Quotes of the First Lady of Guyana

1. Last evening, Guyana's 57th Independence Anniversary's flag-raising ceremony which was held in the town of Lethem, Region 9, was transformed into evening of prayer and reflection in honour of the 19 children who lost their lives in the Mahdia Secondary School dormitory fire earlier this week.

As we continue to reflect on their precious lives which epitomized sacrifice and dedication, let us, in their honour, continue to work towards building our One Guyana and a better future for all Guyanese.

2. In this very difficult time for our nation, my thoughts and prayers are with the survivors and the 19 little ones who tragically lost their lives in the fire at the Mahdia dormitory this morning. These events have left a void in our hearts; especially for those of us who are parents. Those who have lost loved ones, and those who are still coping with the trauma need us right now.

They need us to offer our prayers and support to get them through this difficult time. In the coming days, weeks and even months, we must demonstrate what it means to be Guyanese by being the shoulders they can lean on. May we honour the memories of our little ones who are no longer with us even while we continue to pray for the survivors, their families, friends and communities.

3. Extending warm Mother’s Day greetings to every mom across the globe, including mine, who has been a pillar in our lives. May the journey of motherhood continue to be a rewarding one for you all

4. Yesterday we fulfilled a promise to the residents of New Amsterdam, Berbice, when the President and I commissioned the New Amsterdam Recreational Park which we promised to deliver just a few months ago.

Thousands of residents, including children, now have a safe space to enjoy recreational activities which we hope will foster greater unity and social cohesion.

I echo the sentiments of the President in calling for residents to take care of this new facility as much as they enjoy its benefits.

Over the next few years, we will be developing recreational spaces like these in all regions, through my National Beautification Project.

5. A few weeks ago, I learnt of the situation of a family of 4 from Tuschen who have been living in deplorable conditions for several years, because the father, who was the sole breadwinner in the home, was diagnosed with prostate cancer and has been bedridden for 3 years. His wife is unable to work since she spends her days attending to his needs and those of their two children who are in secondary school. The family depends on his pension, along with a few chickens which the wife rears, to provide for their needs. Their story is one which would break even the strongest of hearts. So, I paid the family a visit recently with several government officials including Minister Nigel Dharamlall. We spoke to the wife and I committed to having a new house built and semi-furnish within the next 6-8 weeks. Upon completion of their schooling, the 2 children will be provided with scholarships, through my Office, to further their studies. Thanks to Minister Dharamlall, the wife will gain employment through the government’s part-time employment programme, while the regional health office will assist the family with medical supplies. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said: somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something good for others. Let us do something good for someone today!

1823-2023. Bicentennial of the Demerara slave rebellion

Birth anniversaries

105th BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF DR. PTOLEMY REID, OE

8th May, 2023, marks 105 years since the birth of Dr. Ptolemy Reid. A recipient of the Order of Excellence, Dr Reid was a longstanding servant of the people of Guyana, as well as the People’s National Congress. He served in cabinet positions for decades, across multiple ministries. Dr Reid, who is from Dartmouth Village, Essequibo, was a trained veterinarian, who began his professional career as an educator. He also served in the private sector and spent some time working with Booker Sugar Estates. This son of the soil eventually attained the rank of Prime Minister, the culmination of decades of dedication to his country.

Dr. Reid retired from active politics in 1984 and passed away on September 2, 2003. He is survived by family members who share his intellectual curiosity and steadfast dedication to public service. The Dr. Ptolemy Reid Rehabilitation Center is named in his honor, an institution which provides aid to persons living with disabilities, which is fitting given Dr. Reid’s long commitment to his fellow man. Request

1823-2023.

Celebrating mothers

Surrounded by family and friends Mrs. Evadney Eldeca Talbot of 51 Company Road, Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), celebrated her 111th birthday on May 10. In celebration of her milestone, Mrs. Talbot’s family hosted a communion service at her home on Wednesday. The service was presided over by Reverend Theodore Demonic of the St. Augustine Anglican Church. Talbot’s family, friends and her caregivers all attended the service.

Mrs. Talbot was born in Buxton, in 1912 and attended the Buxton Congregational School. Upon completion of her primary education she pursued training in sewing and dressmaking. She was married to Kingsel Talbot who died in 1985. Together the two had five children, two of which are deceased. Over the years, Mrs. Talbot known by her villagers as ‘Cousin Vadney’ or ‘Sister Vadney’ worked alongside her husband in the farmlands at the back of the village cultivating sugar cane and other crops. She is a well known member of the St. Augustine Anglican Church where she worshipped regularly until recently when she was unable to physically attend church services.

Mrs. Talbot is an active member of the ‘Golden Age Group’ and enjoys listening to gospel songs, and interacting with her loved ones.

May is arrival month in Guyana About

The Church of the Holy Spirit is a home based ministry. It is a Protestant Christian ministry based on the Wesleyan Holiness movement tradition. The Church was established on 7 January, 2007.

1823-2023. Bicentennial of the Demerara slave rebellion

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Jessica and Eric Huntley Garden Launch Speech

By Claudia Tomlinson

I have had the privilege and honour of knowing Eric Huntley in person in recent years, but I’ve only known Jessica Huntley through researching her formidable life’s work. I am fortunate in having had the support and assistance of many over the past four years to research the life of Jessica Huntley. Her achievements have been recognised through the commissioning of her biography by Bloomsbury publishers who will publish my book about her life sometime in 2024. As Jessica and Eric were lifelong partners, business and political allies, my research also includes a deep analysis of the life of Eric Huntley.

They met on the street in Kitty Georgetown in 1948, when Eric was relatively unknown as he had been living away from the capital in New Amsterdam. Jessica was a member of the Circle of Sunshine Workers youth club and trade union and had lots of friends. She had grown up through tenement yard activism and learned through her mother to resist all forms of injustices, particularly those levelled against black people. It was also here that she learned about the importance of uplifting the black race to live dignified, aspiring lives. Both Jessica and Eric survived the poverty and hunger of the 1930s and 1940s to become an internationally notable, politically active couple. With the Women’s Progressive Organisation, Jessica was part of the women’s resistance movement that kept the fight for freedom alive in the face of the repression of the then British authorities. Many of these activities had to be clandestine but were very effective in keeping the movement alive. Eric was part of the trade union movement, actively resisting colonial activities, in the face of many army raids on the family home. His political activism eventually landed him in prison.

Their journey together in Britain saw them fight anti-black racism, but also struggle for the benefit of all in their local community who needed help. Bookshop activism was central to their work. Jessica spoke about the work of the bookshop in the Ealing community and I quote her: People came to ask for jobs, about jobs, if they wanted work. They were arrested, they came. They came after the riots in Notting Hill and Southall. And the young people would come into the shop as a pilgrimage. It was really a Mecca.

As publishers, my research indicates how important their work was with writers like Valerie Bloom, Linton Kwesi Johnson, Walter Rodney, Cecil Rajendra, Lemn Sissay, Donald Hinds and Beryl Gilroy being part of the Bogle stable. Bogle L’Ouverture was the first importer of the books by popular African American authors such as Alice Walker, Toni Cade Bambara, Ntozake Shange, and Maya Angelou into Britain in the 1970s and 1980s, and a promoter of their work.

Jessica and Eric’s activism has been vast, including the Anti-colonial movement in what then British Guyana, Black Supplementary Schools, the Black Parents Movement, the International Book Fair of Radical Black and Third World Books, the Committee of Concerned West Indians, the Committee Against Repression in Guyana, the New Cross Fire and Black People’s Day of Action to mention a few areas. Both Jessica and Eric put their fight for justice ahead of personal safety, comfort, and liberty. They continued in the face of political suppression, imprisonment, personal threats, and intimidation. Jessica regularly appeared in the press following attacks on the bookshop, saying ‘we are not going to close, we are going to fight’. I want to finish with another quote from Jessica Huntley in 1991 which I believe has resonance today:

‘Each generation will choose its own priority for themselves, nothing has changed to make me alter my opinion that racism continues to be rampant, therefore many of the earlier issues continue’ What we owe Jessica and Eric Huntley cannot be measured and must never be forgotten.

GGR FOUNDER UNVEILS GOLD GUYANA MAP TRIBUTE EARRINGS CELEBRATING THE COUNTRY’S 57TH INDEPENDENCE ANNIVERSARY

In a fitting tribute to Guyana and with deep pride for her country of birth, New York-based Guyanese Jewelry Designer, Cloyette Harris Stoute of Twin Elegance Jewelry unveiled her first piece made of solid Guyana Gold. The striking pair of “Guyana Map Tribute Earrings” dropped on May 26, 2023, celebrating the country’s 57th year of Independence.

The Guyana Map Earrings hold a profound meaning for Cloyette, founder of Guyanese Girls Rock! and Guyanese Girls Rock Foundation, and symbolize her unwavering connection to her homeland. Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the earrings feature an intricately designed Guyana map paying homage to the country’s geographical boundaries and cultural heritage. The piece serves as a celebration of Guyana’s rich history, resilience, and the profound impact it has had on shaping Cloyette’s artistic journey.

With the release of the Guyana Map Earrings, Cloyette once again demonstrates her ability to intertwine personal narratives with exquisite craftsmanship. These earrings not only showcase her immense pride in Guyana but also provide a tangible representation of her love and appreciation for her country’s culture, people, and history.

Cloyette’s commitment to highlighting the diverse facets of Guyanese identity through her jewelry serves as a reminder that jewelry can be a powerful medium for expressing one’s heritage and sense of belonging. By wearing these earrings, individuals can display their connection to Guyana and proudly celebrate its independence.

Twin Elegance Jewelry will debut its first solid gold “collection” inspired by Guyana’s national flower the “Victoria Regia” in early June 2023 in celebration of Caribbean History Month. This meaningful release aligns with the designer’s invitation to all to celebrate their heritage and embrace the stories that shape their identities.

Pieces from the Guyana Gold Enchanted Collection will be available in 14k and 18k Guyana Gold and are made to order. Visit www.twinelegance.com for details send an inquiry to care@twinelegance.com