Guyana Diaspora

'89 percent of Guyana 's graduate population live and work in the 30 relatively rich countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) -"Fruit that falls far from the tree",
The Economist, 03 November 2005'

It is estimated that there are as many Guyanese living overseas as they are in Guyana
They are spread out far and wide to almost every country on the planet
This blog was created to chronicle the news and and stories of the Diaspora

Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Hollywood Actress

CCH Pounder - the initials stand for Carol Christine Hilaria - was born in Georgetown, Guyana. She attended a school for the arts in Sussex, England, and Ithica College in New York State. She has appeared in dozens of movies, and has had continuing roles on television. Since her debut in All That Jazz in 1979, Pounder, 53, has had roles in LA Law, The West Wing, Law & Order and The Practice.

Often overlooked, The Shield star CCH Pounder finds solace in her craft.

SHE has had a long acting career.

But in the last 25 years, veteran actress CCH (Carol Christine Hilaria) Pounder has got only two Satellite Awards to show for, which she won for her role in US series The Shield.

She plays detective Claudette Wyms opposite aggressive detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis), who played The Thing in the movie Fantastic Four.

Since her debut in All That Jazz in 1979, Pounder, 53, has had roles in LA Law, The West Wing, Law & Order and The Practice.

Besides the two awards, Pounder also received Emmy nominations for her roles in ER and The X-Files.

FRUSTRATING

But the lack of awards does get somewhat frustrating, Pounder said in a recent phone interview.

'Sometimes, it bothers me that I haven't won an Emmy. I've got nominations for many awards, and yet I don't win.

'It can be tiring listening to the roll call of names, only to find out you're not the winner. But it's part and parcel of the job. I'm getting used to this.'

Still, she said, it would be lovely to win an Emmy in her lifetime.

'I would be very angry if I was given a post-humous Emmy.'

Awards or not, Pounder insisted that she has always loved and enjoyed acting despite her family's initial disapproval.

Born in Guyana, she attended Ithaca College in New York where her talents caught the attention of Professor Earl McCarroll from the drama department.

Upon graduation, Prof McCarroll urged her to join a regional theatre company, and she moved to Monmouth, Maine.

She said: 'Being immigrants, my family preferred me to be in a more professional job, like a doctor or a lawyer.'

But now they've come to terms with her profession, she added.

While her role in The Shield was originally written for a man, Pounder insisted she did not get the part because she had worked with director Clark Johnson earlier on the TV series Boycott.

'You have to prove yourself,' she said, 'I was the only girl who went for the audition, but my agent said 'Come on, you can do it.'

'I was known for playing women who get raped and beaten. But Claudette's character is one of a strong leading lady, a tough cookie.'

Pounder was full of praise for her co-stars, especially Glenn Close.

She said: 'Glenn was really fun to work with. It was nice to have another woman around as the cast is made up of mainly men.'

From The Electric New Paper


Hollywood Actress Rediscovers African Roots

Actress CCH Pounder has made a name for herself in American television, where she now has a major role in the police drama The Shield. The actress has come a long way from her childhood in Guyana to the lights of Hollywood, and along the way has rediscovered her African heritage.

The Afro-Caribbean actress reconnected with her roots through her husband, Senegalese-born anthropologist Boubacar Kone. The two met in Los Angeles and married 14 years ago. About that time, he had an idea.

"I always said, I have to go back and do something about Senegal. So I'm not somebody who's going to build a church or synagogue or mosque, so we don't have a museum culture. So I said it's much better to have a museum," Mr. Kone explained.

He started an art museum, the Musee Boribana, just outside the Senegalese capital of Dakar. His wife shares his interest in contemporary African art. At first, she showcased art in their home in Los Angeles, and two years ago she opened her own gallery in the city.

"It's still the focus of introducing African artists to the United States, but as I'm from the Caribbean, I introduce Caribbean artists, and African-American artists as well," explained the actress.

CCH - the initials stand for Carol Christine Hilaria - was born in Georgetown, Guyana. She attended a school for the arts in Sussex, England, and Ithica College in New York State. She has appeared in dozens of movies, and has had continuing roles on television in the earlier hospital drama ER, as well as The Shield.

She joined performers Robert Guillaume and his wife, Donna Brown Guillaume, Alfree Woodard, Blaire Underwood and others in a group eventually called Artists for a New South Africa. They had been asked by political activist Nelson Mandela to speak out against apartheid, the system of racial separation imposed on South Africa by its former white government.

"Because we are artists in our different genres, musicians or actors and so on, the media often give us a platform for our voices to be heard," she said. "And so Nelson Mandela asked if there were African-American artists who could help service the breaking of apartheid, and we were one of many, many groups."

With democratization and the election of Nelson Mandela as South Africa's president, she says the group has changed its focus.

"We realized the enormous amount of work that had to be done in South Africa. And so we're now working with pediatric AIDS, AIDS educational information, getting books and services there. We worked along with Habitat for Humanity building houses," she explained. "So it's a lot of lending our voice to other people's projects, and getting them out there so that they can be serviced."

So far, the group has channeled eight million dollars into South African aid projects.

CCH and Boubacar divide their time between Los Angeles and Dakar, where they have a home on an island near the city. They say they are bridging two cultures, bringing together the world of contemporary Africa and the world of Hollywood entertainment.

From VOA News

Monday, January 30, 2006

Dancehall - Reggae Artist

DIGNITERY spent his childhood years in Georgetown Guyana until he moved to the United States of America at the age of 12.

NEW YORK - Guyanese born reggae artist DIGNITERY is a capricorn who entered this world on the blessed day of Janurary 6th, 1982.

He spent his childhood years in Georgetown Guyana until he moved to the United States of America at the age of 12.

DIGNITERY started to take DJ-ing (Reggae Singer) serious at the age of 13 and started recording demos and writing his own lyrics.

At this point DIGNITERY knew he wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry and began his journey of becoming a reggae artist.

DIGNITERY grew up listening to artist(s) such as Terry Ganzie, Super Cat, Cutty Ranks, Bounty Killer and Jhonny P., these are some of the few artist(s) that inspired and influenced DIGNITERY in becoming a dancehall reggae artist today.

DIGNITERY describes his style as rough and rugged! His musical/DJ-ing style is a mixture of old school and new school, something for the old and young dancehall fans. Over the years DIGNITERY has matured significantly as a recording and performing artiste.

In 2003 DIGNITERY released his premiere single "Experience Lover" produced by Trigga Happy Entertainment Inc. His second single titled "I'll Never Let U Go" features roots and culture reggae artiste YAMI BOLO was mastered at VP Records and released on promo cd in 2004.

DIGNITERY is presently writing and recording new material, and we can expect to hear much more of this young and vibrant reggae artist in the near future. His debut album "Rude Boy Nine" is set to be released soon.

You've been warned!

From top4-40-charts


(http://www.dignitery.com/)

Sunday, January 29, 2006

One step at a time

Nizam Ally's motivation started growing back when he was a child in Guyana, South America. He said that his family was better off than the children he is now trying to help are, but that it was still very poor.

With the hot, summer sun glaring down on him from above, Nizam Ally walked from Utica to Herkimer.

But that's nothing. He has already walked from Toronto to New York City and back again.

He is making his way back to New York City - walking approximately 20 miles per day and resting at local hotels at night - as a part of his second round trip of the cities.

No, he's not crazy, and he doesn't do this because he just really enjoys long walks either.

Ally is walking in an attempt to raise money to help needy children. He founded the Walk 5-5-55 Charitable Foundation, and decided to do the "Miles for Smiles" charity walk as a way to motivate people to help.

The first trip brought in about $10,000 in donations. The money goes to Save the Children Canada and Save the Children USA.

Ally's goals are set much higher. He hopes to eventually raise $5 million for the cause and said he would continue to make the walk, health permitting, until the money is raised. "It takes some time," he said, "but I feel in my heart it will happen."

The "Miles for Smiles" walk passes by about 50 million people, Ally said. He would like to see a million of those people donate $5 each to help reach the $5 million goal. He has mentally prepared himself to make the trek five times in order to raise the money and feels that the number five may be lucky for him.

The Walk 5-5-55 Charitable foundation is named for his birth date. Naming the foundation for his birthday is partially symbolic because he said that he had to really come of age before he could get a new outlook on what he could do to make a difference and help children in need.

Before deciding to start the charity walk, Ally felt like he cared about people who needed help but that he wasn't doing anything about it. One goal of the walk is to motivate people who currently feel the way Ally used to feel to get out and join the cause.

Ally's motivation started growing back when he was a child in Guyana, South America. He said that his family was better off than the children he is now trying to help are, but that it was still very poor. His family had to walk a block away just to get water, he shared a bed with three of his brothers and he received his first pair of shoes at the age of 5. At 12, he started working with his father - pushing his father's donkey cart and trying to sell the day's crops.

While only 17, in 1973, Ally moved to Canada. He had nobody there to support him and had to learn to get by on his own. Ally worked hard and became successful. He now owns a Caribbean restaurant.

After the events of September 11th, he started paying more attention to the news and doing a lot of reading about other children around the world who have to suffer. "I have a very soft spot when it comes to children," said Ally, who has three kids of his own.

Ally then sponsored two kids - one in Columbia and one in Chili - and found great satisfaction in the way helping them made him feel.

He said he continued to see more and more about the millions of suffering children in the world - with thousands dying each day - and wanted to do more.

Ally knew he could only afford to provide so much help on his own, so about four years ago he started thinking about the idea of the charity walk.

The walk is his way of showing people his dedication to the fundraiser. "It's better than sitting in an office and making phone calls," he said.

His first walk began on March 24, 2005. On May 5, his 50th birthday, he arrived at Times Square in New York City.

He then walked back to Toronto.

Rafeek Baksh, a family friend, drives a van as he follows around on the walk. He stays within a mile or two of Ally to supply him with water and to make sure he stays healthy. "I think it's a great thing he's doing," Baksh said.

While walking, Ally has passed through many areas. He said he was surprised by how many nice places are so close by in the smaller towns.

He added that the people have been kind to him. People often wave, honk, clap or yell encouraging words as they pass him. A couple of weeks ago, a family drove by in a van and clapped for him. The van then turned around and came back and gave him water. "It really motivates you," he said.

Ally has been funding the walk by himself and is now looking for a corporate sponsor to help because the expenses are starting to add up. The expenses aren't the only difficult part of the experience. Ally - who said that getting through the walk is more mental than physical - misses his family and his business while he is out on the walks.

Nonetheless, Ally is already planning to start another walk in March 2006 if the target $5 million isn't raised by the end of this walk.

The results of his efforts will be well worth it to him. "I'm looking forward to that satisfaction," he said. "I'm determined to make that sacrifice."

From Mid-York Weekly

Contact Information:
Walk 5-5-55 Charitable Foundation
3114 Danforth Ave Scarborough, ON. M1L 1B1
Toll Free: 1-866-359-WALK (9255)

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Brothers blend beats in the Bronx

Both brothers’ voices are tailor-fit: Trevor was in Guyana until he was 10 and retained the lilting cadence of the Caribbean, while Roy-LT developed a gritty, streetwise Bronx accent. The contrast adds texture to music that Trevor calls spiritual.

As a 10-year-old in Guyana, Trevor Brisport jammed to Bob Marley and the Wailers and wanted to play reggae. A few years later in Baychester, NY. , his little brother jammed to DJ Whodini’s "Five Minutes of Funk" and wanted to be a rapper.

The brothers—Trevor, 29, and Roy-LT, 23—emigrated from Guyana in 1980, part of a flood of immigrants that brought the freewheeling style of the reggae-soaked Caribbean to the Bronx, where funk and soul reigned. The collision of those worlds helped midwife the birth of hip hop.

And as these brothers’ musical journey has shown, aftershocks from that collision continue to animate the borough’s music scene today.

Last year, along with a third brother and a friend, they recorded an album titled "Music," with Trevor as the bandleader, and released it on CD and vinyl. Now based near Pelham Parkway, the group has a video, a web site, and airtime on two FM shows.

Recently, they played at AJ’s Palace on 222nd Street and the New Savoy on Jerome Avenue, featuring tracks from "Music," where Trevor’s classic reggae vocals laid the foundation for rap incursions.

Both brothers’ voices are tailor-fit: Trevor was in Guyana until he was 10 and retained the lilting cadence of the Caribbean, while Roy-LT developed a gritty, streetwise Bronx accent. The contrast adds texture to music that Trevor calls spiritual.

"We want our music to inspire," Trevor said, noting that their most spiritual song, "No God No Peace," is one of their most popular.

In the song, he wails to a standard reggae beat: "Nowadays they forget the right and do the wrong, but they all end up singing sad songs."

The beat slows, the drums roll, and it’s Roy-LT’s turn. His voice is sure-talk, deep and loud. "No God no peace," he begins to rap. "If you walk in the light, your spirit’s at ease."

When Roy-LT stops, Trevor takes over, hitting a high note and then going down the scale as the mellow reggae beat resumes—the beat he has always heard pulsing, first in Guyana and then on Bronx street-corners.

In the early 1980s Trevor was infected by the DJ fever, and abandoned the drums for turntables, mixing reggae and rap tracks on tapes he gave to friends in Baychester.

"People were telling me they were feeling it, so I kept doing it," he said.
The microphone always came first for Roy-LT. While Trevor mixed his tapes, Roy-LT honed his improvisational rhyming skills in freestyle rapping competitions. Soon, he was rapping on the tapes. When

Trevor saved enough money, they decided to record an album.

Playing the role of a concerned parent trying to negotiate between estranged siblings, Trevor brings reggae and hip hop together into a guarded dance on "Music."

"Back in the day," he said, "All those DJs—Slick Rick, Heavy-D—were using reggae beats. They just stripped away the guitars and then sped it up or slowed it."

Kool Herc, a Jamaican DJ who traded Kingston for the Bronx in 1967, had paved the way. The first to make records dance on turntables, he brought eclectic sound techniques that changed the nature of music in the United States. Meanwhile, classic reggae was being eclipsed by dance hall, a form that took hip hop’s aggressive rhythms and lyrics.

For Trevor, the 1970s and early 1980s were an untarnished golden era, a time when hip hop was "for real," and not about "bitches and whores and shooting places up." It was a time when Bob Marley’s socially conscious brand of reggae was telling the world to stand up.

"That was our intention from day one, to bring all the music back together from the beginning," Trevor said last week, explaining the new CD.

Strolling down Allerton Avenue, Trevor agreed that cultural reggae was waning and that violent lyrics often sold records. But he argued the group’s new CD was a unique product ennobled by the absence of "all that slackness"—a common Guyanese reference to irresponsibility.

"Rather than mix things up, we want to clarify," said Roy-LT.

Sometimes the rhyming attempts to clarify many things at once.

"My bills are so many I buy time on lay away," raps Roy-LT on one track, and the listener, absorbed in the line’s elegant presentation of everyday struggle, misses the next line, and has to rewind.

From The Bronx Beat

Friday, January 27, 2006

Mayor and Mayoress

MAYOR AND MAYORESS OF THE BOROUGH OF WORTHING

Councillor Jack Saheid is the 88th Mayor of the Borough of Worthing.

Jack Saheid was born in Guyana South America on 7 June 1941. He attended the Golden Fleece Presbyterian Church School in his early years and then the Central High School in Georgetown where he gained 6 ‘O’ level passes.

He emigrated to the UK in 1961 and within months he realised that this was the country he wanted to make his permanent place of abode and duly became a British Citizen in 1967. He is married to Lyla with four daughters and two grand-daughters. He spent the next 30 years building up a small portfolio of properties and businesses and at the same time he attended various colleges, part-time, to further his education. He gained a Certificate in Agriculture from Plumpton College, Road Transport, GCE Law and ‘A’ level Law and an Introduction to the Social Sciences from Northbrook College.

His main job during this period was with British Rail where he was employed from 1961 to 1984. He performed duties in all departments including ticket offices, rosters and diagrams, train running, traffic co-ordination, work study and in the Control Office. Whilst in the Productivity Section, he identified and published safe walking routes for staff at all the stations, goods depots and shunting yards in the Central Division.

He ran a newsagents from 1979 to 1983, farming from 1981 to the present day, sub-postmaster from 1989 to the present day and a residential care home from 1995 to the present day. All the above businesses are managed in conjunction with his wife.

He has been a Public Member of Network Rail from its inception in 2002. He was elected as a Councillor of Worthing Borough Council in May 2003.

His hobbies include: cricket, reading and travelling.

MRS LYLA SAHEID
MAYORESS OF THE BOROUGH OF WORTHING 2005/2006

"I was born in Guyana, South America, in October 1946. My parents were in business and I have two sisters and four brothers, who all live in Canada, America and East Africa.

After Jack and I married we emigrated to the UK and I have supported him throughout our married life.

I worked for, what was then, British Rail in the typing pool and for management. During my time with the Railways I was actively involved with raising funds for The Railways Homes at Woking.

I have four daughters, two are married, with two grand-daughters. My two younger daughters are still continuing their education, one at University in Cardiff and she is also an officer in the reserves of the RAF.

My youngest daughter is now taking her ‘A’ levels and will be going to university this year, hopefully.

I have been in business with Jack for some years running a Newsagents in Shoreham. I now run our Rest Home in Worthing and help Jack with his Post Office.

I have worked in the caring industry for over 19 years and gained considerable knowledge of caring for the elderly during my time with the Red Cross in the late 1970s. I enjoy my job caring for the elderly and I have found it to be rewarding." ..Lyla Saheid

From Worthing Brough Council

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Creating Ripples with Words

Born in Guyana, Raywat Deonandan moved to Canada when he was just two years old. His parents formed the link, between Guyana and India. "The indentured slaves who were brought to Guyana by the British, never felt that they were part of the country. They wanted to go back. Their thought that 'one day you are going home', remained alive," says Raywat.

Raywat Deonandan has never believed in defining his expanse. He has aspired to be an astronaut. However, his aspirations have taken him farther than the realms of space and time. He is an avid author and writer, an active epidemiologist, a lecturer, a research scholar and essentially a man of science.

Often people of science see the beauty in things, but find it hard to phrase the words. For Raywat, however, the words have been a living, breathing presence since he was in his early teens.

Sweet Like Salt Water his first collection of short stories, published by Toronto's TSAR publications appeared in print last year and has created ripples since then. The search for a connection is deep rooted in Sweet Like Salt Water and so is the quest for identity.

Raywat's stories and articles have appeared in magazines, newspapers and journals in Canada, United States, England, New Zealand and translated in Japan and China. Raywat was awarded two Hart House Literary Prizes at the University of Toronto and First Prize in the 1995 Canadian Author's Association National Student Literary Competition. He is currently completing a Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from The University of Western Ontario.

Born in Guyana, Raywat moved to Canada when he was just two years old. His parents formed the link, between Guyana and India. "The indentured slaves who were brought to Guyana by the British, never felt that they were part of the country. They wanted to go back. Their thought that 'one day you are going home', remained alive," says Raywat.

The quest for identity has been Raywat's own in many ways and writing Sweet Like Salt Water, a personal experience. He visited Guyana as a child and traveled to India a few years ago but in the effort to find the sameness, he realized the difference. "I am Canadian," he says, "You know when you are away, when you are looking too hard to find a connection, often you don't find one."

From The Weekly Voice

NCO earns US citizenship

Sergeant Thomas hasn't lost touch with her own culture and fondly remembers Guyana, the country of her birth. As a child growing up there, Sergeant Thomas can remember eating vegetables from her front yard.,.

Born in the small South American country of Guyana, Staff Sgt. Donna Thomas recently finished the yearlong process of becoming a United States citizen. The new citizen is also a contract specialist with the 11th Contracting Squadron at Bolling AFB.

Though she is both a proud U.S. Air Force noncommissioned officer and a new American citizen, Sergeant Thomas hasn't lost touch with her own culture and fondly remembers Guyana, the country of her birth. As a child growing up there, Sergeant Thomas can remember eating vegetables from her front yard. At the age of 15, she departed Guyana for a better life elsewhere with her parents and two suitcases full of clothes. The family quickly settled with a relative who lived in Fairfax, Va., where Sergeant Thomas started attending the 11th grade in the local high school. There she excelled in academics and upon graduation was accepted to Virginia Tech.

Initially, she wanted to study chemical engineering, but visions of flying the F-16 and the opportunity to be independent motivated her to enlist in the Air Force.

In October 2004, Sergeant Thomas started the process of becoming a U.S. citizen. A year later, the process culminated with a citizenship ceremony on Dec. 13. The ceremony stressed that the United States is a great country because of its citizens, and that the nation's blend of cultures is both unique and vital to the well-being of America. The ceremony also helped remind those in attendance that it is important to not lose one's own culture while becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen and gaining all the rights that come with citizenship.

One of an American citizen's most treasured rights is the right to vote, and Sergeant Thomas was most excited about gaining that right and participating in American democracy.

Sergeant Thomas and her husband, Darryl, have two daughters: Melanie, age 2, and Masala, 11. The sergeant recently volunteered to deploy in AEF cycle 9/10, and like most parents, she is somewhat worried her youngest daughter won't understand her absence. But for Sergeant Thomas, the opportunity to deploy and serve her new country was so important that she extended her Air Force enlistment for the experience.

From The Beam

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Bach Soloist

This native of Guyana created the role of Corina in the world-premiere of David Conte’s opera 'Firebird Motel '

SHAWNETTE SULKER (soprano) has been described by the San Francisco Chronicle as a singer”…displaying a bright, superbly controlled soprano with perfectly placed coloratura.”

This native of Guyana previously appeared with the American Bach Soloists singing Bach’s cantata Non sa che sia dolore. Other concert performances include Mozart’s Exultate, jubilate and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass both with the Santa Clara Chorale and Orchestra.

With the Redwood Symphony, she has sung Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 and the role of Clara in a concert version of Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess. Additional concert repertoire includes the soprano solo in Mozart’s Missa Brevis in G Major, which was performed at the National Shrine Cathedral in Washington DC, and the soprano solo from Fauré’s Requiem.

Ms. Sulker’s operatic résumé includes two roles sung in San Francisco Opera productions of The Mother of Us All and Louise. She is also currently participating in the San Francisco Opera Guild’s outreach production of The Elixir of Love in the role of Adina. Other roles include Oscar (Un ballo in maschera) with West Bay Opera and Adele (Die Fledermaus) with North Bay Opera.

She has appeared with Berkeley Opera in the roles of Adle (‘Bat out of Hell’ – Die Fledermaus), Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), and Despina (Così fan tutte). She created the role of Corina in the world-premiere of David Conte’s opera Firebird Motel. Other roles performed include Musetta (La Bohème), Servilia (La clemenza di Tito), and Belinda (Dido and Aeneas).

Film credits for the young soprano consist of a soundtrack performance for the movie Mimic and an on-camera operatic appearance for the forthcoming feature film Jackson directed by J. F. Lawton.

Ms. Sulker’s upcoming engagements include performing the Princess in Many Moons, and Susanna, both with Cinnabar Opera.

From American Bach Soloists

Citizen Soldier

“I left Guyana when I was 11 years old. My family wanted me to
have better opportunities in the U.S.,”
.

Army Staff Sgt. Hilbert Caesar lost a leg in Iraq, serving a country that wasn't his.

His heart was American, but his passport said Guyana.

That changed in a sweltering immigration office in Arlington.

Four months after his Army convoy was devastated by a cluster of roadside bombs in Baghdad, Caesar became a U.S. citizen, walking into the ceremony with a cane and a powerful sense of optimism.

"I'm ecstatic. I can't even show the emotion," declared Caesar, who has been at Walter Reed Army Medical Center since April.

Caesar, 26, is one of thousands of immigrants in the military to become citizens since President Bush issued an order in July 2002 expediting their naturalization. About 32,400 noncitizens are serving in the armed forces, or roughly 2.3 percent of the total, according to Lt. Col. Ellen Krenke, a spokeswoman for the Department of Defense.

Immigrant soldiers have come into the spotlight as they have made the ultimate sacrifice for the country they serve. Thirty-eight noncitizens serving with the military have been killed in Afghanistan and Iraq, according to Krenke. One of the first members of the armed forces to die in combat in Iraq was Marine Lance Cpl. Jose Gutierrez, a native of Guatemala. He was posthumously awarded citizenship.

"Your choice to defend your country is . . . respected at the highest levels," Eduardo Aguirre, director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, told Caesar and several other members of the military at the ceremony yesterday.

Immigrants are allowed to join the armed forces as long as they are legal permanent residents, or green card holders. More than 16,000 have applied to become citizens since Bush's executive order, which allows them to apply for naturalization immediately instead of waiting three years, as previously required of immigrants in the military. Most civilians must wait five years.

Two former soldiers who had been posted to Iraq -- a Salvadoran and a Jamaican -- also became citizens.

But Caesar was the star of the ceremony, a strapping man who walks with a slight limp. A casual observer might not even notice that one leg was not the one he started life with.

"You are a man of honor," Aguirre told Caesar. "I'm proud to soon call you a fellow citizen."

Caesar showed little emotion as he joined the immigrants from 27 countries in an off-tune rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" and raised his right hand to take the oath of citizenship. But when Aguirre finally said, "Congratulations, you're U.S. citizens!" Caesar could no longer contain himself.

"Hoo-ah!" he whooped -- the Army's cry of gung-ho commitment and approval.

In a news conference after the ceremony, Caesar said that when he was 11, his family emigrated from South America in search of opportunity. He spent his teens in New York and joined the Army at 20.

"I was born to be a soldier or a police officer," he said, adding later: "I love helping people. That's what American soldiers do."

He was working as a field artillery section chief with the 1st Armored Division when he and other soldiers set out along a road in Baghdad on April 18. They never saw the four explosive devices buried in the dirt. The explosion injured several other soldiers in addition to Caesar.

Caesar said he didn't want to focus on the bombing but on the future. He hopes to continue in the military, perhaps as a medical technician, or become a police officer.

While happy to be a citizen, Caesar said he felt no different.

"I knew I was an American before this," he said. "I always knew I was an American."

Army Staff Sgt. Hilbert Caesar story is profiled in a new Faces of America.

From The Washington Post

Women's Soccer Coach

Rohan Naraine is a native of Guyana, South America, and grew up in London, England. He lived in England for 10 years before moving to the United States at the age of 16.

Rohan Naraine returns to Coastal Carolina as an assistant coach on Karrie Miller’s women’s soccer staff, having spent the last two seasons as the head women’s soccer coach at Southern University. Naraine was an assistant at CCU for the 2002 season.

Naraine was Southern’s first-ever head coach, and in the inaugural 2003 season, he led the Jaguars to a third-place finish in the Southwestern Athletic Conference and a 6-7 overall record.

During the 2002 season, Naraine helped the Chanticleers to their first winning season in school history and helped bring in a recruiting class that would be part of a Big South regular season championship in 2003.
Naraine brings 19 years of coaching experience to the Lady Chants, coaching at the high school, collegiate and international levels. He spent four years as the head coach of Coker College’s women’s soccer program before his first stint at Coastal.

Naraine is a native of Guyana, South America, and grew up in London, England. He lived in England for 10 years before moving to the United States at the age of 16. In America, Naraine played soccer at Theodore Roosevelt High in Washington, D.C. He was team captain of the 1980 State Championship team and was selected the Washington Post’s "Player of the Year."

Naraine played collegiate soccer for nationally-ranked North Carolina Wesleyan College, helping lead the program to the NCAA Division III National Tournament in 1984. Naraine was the team captain and selected to the All-South Region teams in 1983 and 1984. His playing career ended in 1984 due to a knee injury, but he remained at NC Wesleyan as an assistant coach of the men’s and women’s programs during the 1985 and 1986 seasons.

Prior to accepting the position at Coker in 1998, Naraine spent eight years at Beaufort Academy in Beaufort, S.C., where he served as Athletic Director and Head Coach of the boys’ and girls’ soccer programs. His teams won eight state championships and he was tabbed South Carolina’s Coach of the Year eight consecutive seasons.

Naraine is a staff member of the men’s and women’s Guyana National Teams that compete in the CONCACAF region. In 1999, Naraine was chosen to the coaching staff of Guyana’s Men’s Olympic Soccer Team. He also is a state coach for the South Carolina Girl’s Soccer Olympic Development Program. Naraine holds a FIFA Olympic License along with his NSCAA National Coaching License.

Naraine and his wife, Nalini, also a Guyana native, were married in 1995 in Guyana. They have a four-year old daughter, Nikki.

From GoCCUsports

Monday, January 23, 2006

Luscious mangos

Dr. Betty Kissoon a native of Georgetown, Guyana and retired Toronto physician who has written a string of cookbooks focussing on Caribbean cuisine, says that immigration from mango-growing countries has made the fruit more popular and accessible.

Once considered an ethnic food, the tropical mango is now mainstream and the luscious fruit is available to Canadians almost year-around. "We assume that people from India (where mangos originated), Mexico or Latin America are the biggest consumers but it has become a fresh fruit that is extremely popular in its own right," says Karen Caplan, president of Frieda's specialty produce in Los Angeles, which ships mangos to Canada from a number of countries.

Dr. Betty Kissoon agrees. The retired Toronto physician who has written a string of cookbooks focussing on Caribbean cuisine, says that immigration from mango-growing countries has made the fruit more popular and accessible. "I use mangos a lot in my cooking," says the native of Georgetown, Guyana.

In particular, Kissoon likes to buy the small green mangos for pickle or chutney. But she also experiments with the yellow and red varieties in everything from desserts to cocktails to baked products.

Mangos were cultivated for over 4,000 years in India, spreading to south China, the Philippines, South America and the Caribbean. Mango trees are evergreens that will grow to more than 6 metres tall and will fruit four to six years after planting.

There are 1,000 varieties of mangos throughout the world. And beyond being delicious and rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, mangos contain an enzyme to soothe stomach ailments. A 105 g (31/2 oz) serving of sliced fresh mango contains just 66 calories, almost no fat and is a rich source of vitamin A, potassium, vitamin C and fibre.

Caplan points out that with fruits like mangos, "you don't have to use a lot of them" to give a dish a lift. And, she adds, the time to make chutneys and salsas is when mangos are selling for 3 for $2. Some of the more popular varieties found in supermarkets and fresh produce shops are the Kent, Tommy Atkins, Haden, Ataulfo and Keitt. The first three are large ovals with either greenish-yellow, red or orange skins and contain little or no fibre. All have golden sweet flesh.

The Ataulfo is a small flat, oblong shape greenish yellow to deep golden when ripe. It is free of fibre and is very sweet and rich in flavour.

The Keitt, an Indian strain, is a large ovate tapering with slight nose-like protuberance above it's tip. A late fruiting mango, it is often available in winter.

The easiest way to serve a fresh mango is to slice off the sides as close to the large pit as possible. Using a sharp pointed knife, score the inside of the flesh in a crisscross pattern. Turn the whole segment inside out and you are left with small cubes of mango looking like a hedgehog and sticking up from the skin which can be chewed off. The middle section containing the pit can be peeled and sliced off.

In Kissoon's most recent cookbook Caribbean Desserts (Centax), she has created nearly two dozen drinks and sweet treats using mangos. Caplan says you can always tell when a particular fruit takes off and gains wide acceptance.

"Whenever a fruit flavour becomes popular, other sources and suppliers of product extensions, such as fruit juices, syrups and bottled beverages, jam and salsas, really help to stimulate the purchase of fresh fruits as well," she says.

From The Canadian Press

Store's like your livingroom

"I grew up in Guyana and didn't need that to make me feel good about who I was. Most of the people around me looked like me. But for children growing up in a society where they're not the majority, they need positive images of who they are. It helps with self-esteem and self-confidence. If you don't see yourself represented in books, then you sometimes become invisible."

When you walk into Burke's Books and Picture Framing store on St. Clair Avenue West, the place feels instantly familiar -- even if it's the first time you've ever been in the shop.

There's something about the haphazard way the bookshelves are lined, the casual way the furniture is laid out and the sound of sweet gospel music playing in the background that makes you feel like you're in someone's livingroom, not a bookstore.

It isn't until you get to the back of the store that you're reminded you're in a place of business. That's where Rita Burke and her husband, Sam, can often be found framing pictures in their workshop.

"The first customer we ever had wanted three pieces framed," Sam recalled. "I remember it like it was yesterday."

"Yesterday" was 10 years ago. That's when Rita and her husband decided to quit their day jobs and open a bookstore. "My mother thought I was nuts," Rita said. "You know how parents have a certain vision for their children? Running a bookstore wasn't one my mom had in mind for her daughter."

A lot of Rita's friends also questioned her sanity. Rita was a respected teacher at Sir Sandford Fleming College in Peterborough when she decided to join her husband and open Burke's.

'Time for a change'

"I was enjoying what I was doing, but somehow I felt in my system and in my bones it was time for a change," Rita said. "It was time to try something different."

The Burkes felt there was a need to have more information available about, by and for people of African descent.

"We wanted those books to be available," Rita said. "We wanted people to walk into a central place and see these things, especially children -- picture books with people that looked like them and their parents. We thought that would be wonderful.

"I grew up in Guyana and didn't need that to make me feel good about who I was. Most of the people around me looked like me. But for children growing up in a society where they're not the majority, they need positive images of who they are. It helps with self-esteem and self-confidence. If you don't see yourself represented in books, then you sometimes become invisible."

It wasn't easy in the beginning for the Burkes. They had to learn about the business of books -- selecting the right titles and suppliers, etc. And they had to convince customers of the importance of supporting the bookstore.

"The black community is a very proud community and a very strong community," Rita said. "And they're committed to development. We wanted to be part of that development."

The Burkes got their wish. The bookstore became a gathering place. "People would come in and ask if we knew a plumber," Rita said. Then someone else would ask if we knew a social worker. We were like this bookstore/community centre."

"Many of the people who would come in and ask those questions would then stop by and have a cup of tea and chat. They were no longer customers. They became family."

And it's the family atmosphere at Burke's bookstore that has kept them in business for the past 10 years. Rita said the only regret she has about their decision to open the store was that they didn't do it sooner.

"I like selecting books and putting on events and telling people about Canadian authors who write really well. People like Mairuth Sarsfield and Horane Smith. I also love the fact that we're trying to do something good for the community."

From The Toronto Sun

Growing food for the soul

After coming to Canada from Guyana in 1978, Anan Lololi noticed how disconnected many people in the city were from the land.

One of Anan Lololi's fondest memories, as a young boy growing up in Guyana, is of climbing mango trees.

"I loved picking the mango fresh off the tree and biting into it," says Lololi. "There's a holistic experience to picking a fruit and eating it. It's a way to get connected to the country."

Lololi feels it's that connection to the land that makes people respect the environment and also leads them to live healthier lives. After coming to Canada in 1978, Lololi noticed how disconnected many people in the city were from the land.

"Toronto is a big city and you don't see much green space here," says Lololi. "To get that, people have to go to the suburbs or head off to their cottages, so it's hard for people in the city to have a relationship with the environment."

Lololi felt that the best way to give people that experience, especially those who live in low-income areas, was to show them the value of urban agriculture. So three years ago he started a community garden at the side of the Lawrence Heights Community Centre.

"The first year we didn't have a great harvest," says Lololi. "People needed to be educated about the whole process of managing gardens and growing organically."

There were other hurdles to face as well.

"The demand for urban agriculture was greater than we expected. We needed more space to plant. We had to establish a dialogue with the city and apartment building superintendents so we could get permission to use their land. It wasn't easy in the beginning, but things have worked out."

Through Lololi's organization, the Afri-Can Food Basket, they were able to secure more garden space.

They now have community gardens at Jane and Finch, Lawrence Heights, Jane and Wilson and Islington and Albion.

The gardens have been so successful that last year, the Afri-Can Food Basket was able to put on the Toronto Urban Harvest Festival. The festival was their way of showing the community how much food can be harvested through urban agriculture. It was also an opportunity to educate people about the benefits of growing their own food.

"Community gardening is more than just growing food," says Lololi. "It can also help supplement the income of low-income families. Tending the garden is also a good way to relieve stress. Plus, families usually garden together, so the children will get a good opportunity to see a seed planted, a tree grow and then get to pick the fruit from that tree. These are magical things to children."

Urban agriculture isn't a new phenomenon in Toronto. Lololi says there are over 100 community gardens in the city, not to mention the thousands of people who grow food in their backyards, on their balconies or on rooftops. But he felt it was important to get these gardens in neighbourhoods like Jane- Finch and Lawrence Heights.

"I come from a tradition where food is respected," says Lololi. "When you plant something, watch it grow and see how it can sustain you, you begin to have a different appreciation for food. I think young people in our community have lost that appreciation and respect for food. Once you have it, you start to eat better, live better and treat the environment better."

Getting young people involved in urban agriculture is something Lololi wants to focus on over the next few years.

From The Toronto Sun

Wild game becomes popular

Romy Prasad, 39, born in Guyana and trained in Stratford, Ont., and Paris, says the public is becoming more aware of wild game and its nutritional benefits.

Whenever Romy Prasad, executive chef of CinCin an upscale Mediterranean restaurant in the heart of the Vancover, features fresh game such as Arctic muskox, caribou or buffalo on a menu, "it always sells out."

Prasad, 39, born in Guyana and trained in Stratford, Ont., and Paris, says the public is becoming more aware of wild game and its nutritional benefits. The meat is leaner and healthier, free of chemicals such as growth hormones or antibiotics and there is no fear of mad cow disease.

Prasad, who has worked as chef at Michelin-starred restaurants in France, Spain and Italy and has taught at the Stratford Chef School, says at CinCin, two of the most popular game meats are buffalo and Arctic muskox.

"Buffalo is going to hold its own for a long time because it is familiar to people," he explains. "And the flavour is amazing and it cooks well and easily." Anytime he cooks Arctic muskox, Prasad says, "we are bound to sell it out."

The cull from the hunt of muskox, which is conducted by the Inuit of Banks Island in the Beaufort Sea, is supervised by an Agriculture Canada inspection team as well as the Canadian Inspection Agency during processing, he says. Prasad adds that game like muskox and organically grown farm raised meats are "very expensive." "We are not talking traditional poultry or animals here," he says.

Other wild game served at CinCin include quail which Prasad grills for salads or for main courses he will brush them with a glaze so they get "very crackling." The restaurant's wood fire oven, grill and spit are ideal for cooking game, Prasad says. " And if there are tougher cuts of larger game meat we will do the old style slow cooking -- sometimes overnight."

For bigger more tender cuts, Prasad turns them for three hours on a spit. "Nothing has really changed in cooking game," he says. "Accompaniments are still very rich sauces, reductions, root vegetables, wild mushrooms, dried fruits, mashed potatoes, roasted onions and shallots -- true winter fare."

From The Canadian Press

The Guyana Diaspora

89 percent of Guyana 's graduate population live and work in the 30 relatively rich countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) -"Fruit that falls far from the tree", Economist, 03 November 2005

It is estimated that there are as many Guyanese living overseas as they are in Guyana.

They are spread out far and wide to almost every country on the planet.

This blog was created to chronicle the news and and stories of the Diaspora.