying pan on the stove over medium heat. Add oil and butter. When butter has melted add onion and sauté until soft, for about 3 minutes.

Add garlic and thyme and cook for an additional 30 seconds, stirring frequently.

Add corned beef and using a large spoon, break into smaller pieces. Add scallion and pepper and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool.

At this point the dough should be ready.

Now on a floured surface, roll the dough to ½ inch thickness and cut with a 5 inch round cutter. A drinking glass will also do the trick.

Place the circle of dough in you palm then take a spoonful of the cooled corned beef and place it in the middle.

Pinch the edges of the dough to form a seal around the corned beef mixture, forming a ball. Place on a floured surface

and flatten gently with you palm. Do this slowly to ensure that the stuffing doesn’t burst through the dough.

Place a deep saucepan over a medium fire.

When oil is hot, carefully place bake into the oil and fry until golden brown, flipping once to brown both sides.

Remove from oil with a slotted spoon and place on a plate lined with paper towel to drain and cool. Serve warm.(All photos and recipes from jehancancook.com)

3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tbsp. baking powder

1/3 cup sugar 4 tbsp. butter pinch of salt about 1 cup water*

Method

Mix flour, baking powder, salt and sugar together in a bowl. With a fork, or using your hand (quick method) rub butter into flour mixture.

Add water to make a firm dough, but not stiff. Dough should be easy to roll. Let dough sit, covered for at least half an hour. Roll dough to about 1/2 inch in thickness and cut with a biscuit cutter.

Heat about 3 inches of oil on a medium fire. Fry dough until golden brown, flipping once.

Best when served hot.

Ingredients 3 cloves garlic, minced 1 medium onion, chopped 2 scallion, chopped 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes 1 14 oz. can of coconut cream 10 sprigs thyme

1 tbsp. oil about 1/2 lb. cassava, cut into 3-inch pieces 2 white sweet potato, cut into 3-inch pieces 2 green plantain, cut into 2-inch pieces 1 lb. salted codfish, soaked overnight 3 cups water

Method

Ingredients 2 cups flour 2/3 cup margarine 3 tbsp. cold water 2 cup grated cheddar cheese

Method

To make pastry, mix margarine into flour until well combined. Add 3 tbsp. of cold water and combine until the flour forms a dough. Chill for at least half an hour.

Mix cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, chilli powder and mustard to make the filling. Set aside.

Roll pastry until thin. About 1/8 of an inch in thickness. Cut into 4 by 4 squares.

Roll each square out just a little bit more.

Divide the cheese filling evenly and spread

In a large stockpot, heat oil.

Add onion sautéed for 4 minutes, add garlic and cook for 1 minute.

Add coconut milk, water, thyme, scallion, pepper and bring to a boil. Break salt fish into chunks and add to pot.

Add cassava, sweet potato and plantains, cook for 20 mins, and remove sweet potato.

Continue to cook cassava and plantain for 15-20 minutes or until tender, add dumpling.

Cover the pot and cook for 10 minutes. Do not open the pot or the dumplings will fall.

Turn heat off, Remove dumpling from metemgee. Serve metemgee with dumplings.

2 tsp. garlic powder 2 tsp. onion powder 1 tsp.chilli powder 1 tbsp. mustard 1 egg yolk 1 tbsp. water

on each square of pastry leaving a 1/2 inch border.

Mix egg with 1 tbsp. of water to make an egg wash. Brush the edges of the pastry with egg wash. Take one end of the pastry and roll over filling until you reach the other end. Seal. Using a fork press both ends to seal.

Place on an ungreased cookie sheet seam side down and brush with egg wash.

Bake at 375 degrees for 20 mins until golden brown.

Ingredients

1 1/3 cup all-purpose flour 2/3 cup self-rising flour

Method

1/4 sugar 1/2 cup milk pinch salt

In a bowl mix all-purpose flour, self-rising flour, sugar and salt together. Add milk and mix well. Pinch off a enough dough to fit into your palm and roll to form an oblong shape.

Repeat until all dough is used up. Set aside. Place into metemgee in the last 10 minutes of cooking.

guyanatimesgy.com

may 2015

Times Independence Magazine 19 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

PARENTING

The Dangers of Permissive Parenting

A Jokes My Younger Days When I was in my younger days, I weighed a few pounds less, I needn't hold my tummy in To wear a belted dress.

But now that I am older, I've set my body free; There's the comfort of elastic Where once my waist would be.

Inventor of those high-heeled shoes My feet have not forgiven; I have to wear a nine now, But used to wear a seven.

And how about those pantyhoseThey're sized by weight, you see, So how come when I put them on The crotch is at my knee?

I need to wear these glasses As the print's been getting smaller; And it wasn't very long ago I know that I was taller.

Though my hair has turned to grey And my skin no longer fits, On the inside, I'm the same old me, It's the outside's changed a bit…

Maya Angelou

The Grumble Family There's a family nobody likes to meet; They live, it is said, on Complaining Street In the city of Never-Are-Satisfied, The River of Discontent beside.

They growl at that and they growl at this; Whatever comes, there is something amiss; And whether their station be high or humble, They are all known by the name of Grumble.

lthough permissive parents tend to be loving and affectionate, they also tend to have few rules and few demands.

Whether their children are jumping on the furniture, or they're racing down the grocery store aisles, permissive parents are likely to say, “Let them be kids.”

They tend to have little expectation of mature behaviour and have a high tolerance for misbehaviour and silly outbursts.

Permissive parents tend to bribe their children to behave.

Unlike rewards - that are given after good behaviour - bribes are given up front with the child promising to behave later.

Permissive parents are often overindulgent, and they

don’t want to be viewed as mean. They want to be seen as a friend.

Studies have identified many drawbacks associated with permissive parents' overly laid-back approach to parenting.

Children who don't receive enough guidance don't learn problem-solving skills that help them learn to make good decisions.

They are less likely to strive to become better when parents don't encourage them to challenge themselves.

Children may behave more aggressively. When children aren’t taught how to deal with their emotions effectively, they tend to show behaviour that is more aggressive.

Studies have linked permis-

sive parenting with increased alcohol use, higher rates of school misconduct, and lower levels of academic achievement.

It’s important to create

rules and expectations to help your child learn what type of behaviour is acceptable and what isn’t.

Don’t be a pushover, be a parent.

Story Time

W

hen Nyame the Sky God's mother died, he wanted her funeral to be one that would reflect the status of their family. He knew that the great drum of Osebo the Leopard would make the ceremony truly regal.

Osebo was the most powerful animal on earth. He would not willingly give up his great drum. Nyame deliberated for a long time, but he could not imagine a way to get the drum.

Nyame convened a meeting of all the animals and announced that he needed the great drum of Osebo for his mother's funeral. The animals cowered at the thought of challenging Osebo.

Finally, Elephant said he would try to get the drum, but he failed. Then Lion tried and failed. Antelope, Crocodile,

and Bear could not get the drum either.

When Turtle said, "I will get the drum," the other animals laughed hysterically.

Turtle had a soft back, and moved as slowly as he does today. However, he was not at all apprehensive about the challenge.

So, moving very slowly, Turtle finally arrived at Leopard's home.

Osebo called out, "Have you come to

try to steal my drum, too?"

"No," said Turtle, "but all this talk of drums has piqued my curiosity.

I am to see just how great your drum is."

When Osebo showed Turtle his drum, Turtle conceded that it was, indeed, a great drum. Then he said, "But Xiamen's drum is larger. It is so large he can crawl inside it."

Osebo objected in a ferocious voice, claiming that his drum was certainly as large. To prove

it, Osebo climbed inside. Once Osebo was inside the drum, Turtle plugged its opening. He then tied the drum to his back and slowly dragged it back to Nyame. The animals were flabbergasted at Turtle's success.

Turtle presented the drum to Nyame with Osebo inside it.

In exchange for his freedom, Osebo offered the drum to Nyame as a gift. As he hurried away, Osebo stumbled into the Sky God's fire and scorched himself in many places, leaving dark spots on his hide.

As a reward, Nyame offered Turtle anything he desired. Fearing the other animals, Turtle asked for a hard cover to protect his back. And to this day, the turtle always travels with a hard shell on its back.(Shikha)

The weather is always too hot or cold; Summer and winter alike they scold.

Nothing goes right with the folks you meet Down on that gloomy Complaining Street.

They growl at the rain and they growl at the sun; In fact, their growling is never done.

And if everything pleased them, there isn't a doubt They'd growl that they'd nothing to grumble about!

But the queerest thing is that not one of the same Can be brought to acknowledge his family name; For never a Grumbler will own that he Is connected with it at all, you see.

The worst thing is that if anyone stays Among them too long, he will learn their ways; And before he dreams of the terrible jumble He's adopted into the family of Grumble.

And so it were wisest to keep our feet From wandering into Complaining Street; And never to growl, whatever we do, Lest we be mistaken for Grumblers, too.

Let us learn to walk with a smile and a song, No matter if things do sometimes go wrong; And then, be our station high or humble, We'll never belong to the family of Grumble!

Anonymous

By Grammar G

The humble prefix A

prefix is generally a small group of letters you can put at the beginning of or before a word (called a root word) to change its meaning. For example mis in front of the root word fortune changes the meaning from luck to bad luck.

Prefixes are very common in the English language, and we use them so often we hardly think of them when we do. However, this little group of words can have a profound impact on what is said or written.

Let’s look at what a few of our common prefixes can do to root words and their meanings.

Mis in front of a root word usually means wrong or bad, badly (misspelled, mistimed, mismatched…)

Then there is sub, which means under or below: substandard, subsume, subway…

Most times when you see the prefix pre it means before (in time), in front of, or superior (precede, premature, prepacked…)

In addition, let’s not forget un; two lit-

tle letters but one important group (if I had put the prefix un in front of important, my meaning here would be derogatory).Un is one of the prefixes meaning not. (untied,unhappy,unmoved…)

As we are celebrating our country’s independence, let’s have a look at the prefix in, which is another prefix that means not or opposite of. (inhospitable, inactions, inability) So of course,independence would mean not in a state of being dependent. The opposite of dependence.

Incidentally,independence also contains what is called a suffix (ending added to a root word) : ence, meaning “state or condition”, “action”. So there is the prefix in along with the suffix ence from the root word “depend”.

The word “independence” may have derived in the early 1610s from French (c.1600) independant and Italian independente (c.1590s).

It is said to have once been synonymous with the earlier known word “selfdom”, stemming from Old English dom meaning law.

Reflections

Zest

Labour not in the murky dell, But till your harvest hill at morn; Stoop to no words that, rank and fell, Grow faster than the rustling corn.

With gladdening eyes go greet the sun, Who lifts his brow in varied light; Bring light where'er your feet may run: So bring a day to sorrow's night.

Rose Hawthorne Lathrop

20 Times Independence Magazine

may 2015

guyanatimesgy.com

Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

In English, "re" is a prefix usually meaning "again", such as in "rebuild" (build again).

However, there are many words starting with "re" which have a totally different meaning without the "re".

You will be given two definitions, one for a word starting with "re", and one for the remaining word without the "re" (either definition could be given first).

Example: vehicle wheel / cease employment Answer: tire / retire 1. newspaper employee / hotel employee 2. one who belongs / bring past event to mind 3. unit of money / not long ago 4. money for the poor / kingdoms 5. income / event location 6. couple / fix see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

see solution on page 23

guyanatimesgy.com

may 2015

Times Independence Magazine 21 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence Creature Corner

T

he jaguar (Panthera onca) and the Canje pheasant or hoatzin (Opisthocomus hoazin) are the national animals of Guyana.

They are symbolized on the country’s coat of arms; the jaguar, of which there are two, holds the emblems of labour and industry while the hoatzin is said to represent the rich animal diversity of Guyana.

The hoatzin is also known as the stinkbird because its method of digestion is similar

GEOZONE

G

uyana is located on the north of South America, bordering the North Atlantic Ocean and between Suriname to the east and Venezuela on the west. Brazil is its neighbour to the south and much of its southwest.

Guyana’s total area, which includes its land and water, is some 214,969 sq. km. The territory sits below sea level at its lowest point and rises to 2,835 m at its highest point on Mount Roraima.

Guyana is the only Englishspeaking country in South America, derived from its official occupation

by Britain (1814-1966). As such, it shares cultural and historical links with the English-speaking Caribbean.

The country depends upon the export of sugar, gold, bauxite, shrimp, timber and rice;economic activities said to represent nearly 60 per cent of the country's GDP. Guyana became an independent nation on May 26, 1966 and a republic on Feb. 23, 1970.

Guyana

to that of cows, and a cow manure-type smell remains on them. They are generally inept flyers but use the claws on their feet to get around in the trees.

The jaguar is the only one of the world's 'big' cats to be found in the New World.

It is the third biggest cat in the world behind the tiger and lion. The name jaguar is said to come from the Native American word yaguar which means "he who kills with one leap".

INDEPENDENCE DAY WORD SEARCH

Colouring Fun

INDEPENDENCE FLAG PLEDGE FREEDOM PATRIOTISM HOLIDAY

RED GREEN YELLOW BLACK WHITE GOLDEN ARROWHEAD

22 Times Independence Magazine

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may 2015

Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

Hand puppets

In British Punch and Judy shows, Punch — a hunchback dressed as a jester — carries a long stick, which he often uses. Characters that resemble Punch are popular in many European countries.

PUPPETS

By Laurie Triefeldt

What’s in a name?

Puppetry is an ancient form of theater that uses doll-like, movable figures to entertain or tell a story. Puppets come in all sizes ­— as big as a person or as small as your little finger.

Puppets are fun to watch and fun to make.

The Muppets Puppeteer Jim Henson created the Muppets — a famous gang of puppet characters who appear on the children’s television show “Sesame Street.”

Muppets tend to have big eyes, big mouths and big personalities. Most are made of foam rubber or other soft material, with rods attached to their arms. A Muppet is operated by a Muppeteer, who is usually hidden from view.

The word puppet comes from the Latin “pupa,” meaning “doll.”

Way back when It is not known when the first puppets came into use, but evidence suggests they have existed in almost all cultures for thousands of years.

Puppetlike figures from ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome and China have been discovered.

Puppeteers

This shadow puppet from Indonesia is called a wayang kulit. These flat cutout figures perform behind a brightly lit screen so that just the silhouettes of the puppets are seen by the audience.

Jim Henson 19361990

Bunraku is a Japanese form of puppetry.

Large, beautifully painted and carved wood puppets are controlled by puppeteers dressed in black.

A person who controls and manipulates a puppet is called a puppeteer.

A group of puppeteers is called a troupe. A puppet troupe will often travel to different locations, performing shows.

Puppeteers are usually hidden, creating the illusion that the puppets Big Bird are alive. from the TV show “Sesame Possibly the most famous Street” of all puppet theater, the ex-

Hand puppets are the most common type of puppets. Sitting on a puppeteer’s hand, the figurine is manipulated with finger, thumb and wrist action. Many hand puppets have movable mouths to speak, sing and express emotions. Some have arms and hands to make gestures or pick up objects. Most hand puppets do not have legs or feet.

Marionettes Marionettes are the crème de la crème of the puppet world. Multijointed and controlled by strings, they can walk, run, sit, jump, carry objects and open doors.

The stringed marionettes we know today were developed during the 16th century. By the late 1570s, puppets were so lifelike that some puppeteers were suspected of witchcraft. Marionette operas were so popular in the late 1600s that rival theater and opera guilds tried to close them down. In contemporary puppetry, the marionette remains the most delicate and difficult medium of the puppeteer’s art.

Rod puppets A puppeteer uses long sticks to create the movement of a rod puppet, which can be as simple as a figure on a single stick or more complex, with many rods moving several puppet parts. Some Muppet-type puppets use a combination of handwork and rods.

Shadow puppets The ancient art of shadow puppetry is popular in Asia. Flat rod puppets throw a silhouette or shadow onto an illuminated screen, which is viewed by the audience from the other side. Light, color and animation bring the characters to life.

Punch and Judy

ploits of Punch and Judy (his wife) began in England in 1662.

Traditionally, one puppeteer brought both hand puppets to life.

The Salzburg Marionette Theatre has been performing plays, operas and ballets with stringed puppets since 1913.

Easy make-it-yourself hand puppets Have fun creating these simple hand puppets. You can build a simple stage by tacking a sheet across a doorway and hiding behind it. Have the puppets pop up and tell a story or sing a song.

Papier-maché and glove puppet Know how to make papier-maché with newspaper, flour and water? This puppet project takes a few days to complete.

Paper-bag puppets

Sock puppets

It’s easy to make puppets from small paper lunch bags. You can create all kinds of characters ­­— from people and animals to fairies and monsters.

An old, worn-out sock can make a fun hand puppet.

Use your imagination to create a character. Adorn the puppet with a variety of found materials.

• Balloon (head) • Papier-maché recipe • Old glove (body) • Paint, scissors

Supplies needed

Supplies needed

Step by step 1. Inflate and tie off balloon.

Step by step

• Old sock • Fabric, feathers, buttons, beads, sequins, yarn • Glue • Scissors

Step by step

3. Let head dry (for about a day).

Cut a finger hole in bottom.

• Paper bags • Construction paper • Glue • Scissors • Markers or crayons

1. Draw and color face and costume.

2. Cut out ears and other features from construction paper, and glue onto bag.

1. Glue mouth to bottom of sock.

2. Add hair (string) and eyes (buttons).

3. Decorate with fabric and beads.

Supplies needed

2. Cover entire surface of balloon in three to five layers of papier-maché. Build up facial features (nose, ears, chin) with extra papier-maché.

4. Paint the face and add other details such as hair or glasses.

5. Use a glove for the body. Decorate the glove to create a costume.

guyanatimesgy.com

may 2015

Times Independence Magazine 23 Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

T

he Guyana Independence medal was instituted May 26, 1966, in observance of the historic event.

While little is known of the precise criterion for its presentation, it has been awarded to several persons who are considered to have made valuable contributions to Guyana at the time.

A few of these stalwart individuals include the late Neil Isaacs, a former deputy commissioner of the Guyana Police Force and a military veteran of the Second World War; Guyanese born W. Herbert(Bernie) Allsopp, now a fisheries consultant in Canada, and Justice Stanley Alfred Moore,who has worked around the world, including in the Caribbean and Botswana.

The Guyana Independence medal

The medal was also presented to the late Ivan

Frank Narain

Crandon, former chairman of the Police Service

Commission, president of the Guyana Legion

Ivan Crandon

and a military veteran of World War II, and Frank

Narain, former Clerk of the National Assembly.

The History of Parliament at Independence

T

he Parliament of Guyana was created by the 1966 Constitution of Guyana.

The Guyana Independence Act was passed May 12, 1966 and came into force May 26, 1966. The First sitting of the National Assembly of the First Parliament of the Guyana Parliament was held May 26, 1966.

However, according to parliament.gov.gy,strictly speaking, Guyana’s parliamentary system was not created at Independence.

In 1831, the three colo-

SUDOKU

nies of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice were united, and the colony of British Guiana was formed. From the years 1831 to 1928, the law making body of British Guiana was the Court of Policy.

The Court of Policy consisted of the governor, seven official members and eight elected members. The governor presided in the Court of Policy as its president.

In 1928, a new constitution was introduced and British Guiana became a British Crown Colony. A Legislative Council was

Brain Teaser Answer 1. reporter / porter 2.member/ remember 3. cent / recent 4. alms / realms 5. revenue / venue 6. pair / repair

CROSSWORD

established and replaced the Dutch created Court of Policy.

In 1953 ,a new constitution was publicized and a two-tier (bicameral) legislature, consisting of a State Council and a House of Assembly, was introduced.

Aministerial system of government and universal adult suffrage were alsointroduced in 1953.

T

The Legislature that came into effect in May 1953 last only until October 1953 however, after the British suspended the Constitution and an interim government was established by the British Guiana (Constitutional) (Temporary Provisions) Order in Council.

In 1956, the British Guiana (Constitutional)

(Temporary Provisions) Order in Council was amended. The Legislative Council appointed under the British Guiana (Constitution) (Temporary Provisions) Order in Council was dissolved with effect from June 29, 1957.

When the 1957 general elections were held, a second Legislative Council was appointed.

Then, in In 1961, a new Constitution was established, and a bicameral legislature consisting of a Legislative Assembly and a Senate was created.The Senate consisted of 13 members, who were appointed by the governor.The Legislative Assembly consisted of 35 members elected under the electoral system of First Past the Post.

The Independence Arch

he Independence Arch or “Monument to Freedom”, was a gift to the people of the newly independent Guyana that was unveiled May 26, 1966.

It was presented at a ceremony by J.G. Campbell then managing director of the Demerara Bauxite Company(DEMBA), to L.F.S. Burnham, our first prime minister.

The arched structure, located at the head of Brickdam, in the capital city, comprises three aluminium tubes, made from Guyana's bauxite, mounted on a quartz base.

It was designed by Edric Klak, a Canadian engineer.Its design was said to be “modern and unique”.

Springing from a common rock,the three arches taper upwards to the sky, representing the three counties of Essequibo, Berbice and Demerara. The six granite posts at the base of each arch symbolise the six peoples

of Guyana.

Its location at Brickdam was specifically chosen because the area stood in the oldest part of the city and “this site therefore at the head of Brickdam, [links] our turbulent past with our exciting future”.

In a 2002 newspaper edition, it was noted that Chairman of the Arch Committee, Aubrey Barker stated that it was proposed in later years to locate the capital’s civic and cultural precinct on the lands of D’Urban Park; in time, therefore, he said, the Arch would be a fitting gateway to an important civic centre.

Then mayor of Georgetown, Rahaman B. Gajraj, in his acceptance speech, charged the people of Georgetown “to keep this monument in perfect order so that we can pass it to future generations in the same lustre and beauty as we have received it.”

24 Times Independence Magazine

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may 2015

Celebrating 49 Years Of Independence

Archie

Love is on the rise. Pay special attention to legal or fi(March 21nancial documents. Now is the April 19) right time to review your personal paperwork and restructure your budget.

ARIES

Family tension will escalate if you become stubTAURUS born.

Plan to spend time do(April 20ing something that takes your May 20) mind off your worries. A physical challenge will help turn your mood around.

One of your creative ideas, GEMINI if handled smartly, has the (May 21potential to lead to prosperiJune 20) ty. Share your thoughts with someone who has valuable information to share regarding how to achieve success.

CANCER

Don't put up with someone

(June 21- who is trying to make you feel July 22) small or unimportant. Rid yourself of negative people and thoughts. Speak up and have faith in your abilities.

Taking on responsibilities LEO that don't belong to you will be (July 23an exasperating ordeal. Have Aug. 22) the fortitude to say no if someone is making unreasonable demands on your time or resources.

Dilbert

Romance is on the rise.

VIRGO A solid connection will be (Aug. 23- formed with someone you Sept. 22) meet socially. If you are honest about your feelings, you will enhance your personal life.

LIBRA Procrastination is all that (Sept. 23- stands between you and your Oct. 23) ideal career. Find out what prerequisites are necessary to move ahead in your chosen field and go after them.

Peanuts

This is a particularly good SCORPIO day to form partnerships, col(Oct. 24laborate and make new assoNov. 22) ciations. Romantic and professional pairings will turn out to be in your best interest.

Don't lend or borrow anything today. Joint ventures SAGITTARIUS will only be beneficial if you (Nov. 23know what to expect before Dec. 21) you sign a contract. Do your own fact-finding instead of relying on secondhand information.

Spend time with the peoCAPRICORN ple who mean the most to you.

(Dec. 22Forget your daily struggles Jan. 19)

Calvin and Hobbes

and plan to do something interesting. Sporting challenges or road trips will be rewarding.

Don't abandon your AQUARIUS dreams.

You may have ven(Jan. 20tured off course, but some inFeb. 19) tense effort on your part will get you back in the game.

Disregard anyone who says you can't reach your goals.

PISCES Your changing moods will (Feb. 20- be confusing to the people you March 20) live with. You can avoid discord if you make your needs known in a firm but diplomatic manner.