Guyana Genealogical and Biographical Society

Beaton of British Guiana

2011-12-30T10:08:00.000-08:00

"There is no shame in getting on one's knees if it is in the interest of people."... Malcolm X (1925-
1965)
Email: nabaclisman@gmail.com childrenofsancho@gmail.com

KINSHIPS OF INTEREST OF VICTORIA VILLAGE
I am seeking to communicate with members of the kinship of Sancho, Campbell, and Younge, Bentick (Bentinck), Solomon, Friday and Kissoon. It is my understanding; Nelly Beaton of Victoria Village , East Coast Demerara, Guyana is a descendant of Sancho. Thus, I am anxiously looking forward to communicating with relatives of Nelly Beaton and others of Victoria Village and elsewhere in Guyana . I am also seeking the relatives of Frederick Simon. I am told Frederick Simon is a descendant of Campbell of Ann's Grove. Therefore, Simon and Beaton and others of Ann's Grove and Victoria and Guyana are persons of interest to me. They are considered relatives of my maternal grand parents’ Alexander Sancho and Rachael Campbell .

PERSONS OF INTEREST
Emerson Simon (Police Officer), Edwin Simon (Police Officer), Myrna Simon, Beryl Simon (Beryl Small), Nelly Beaton, M’s Harry, Frederick Simon, Florence Beaton, Keith Beaton, Mark A. Beaton, Joseph Alexander Beaton, Rickford Beaton, Gertrude Beaton, George Beaton, Doris Beaton, Enid Beaton, Eileen Beaton, Carol Beaton, Mrs. Hoppie, a one legged female Beaton, Gail Beaton (Nabaclis), Oscar Beaton and Winston Beaton (Haslington); Joy Cole and her brother; a Schoolteacher, Waxx, Patches and Winston Hoppie a. k. a. Jeggae . . . names and relations of Maude Lawrence, and Doreen Joseph

SURNAMES AND KINSHIPS OF INTEREST
Campbell, Sancho, Jacobs, Hamilton, Solomon, Lawrence, Luke, Lutchman, Bristol, Beaton, Simon, Hoppie, Small, Harry, Callighan, Younge, Payne, Bobb

Perhaps the members of the Beaton kinships of British Guiana are related people . . .

WHO’S WHO IN BRITISH GUIANA, 1945-48.
There are six entries displaying biographical information of Edgar Augustus Beaton, Henry Adolphus Beaton, Joseph Alexander Beaton, Rickford Beaton, Ursula Elizabeth Beaton, William Solomon Beaton found on the thirty-seventh page in the fourth edition of the publication entitled, “Who’s Who in British Guiana, 1945-48.”

BEATON, EDGAR AUGUSTUS
Gutter and Tinsmith.
Resides: at Bush Lot, Essequibo.
Born: June 29, 1905, at Hibernia, Essequibo, to David Beaton,
Farmer, and his wife, Henrietta, nee Gaim.
Has been a diamond digger.
Married: October 26, 1932: - Edna Kilkenny.
Has one son and five daughters.

BEATON, HENRY ADOLPHUS
Mason and Concrete Worker at Public Works Department, Essequibo.
Resides: at Bush Lot, Essequibo.
Born: September 27, 1897, at Anna Catharina, West Coast, Demerara,
to David Beaton, Farmer, and his wife, Henrietta, nee Gaim.
Educated: at Henrietta RC School, and Bush Lot Methodist School, Essequibo.
Has been a farmer.
Was a Member of Bush Lot Local Authority.
Was secretary of Bush Lot Burial Society.
Married: May 26, 1920:Rebecca Williams.
Has two sons and six daughters.
Recreation: Dancing and Cricket.

BEATON, JOSEPH ALEXANDER
Farmer.
Resides: at Victoria , East Coast, Demerara.
Born: September 17, 1904, at Victoria , to Mark A. Beaton, Farmer,
and his wife, Susan, nee Castello.
Educated: at St. Andrew’s School, Cove and John, East Coast,
Demerara.
Has one son and one daughter.
Married: September 1, 1936: - Gertrude Dyer.
Recreation: Dancing.
Club - Victoria Sports Club.
Hobby - Music.

BEATON, RICKFORD
Farmer.
Resides: at Victoria , East Coast, Demerara.
Born: September 30,1904, at Victoria , to Mark A. Beaton, Farmer,
and his wife, Mary, nee Sharper.
Educated: at Victoria Methodist School .
Married: August 18, 1938: - Albertina Hope.
Has one son and two daughters.
Recreation - Cricket and Dancing.
Club - Victoria Sports Club.
Hobby - Music.

BEATON, URSULA ELIZABETH
Nurse-Midwife.
Resides: at L’Enterprise, Mahaicony, East Coast, Demerara.
Born: April 13, 1877, at Mahaicony, to Samuel Beaton, Tailor, and
his wife, Caroline, nee Fortune.
Educated: Privately.
Was a District League Nurse.
Recreation - Walking.
Hobby -Horticulture and Poultry Rearing.
Clubs - British Guiana Nurses Association and Goodwill Club,
Georgetown .
Holds Medal for meritorious work as a District League Nurse.

BEATON, WILLIAM SOLOMON
Postal Clerk, Post Office Department.
Resides: at 42 Princes Street , Georgetown .
Born: February 12, 1903, at New Forest , Berbice, to James A.
Beaton, Balata Foreman, and his wife, Lucy Betsy nee Harris.
Educated: at New Forest Anglican School .
1919- First appointment in Postal Service.
1935 – Letter Carrier.
1937 – Present appointment.
Married: December 24, 1933: - Ada Agatha Macintosh.
Has one son.
Recreation - Cricket.
Hobby - Gardening and Poultry Rearing.
Roth, Vincent and Delph, Charles Noel (editors) [1948] Who is Who
in British Guiana , (Fourth Edition, 1945 - 1948): page 37.

The entries state;
1. Edgar Augustus Beaton, and Henry Adolphus Beaton, are sons of David Beaton, Farmer, and his wife, Henrietta, nee Gaim. They resided at Bush Lot, Essequibo .
2. Joseph Alexander Beaton, and Rickford Beaton, resided at Victoria . They are sons of Mark A. Beaton, and his wife, Susan, nee Castello and Mark A. Beaton, and his wife, Mary, nee Sharper.
3. Ursula Elizabeth Beaton resided at L’Enterprise, Mahaicony. She is a daughter of Samuel Beaton, Tailor, and his wife, Caroline, nee Fortune.
4. William Solomon Beaton was born: at New Forest , Canje, Berbice. He is the son of James A. Beaton, Balata Foreman, and his wife, Lucy Betsy nee Harris.

Norman Lugard Beaton (October 31, 1934 – December 13, 1994) is a son of William Solomon Beaton and his wife, Ada Agatha nee Macintosh. He was an Afro-British actor . William Solomon Beaton was a Postmaster employed at Belfield Post Office . William Solomon Beaton died in 1983. Ada Agatha (nee MacIntosh) Beaton died in 1962.
James Adolphus Beaton was born October 19. 1891, Adelphi, Berbice, British Guiana . He arrived in New York , USA on board SS Matura on June 17, 1931. He left Demerara on June 5, 1931.
James N. Beaton arrived in New York , USA on board SS Etruria on August 25, 1904. He left Demerara on August 11, 1904. James N. Beaton stated he was going to Thomas Law/Low at 213 Adams Street , Brooklyn , New York . He was 22 years old. He was a Blacksmith.

1. What are the names of the parents, grandparents, great grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles and First-Cousins and other relatives of Florence Beaton, Nelly Beaton, Frederick Simon, Maude Lawrence, and Doreen Joseph?
2. Whom must I consult to be made acquainted with the Campbell relatives of Frederick Simon? Who could link Campbell of Ann's Grove to Campbell of Victoria?
3. What is the name of the mother of Nelly Beaton? Could the mother of Nelly Beaton be Susan Castello or Mary Sharper and/or some other female now unknown?
4. Were there two persons named Mark A. Beaton?
5. Are Joseph Alexander Beaton and Rickford Beaton, sons of the same male named Mark A. Beaton with two different females?
6. If not, which Mark A. Beaton is the father of Nelly Beaton?
7. Can you identify the names of the son and daughter of Joseph Alexander Beaton and his wife,
Gertrude Dyer?
8. What are the names of the son and two daughters of Rickford Beaton and his wife, Albertina Hope?
9. Did Joseph Alexander Beaton and Rickford Beaton, have other children? If so, what are
their names?
10. How are Wax, Patches, Winston Hoppie a.k.a. Jeggae, Joy Cole and her brother and others
members of the kinship of Beaton?
11. Whom do you suggest I consult soonest?

Mun gode don halita - thanks in the name of the ancestors’ childrenofsancho@gmail.com
- "A malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors deceit. A lying tongue hates those it hurts ". Proverbs Chapter 6: 24, 28.

Welcome Address to. Dr. W. H. Wharton

2011-11-19T08:33:00.000-08:00

ADDRESS TO DR. WHARTON.
On Thursday evening an address of welcome was presented to. Dr. W. H.Wharton at the residence of Mr. Thos. Flood, Bourda. The address, which was signed, by prominent East Indian residents were presented on behalf of the signatories by Mr. F. E. Jaundoo, Interpreter at the Immigration office. The address was as follows: —
Georgetown, 26th December, 1899.
Dear Doctor, -It is with the utmost pleasure that we embrace this happy opportunity of addressing you a few words of welcome on your return to British Guiana, your native country.
In doing so we beg "to assure you that we feel immensely proud of the fact that you are the first East Indian native of this colony who has, with great perseverance, studied and successfully attained the profession of a medical doctor.
We are fully aware of the brilliant career you have had and feel extremely gratified to know that you have distinguished yourself while a student in making original discoveries in your profession, and thereby gained for yourself a fame which is not the lot of medical students as a rule to obtain, and for which you have been so deservedly commended.
We sincerely hope, that you will succeed in establishing a lucrative practice, and with, the blessings of Almighty God have an honourable and successful career; and may you 1ong be spared to enjoy the fruits of your labours in our midst. We are, &c, &c.
(Signed) THOS. FLOOD, VEERASAWMY, GOOLMOHUMAD KHAN and Others.
Dr. Wharton in returning thanks said he was deeply touched at the honour they had done him. He had no desire to speak of his achievements, but his countrymen would perhaps be pleased to know that, while, in. England, he utilized his leisure moments to strengthen the social ties between Indians and, Europeans
Source: Daily Chronicle, Saturday, December 30, 1899: Page 3 Col 5. .

Prince Albert Cole

2011-11-19T08:32:00.000-08:00

COLE - On Sunday, January 9, 1938, at his residence, 53 Hadfield Street, Lodge Village, PRINCE ALBERT (99 years old), the beloved father of Corporal O' Donald H. Cole of Kamakusa Police Station and Mesdames Ada Benjamin and Maud Cunningham and grandfather of Harold, Joyce, Donald Cole, James Albert Benjamin and Dorothy Cunningham. Funeral from the above address at 4:30 p.m., today. Friends please accept this the only intimation. Source: Daily Chronicle, Monday, January 10, 1938: Page 4 . . .

MR. PRINCE ALBERT COLE: 99
GEORGETOWN, Mon. Jan. 10
Mr. Prince Albert Cole (99), died at his residence, 53 Hadfield Street, Lodge Village, on Sunday, January 9.
Mr. Cole was born in St. Michael's, Barbados, on November 9, 1838. He was brought to British Guiana by his parents when he was a boy. For most of his working life he served as a coachman under a number of managers of local sugar estates and also to Inspector-General Cox.
Mr. Cole is survived; by one son — Corporal 3277 O’ Donald Cole, stationed at Kamakusa Police Station, two daughters — Mrs. Benjamin, wife of Mr. James A Benjamin, an engineer o£ the BG Consolidated Goldfields Ltd. and Mrs. Cunningham, wife of Mr. Jacob Cunningham, employee at the firm of Messrs. Wieting and, Richter Ltd. and six grandchildren.
The funeral takes place from his residence at 4 30-pm. today. Source: Daily Chronicle, Monday, January 10, 1938: Page 5 . . .
BIRTH – on 3rd instant at 49 Robb Street, Bourda to Mr. and Mrs. O. D. H. Cole – A daughter. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, September 5, 1922: Page 4

Esric Harley Peters - Boxer Victim of Lorry Crash

2011-11-19T08:31:00.001-08:00

Esric Harley Peters - Boxer Victim of Lorry Crash
GEORGETOWN, Mon., Jan; 10
Mr. ESRIC HARLEY PETERS ("Jack Harley"), boxer, was buried; yesterday, afternoon. He died in the Public hospital Georgetown, shortly, after he had been admitted, with serious injuries sustained in a Lorry accident which occurred at Strathspey, East Coast, Demerara, on Saturday night.
Mr. Peters was one of seven Public Works, employees who were injured when one of the huge Thbraycroft lorries owned by the Public Works Department plunged; into the trench at the left aide of the Public Road, about a mile beyond Vigilance,
The other persons who were hurt are: -.
Clement King (36), of 183 Murray Street — left ear crushed, and injuries to the left side of his head.
John Robinson (22), of 179 Charlotte Street — fractured left leg and injury to his forehead.
Samuel Brathwaite (31), Victoria F. C. footballer, of 74 Sixth Street, Alberttown — cuts on a right wrist and knees and bruises.
Augustus Henson (22), of 54 New Garden Street — cut on forehead, injuries to left hand and bruises.
Patrick Humphrey (26), infantry S. C footballer of 74 Robb Street —. injuries to left leg and left arm.
Hubert Wilson, driver of the lorry — cuts on both hands.

TWO LEAVE HOSPITAL
Henson and Wilson were able to leave .hospital yesterday. After a post mortem was performed on Mr. Peters’ body by Dr.
'K, G. Hi. Payne, it was removed to the .Queenstown Funeral Parlour.' The funeral removed from there at 5.15 p.m., and was largely attended.
Mr. Esrlc Harley Peters, son of-the late Mr. J. Z. Peters, Schoolmaster, and Mrs. J. Wagner was born at Britannia, West Coast, Berbice, on June 3, 1910. He was educated by his father, and after he had left school he was an apprenticed engineer at the. .Transport and Harbours Department. He subsequently worked as a clerk to the Late E. F. Fredericks, Barrister - at - Law.
Mr. Peters had for a number of years been employed by the Pure Water Supply Scheme, where he served as store - keeper.

Career as A Boxer
As a boxer, “Jack Harley” had a good career which goes back to the year 1929. During that time he met and defeated Redmond, La Fleur, Dixie Kid (twice), Llewellyn Hayes and PC. Willis. He had three fights with Young Jack Johnson. He knocked out Johnson in the first, drew with him in the second and was knocked out in the third. He acted as referee of the Barnwell - Al Charles fight which took place recently in Berbice.
Mr. Esrlc Harley Peters was a nephew of Rev. A. T. Peters of Providence Congregational Church, who is at present away from British Guiana on leave.

The Funeral
The principal mourners are: Mrs. J. Wagner (mother); Mrs. Caroline Shepherd (99)
J of Britannia (grandmother); Mrs. Martin (Sister), wife of Mr. Martin of the Pure Water Supply Scheme, Mrs. Tucker (sister) wife of Mr. Eric Tucker’ Misses Monica Vivienne “Nannen” Wagner and Miss Celestine Peters (Sisters); Messrs. I. O’Connell (“Benny Lee”) and Joseph S. Connell; Messrs. J. M. and C., and C. Peters (brothers); Mrs. Mayers (Aunt); wife of Mr. G. Mayers, engineer of New Amsterdam; Mr. Samuel Shepherd (Uncle); Mr. Henry Shepherd (Uncle); Warder of the New Amsterdam Prison and Mr. James Shepherd (Uncle) of the Town Constabulary of New Amsterdam.
was to be married in June
Mr. Esrlc Harley Peters was the fiancé of Miss Ivy Endracht, only daughter of Nurse E. Endracht of this city. They were to be married in June this year.
Prayers were led at the funeral parlour by Mr. Trenton Isaacs, Catechist of Providence Congregational church, after which the cortege went to that Church, where Mr. Isaacs conducted an impressive service, the interment being subsequently made at the Le Repentir Cemetery.
Among those who attended were: - Dr S. Percival James, Captains, A.B. Barker and J Sampson. Messrs. J. Caesar, Charles Williams, Henwood Adrian, C. Peters, R. H. Ince, I O. Connell, G. A. Thrope, J. Softleigh, P. Birmingham, A. Hayes, E. Chapman, W. Forde, V. Archer, E. Tucker, G. Hacket, S. H. Griffith, J. Thorpe, B. James, S. A. Isaacs, I. Callender, A. Shand, J. Henderson, M. Lam, F. Hutson, V. Leal, R. Blackman; H. London; G. Boyce; W. G. Pryce, G. Keith; W. Pratt, .B. Barker, P. Fraser, Sampson Nathaniel Collins, C. H. Bradshaw, J. Callender, S. Harry, B Rodney; C. T. Coltress, T. A. Rodney, S. A. Duncan; A. Forde; J. Shields, A. Cush; J. H. Agard, R, C, Williams, I. C, Agard, L. Gibbs, .R. Adrian; P. Hutson, H. A. Cromarty; A. Fenty; P. Abbott; H. Gillis, G. Ogle; R. G. B. Field; C Carter, .C. Jones, B. Alleyne; J . E. .Jerrick; R. Armstrong, J. McKenzie, G. Leacock; .S. Martin; O. Mack (representing the .Boxing Board of Control);S. Bobb-Semple; I Clarke; O. Gilmore; J. Martin; J . Ashby; H. Wilson; B. Ceres; B; Franklin; C. S. Wills; P. Marshall; A. F. Bullen; A. Lancaster; H. T. Haynes; S. Garraway; J. Gittens; J. Guy; R. McKellar .and C. Lyken.
Wreaths were sent by: Mother and the boys; Enid; Zenia and the little ones; Mrs. A. V. Coltress and family; Mr. C. T. Coltress; Ivy; Mrs. Endracht and., family; Mr. and Mrs. J. C. Nurse; the Resident Engineer and Staff of the Pure Water. Supply, Scheme; Mr. C. S. Burrowes; Mr. Jimmy Ahwah; Mrs.; Lewis and Mrs. Huggllis; Mr. and Mrs. G. F. deSebastiani and Mr. Edward Adams.
Source: Daily Chronicle, Monday, January 10, 1938: Page 5 . . .

Queens College 1960 -1961

2011-07-22T11:00:00.001-07:00

SCHOOL OFFICIALS - THE STAFF 1960 -1961

PRINCIPAL: V. J. SANGER-DAVIES, M.A. (Cantab.) T.D. Member of the Head Masters' Conference)
DEPUTY PRINCIPAL: N. E. CAMERON, M.A. (Cantab.)

SENIOR MASTERS:- S. R. R. Allsopp M.A. (London); D. Hetram, M.A., B.C.L. (Durham); C.E. Barker Ed,, B.Sc, (London)

MASTERS:
C.J. Draton; Chunilall , B. A. (London);Miss L de W. Dolphin, M.B.E., G.R.S.M. (London);C.A. Yansen; C. P. Yhap, M.A. ( Oxon); E. W. London, B.A. (London); B. A. Eyre, B.A. (London); G. H. Narayan, B.A. B.Sc.(London);R. D. Rock, B.A.(Durham); E. R. Burroughs, M.B.E.;R. A. Lee, M.Sc.(London); J . R. Ramsammy,.B.Sc. (Edinburgh.); R . J . Moore, B.A. (London); R. L. Clarke, B.A.(Cantab);M. T. Lowe, B.Sc.(Hull); E. P. Clayton , B.A.(Leeds);K. A. L. Brown, M.A (Aberdeen);
R. E. Jackson, B.A. (Leicester); C. I . Trotz , B.A.(Cantab); J. A. Rodway, B.A.(London); S. M. D. Insanally, B.A. (London)
R. M. Lall, M.Sc.(Punjab); Miss A. Akai , B.A.(Leicestershire.); M. d e V. Delph, M.A. (Edinburgh);N. Howe, B.A.(Belfast);P. P. Dyal, B.A.
(Cantab); E. A. Wason

ACTING MASTERS
H. A. M. Beckles, O.B.E, M.A.(Oxon);R. C. G. Potter, B.A. (London); S. A . King , B.A. (London);H. H. Nicholson, B. Sc. (London);H. B. Hinds; R. M. Jonas; A. C. Robinson; D. Gray

HEAD OF SCHOOL - G. F. Ramprashad (Pilgrim House)
DEPUTY HEAD OF SCHOOL - T. C. Edwards (Moulder House)

PREFECTS
A.R. Bacchus; L S. Birkett ; V. R. Boodhoo; J. R. K. Butchey; N. P. Chan; J . P .C. Croal; L. F. Fraser; R.W. Gobin; R.E. Grant; H. H. Hetram; W. G. Ho; C. H. Hope; N. E. Jackson; W. C. Klass; R. O. W. Kuehnel; L .L Lewis; R. E. Luck; T. K. Prashad; J. R. G. Ramprashad; W. A. Ramsahoye; D. F. G. Rohlehr; R. Roopnarine; D. Spence; G. A. Ting-A-Kee; R. I. Zitman

LIBRARY STAFF
OFFICE STAFF
SECRETARY :- Miss E. Arno
BURSAR:- Miss D. Wan-Ping
CLERICAL STAFF : - Miss D. Douglas - Mr. C. Bryan
LIBRARIAN:- J. P. Benjamin
MAGAZINE ORGANISERS:- M. M. Drepaul, N.D. Williams
JUNIOR. LIBRARIANS: - C. G. Hunter, M. G. Marshall
CHIEF MONITOR: Taharally Ishoof ,
MONITORS : A. Thomas, R. H. P. Mohamed, N. Rambarrat

MAGAZINE EXECUTIVE
SUPERVISOR :- Mr. D. Hetram
EDITOR :- J. P. Benjamin
ASSISTANT EDITOR:- F. I . Douglas
FEATURES EDITOR:- C. V. Ho
ASSISTANT FEATURES - N. D. Williams
EDITORS :- M. M. Drepaul
SPORTS EDITOR:- M. G. Browman
BUSINESS SECTION:- M. G. Marshall

LICTOR EXECUTIVE
Mr. Allsopp; C. O. Marshall; F. L. Douglas; M. M. Drepaul; C. H. Hope; K. A. Nobrega (Treasurer)

SALVETE!
M. Abrahams; J. A. Crichton; E. F. S. Jordan; G. K. Plummer

C. A. Ackloo; H . J. Agard; M. 0 .P. Algernon; J. A. Ali; M. S. Ali ;N. L. Ali; S. S .Ali; S. P.R. Anderson; M. M. Aziz
M. A. Bacchus; R. C. Bankay; L. M. St. C. B a t s o n ;S. L. Belle; H. R. Benjamin; K. O 'N. Blackman; K. S. Boyer; R. 0 .Bradshaw; R. J. S. Broome; A. Bunbury
J. T. Caesar; V. B. P. Callender; R. O .Campbell; A. W. Chan; R. Chandisingh; R. M. W. Choo-Hum; C D. Choo-Wing; O.R. Churaman; H. Cox
J. L. DaSilva; B. A. DeBarros; D. D. P. Debidin; L. J .D. DeFreitas; E. E. Devonish; D. V. Dyal; L C. Dyal.
J. A. Exeter
G. O .Farnum; C. A. Fields
M. H. Gajraj; G. Gangaram; B. A. C. Gibbs; C. A. Glasgow; T. R. Giasheen; R. E. Glen; G. E. Granger
M. A. Haynes; L. E. Heywood; R. E. Hicks; J. C. Hinds; M. F. Hinds; L. K. Holder; W. M. Ho-Yen; P. I. Hoyte
S. N. Inrhan; R. H. Ishmael ,
C. B. Jagan; G. H.Johnson
N.Khan; L. I.Kilkenny; E. G.Klass; R. R.Kunar
D. Lall; R. R. Lall; M. A. London
H. A. McDavid; K. C. McGibbon; R. J. Massay; B. N. Misir; E. Monsanto; C. L. Montouth; K. I. H. Mootoo; A.R. Morrison; G. P. G. Murray,
S. A. Nasir; Z. D. M. M. A. Nasir; 0.E. Ng-Qui-Sang; K. R. Noel
P. A. Parry; R. G. Partin; N. B. Payne; D. R. Persaud; K. R. Persaud; M. Persaud; T. Persaud; H. R. Phillips; I. Pitt-Aikens
M. A. R. Rai; V. E. Ralph; M. A. Ramjohn; P. Ramsammy; C. W. Richards; B. A. Robertson; B. C. Rodrigues-Nascimento; F. M. Rohoman; J. M. Rupuarain; M. C. Ross,
G. F. Sam; R. Shivraj; J. B. B. Singh; M. B. Singh; T. Singh; A. Smith; J. Le. Smith; D. E. Solomon; C. A. Subryan
G. A. Tallim
B. Walks; R. L. Wallace; H. G. Watson; K. A. Wills; C.0.W.Wilson
M. A. Yassin ; W. E. Yong - Set ; R. L. Young,

Births and Deaths

2011-05-10T16:55:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCEMENT -
MARRIED -
GORDON- PAYNE - On Thursday, May 25, 1944, at St. Mark's Church, Enmore, East Coast, Demerara, MICHAEL WAN NEWHAM, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. R. C. Gordon to MARGARET NOREEN, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Payne, Enmore, East Coast, Demerara.
Source: the Daily Chronicle, Saturday, May 27, 1944: page 4.

ANNOUNCEMENT
BIRTH
SPELLEN - on Tuesday, May 30, 1944 at Public hospital Georgetown to Mr. and Mrs. Edward G. Spellen, the gift of a daughter - Marjorie Patricia
DIED -
GHANIE - On Wednesday, May 31, 1944, at her residence, Unity, East Coast, Demerara, BOWLEY, beloved wife of Mohamed Ghanie.
Funeral from the above address today at 8 o'clock
Friends and relatives are asked to accept this intimation and attend. (No Wreaths)

CHRISTIAN -- On Wednesday, May 31, 1944, at his residence, 26 Norton Street, Werk-en-Rust, MANOEL, the beloved husband of Ursula; father of Elsa, Claude, and Maurice; and late foreman of Harlequin's Bakery.
Funeral from the above address today at 4:30PM today.
Friends please attend.
Source: Announcement - the Daily Chronicle, Thursday June 1, 1944: page 4.
DIED -
ALLSOP - Monday, June 26, 1944 at her residence 75 Adelaide Street ALICE JUSTINA; beloved mother of SRR Allsop, Blanche Dublin and Albert Allsop and grand mother of S. A. Dublin, William London-Williams, Richard Allsop, Philip Allsop and Bertie Allsop
Source: Announcement - the Daily Chronicle, Tuesday June 27, 1944: page 4

John Patterson Mansell

2011-05-08T10:36:00.001-07:00

OBITUARY: - Mr. John Patterson Mansell, Passes On - Funeral Largely Attended
Georgetown, Wednesday, May 3 - people from every walk of life gathered yesterday afternoon to pay their last tribute to Mr. John Patterson Mansell, a city businessman, whose funeral took place from his residence, 21 Broad Street.
Mr. Mansell took ill about a month ago but during the last ten days his condition worsened and he passed away at his residence about 4 AM, yesterday.
Born at Golden Grove Village, East Coast, Demerara, 63 years ago, Mr. Mansell, was in the baking business for more than thirty years and in his time was much respected, proof of which was seen at the funeral.
He was a member of Court Georgetown, ancient Order of Foresters and was also a popular figure in the field of sport, having promoted several boxing bouts. His amiable disposition won him a wide circle of friends and he will long be remembered by the boys of the Plaisance Orphanage to whom he was exceedingly kind.
Long before the cortege left for the church of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, where a choral service was conducted by the Reverend Peter McCaffrey, S.J., there was a large gathering in and out of the house and many were the expressions of sympathy from the vast crowd who testified to the sterling character of the departed.
Honourable J. I. de Aguiar, Managing Director of Messrs. J. P. Santos & Company Limited in a well-worded tribute to Mr. Mansell said: “ I am unable to find words to express adequately the high regard I held for John Patterson Mansell, or Pat as I have known him for the last forty years and more. As a businessman his transactions have been of the best as a friend of the poor and indeed to everyone, including myself his deeds and his kindness will be remembered for a long time. I think he died as he wished, endeavoring to work and live a life that will remain in our memory.”
After prayers were said at the house the cortege proceeded to the Catholic Cathedral where a service was held after which the procession left for the cemetery where the body was entombed in the old Roman Catholic ground at Le Repentir.
Those left to mourn are his wife Mabel Dance (to whom he was married 33 years ago) three children - Mrs. Alan Haly and the Misses Patsy and Elsa Mansell; a brother, George and a sister, Mrs. Edith Reid.
The corpse was borne from the house by Messrs. A. O. Haly (son-in-law); P. Dettering; A. L. DaSliva; J. R. Perreira; Honourable J. I. de Aguiar and Dr. J. Bisessar, while bakers before him at the Church and at the graveside.

ATTENDANCE
Among those who attended were Messrs. G. Adams; M. G. Azevedo; S. N. Abdool; J. Applewaithe; Dr. R. T. Bayley; H., and A. Brandon; P. A. Bourne; W. A. Badley; W. Boyea; F. Bogneau; C. Barrow; A. B. Bowen; A. C. Brazao; I., H., and O. J. Cendrecourt; P. Cox; A. Cato; A. B. Correia; M. Correia; L. Cromwell; H. Carew; I. R. Chee-a-Tow; H. N. Chapman-Edwards; A.. Chee-a-Tow; E. Copeland; A. Cambridge; E. Chancellor; E. Chung; M., A., and E. I. Charles; E. Carrington; Honourable J. I. de Aguiar ; P. D’ Ornellas; A. Dean; P. Dettering; J. deFreitas; A. L. DaSliva; R. A. Dummett; A. Dummett; J. Daniels; J. DaSilva; D. Dublin; A. J. deSouza; V. J. and C. C. DeFreitas; G. F. de Sebastiani; B. DeSouza; F. Drayton; N. Elias; L. Everson; S. B. Ellis; M. Egbert; J. B. Fernandes; C. Fernandes; T. O. Forsythe; T. Farnum; J. P. Fernandes; W. Frank; A. V. Gonsalves; J. Gonsalves; J. S. Gonsalves; E. S. Gillette; W. A. Gilkes; C. Gouveia; C. S. Gillette; Joseph Gonsalves; H. Gill; A. C. Gibson; A. O. Hayly; J. Hill; E. Henriques; D. F. Hill; A. Henson; County Sergeant Major Hughes; J. Jaikaran; A. James; I. Joseph; H. and R. Khan; J. a. King; L. and H. Kawall; S. Low; I. T. Lam; C. I. Lopes; Cheong Loen; C. B. McWatt; F. Mason; S. Martins; J. McIntyre; A. McIntosh; R. A. Mann; H. Massey; B. Massey; H. A. Matthews; A. T. Morgan; J. Mohamed; F. R., D. I. and S. P. Mittelholzer; J. Mansell; V. O. Marshall; J. L. Martins; C. Nusum; D. P. Ng-Chee; E. G. Nasay; M. Nascimento; A. Nurse; H. Nurse; Reverend A. T. Peters; A. Perreira; J. R. Perreira; R. Perreira; J. Perreira; H. Persaud; G. A. Phang; A. Parris; B. Paul; J. Pilgrim; J. H. Rodrigues; R. Reed; J. A. Ramprashad; C. H. Robinson; D. Rausch; T. Shepherd; O. Teixeira; J. N. Teixeira; J. Teixeira; I. S. Tang; C. Vasconcellos; A. Vieira; M. Vieira; C. Wong; S. Weeks; T. Warner; R. Welch; A. N. Whitehead and A. C. young.
Source: Obituary - Mr. John Patterson Mansell Passes On - Funeral Largely Attended - The Daily Chronicle - Wednesday, May 3, 1944: page 8.

Government County Scholarships, 1934

2011-03-22T16:35:00.000-07:00

Don’t let them school you - Don’t let them fool you - Do the research yourself – access scientific information - know the truth...
I was listening and watching the symposium honoring the late Dr. Walter Anthony Rodney (1942-1980) held at York College sponsored by New York Chapter of Queen'’ College Alumni and WBAI FM99.5 June 12, 2010. Professor Winston McGowan pointed out that Rodney failed to win the Government County Scholarships, 1953. I challenge myself to look up the names of those who were awarded scholarships in 1953 and try to ascertain their contributions to society and what their legacy is.
However, while looking through the collection of clippings, I have in the attempt to locate what I collected on Levi-Campbell Union and its relationship to Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara; I accessed this masterpiece.
What kind of a student was Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham in 1934?
How was he in Reading and Oral Tests, Writing, Arithmetic, English Grammar and Composition, Geography, History, Nature Knowledge and/or Drawing?
How did Burnham compare with his contemporaries? PNC lackeys and academic will try to refurbish Burnham as if he were the best ever scholar produced by the colony of British Guiana. That is simply "far from reality"...Natural Black
Let’s have a peep into the past - shall we?
The candidate Linden Burnham of Kitty Methodist school was assigned the examination number (36). He tallied 302 marks. The results showed; Reading and Oral Tests (41 marks), Writing (46 marks), Arithmetic (62 marks), English Grammar and Composition (72 marks) Geography (32 marks), History (34 marks), Nature Knowledge (did not test), and Drawing (15 marks).
While the top students in the individual tests were as follows;

READING AND ORAL TESTS,
(48 marks) Ewart Isaacs (St. Stephen’s Scots)

WRITING
(49 marks) Neville Franker, Carl DaSilva, Leslie Drayton Elsie Jaikaran and Valerie Chan Choong.

ARITHMETIC
(90 marks) Arthur Greene, (Wanda Man-Son-Hing was adjudged a score of 89 marks)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR AND COMPOSITION
(90 marks) Leslie Drayton, (Sheila King, a score of 78 marks)

GEOGRAPHY
(45 marks) James Eytle and Elsa Pollard

HISTORY
(43 marks) Wanda Man-Son-Hing (Denis DaSilva, the leading male with 41 marks)

NATURE KNOWLEDGE
(41 marks) Clifton Low-a-Chee (Georgina Hector, top female with 34 marks)

DRAWING
(47 marks) Neville London-Williams (Elsa Pollard, top female with 44 marks)

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NOTICE # 335
Government County Scholarships, 1934 –
The Official Gazette of British Guiana – September 1, 1934
The following table gives the results of the Government County Scholarships, Examination held on Wednesday and Thursday, 1st and 2nd of August 1934.
N.B. - Nature Knowledge and Drawing are alternative subjects.

DEMERARA
BOYS - three scholarships available - three awarded
(42) Neville Franker (Christ Church) 376 marks
(24) Leonard Westmaas (Government School) 365 marks
(23) James Eytle (Government School) 357 marks

GIRLS - two scholarships available - two awarded
(19) Wanda Man-Son-Hing (Government School) 356 marks
(416) Elsa Pollard (Buxton congregational) 321 marks

BERBICE
BOYS - two scholarships available - two awarded
(223) Carl DaSilva (New Amsterdam Boys’ Roman Catholic) 335 marks
(221) Francis Hilary Roja (New Amsterdam Boys’ Roman Catholic) 325 marks

GIRLS - two scholarships available - one awarded
(233) Georgina Hector (Edinburgh Church of Scotland) 309 marks
One remaining scholarship awarded to the boy next in order of merit under the terms of regulation 9
(245) Clifton Low-a-Chee (Cumberland Methodist) 313 marks.

ESSEQUEBO
BOYS - two scholarships available - one awarded
(64) Horace Cholmondeley (Beterverwagting Episcopal) 282 marks.

GIRLS - one scholarship available - none awarded
Two remaining scholarships awarded in order of merit under the terms of regulation 9
(39) Arthur Greene (Christ Church) 355 marks
(25) George Bancroft (Government School) 346 marks

The following candidates also qualified: -
DEMERARA
BOYS
(143) Leslie Drayton (St. Phillips’ Episcopal) 324 marks
(104) Ovid Johnson (St. Ambrose Episcopal) 310 marks
(43) Jocelyn Man-Son-Hing (Christ Church) 309 marks
(15) Ewart Isaacs (St. Stephen’s Scots) 308 marks
(36) Linden Burnham (Kitty Methodist) 302 marks
(17) Stanley Allsopp (St. Stephen’s Scots) 300 marks
(79) Neville London-Williams (Cormenius) 280 marks
(69) Basil Phillips (Bethel Congregational) 271 marks
(423) Robert Baird (Friendship Methodist) 271 marks

GIRLS
(21) Elsie Jaikaran (Government School) 301 marks
(20) Valerie Chan Choong (Government School) 293 marks
(42) Sheila King (Christ Church) 291 marks
(46) Doreen Rodrigues (Christ Church) 291 marks
(22) Eugene Dolphin (Government School) 278 marks

BERBICE
(224) Denis DaSilva (New Amsterdam Boys’ Roman Catholic) 311 marks
(222) Eustace Fraser (New Amsterdam Boys’ Roman Catholic) 300 marks
(240) Stanley Too-Kong (Rose Hall Church of Scotland) 284 marks
(252) George Alleyne (Cumberland Methodist) 271 marks

Leonard Westmaas transferred from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic school on January 29, 1934.
James Eytle transferred from St. Philip’s Church of England school on September 5, 1932.
Wanda Man-Son-Hing transferred from St. Philip’s Church of England school on January 17, 1933.
George Bancroft transferred from Aurora Church of Scotland school on October 31, 1932

W. Bain Gray, Director of Education, Education Department, Georgetown, August 23, 1934
(M.P. No; 3539/33)
Source: Education Department Notice # 335 Government County Scholarships, 1934 - the Official Gazette of British Guiana – September 1, 1934: page 533

OBITUARY: MISS VERONICA ALEXANDRINA BUNYAN

2011-03-11T13:30:00.000-08:00

OBITUARY: MISS VERONICA ALEXANDRINA BUNYAN
Georgetown, Sunday, August 15,
After a lingering and painful illness, Miss Veronica Alexandrina Bunyan, popularly known as Vera, died on Thursday morning August 5, 1937.
Miss Bunyan was the eldest daughter of Mr. George Henry Augustus Bunyan headteacher of Victoria Roman Catholic School and Mrs. Emma Matlida Bunyan, both
of Buxton- Friendship Village, on the East Coast of Demerara.
After passing her Primary School Certificate Examination, She served for some years as a Pupil teacher with her father at the Regent Street Roman Catholic School, Georgetown, and after his transfer from the City to Victoria, she continued to serve there until the closing of the school in December 1929.
From there she accompanied her uncle, Mr. Edgar M. Morgan, agricultural instructor to Barbados on a six months’ health trip and returned home very much improved in health.
She had no particular love for teaching, and sometime after her return, she studied for and succeeded in passing the Lady Health Visitor’s Examination, and served in an acting capacity for some months in the Beterverwagting and Buxton- Friendship District.
Eager to become a fully qualified Nurse-Midwife, she joined the staff of the Public Hospital Georgetown, and after some months’ service she resigned on account of ill health.
Under the care of devoted parents and immediate relations, coupled with the attention and treatment given by her medical attendants she showed signs of great Improvement, but quite recently she fell back.
She was of a very amiable disposition and was much liked and respected by her relatives and friends.
She bore her affliction with exemplary fortitude and quietly and peacefully died on Thursday morning August 5, and was buried the same afternoon.
Reverend Father J. da Silva, the Parish officiated at the funeral services.

PALL – BEARERS
The pall – bearers were; Messrs. Edgar Morgan and John Morgan (uncles), George Morgan and William Philadelphia (cousins), Silas H. Hamlett and Lydon Barton.

THE ATTENDANCE
Among the large number of persons who attended were: Messrs. George Bunyan, Edgar Morgan, John Morgan, George Morgan and Charles Morgan, K.R. Carter, A. D. Philadelphia, Joseph McKinnon, Rupert Hinckson and Henry Hinckson, William Nicholas Arno, W. A. Philadelphia, D. J. Richmond, William Dolphin, Paul Branco, Donald Ashley Bevel Trotman, S. E. Persico, F. H. Pollard, S. A. Thierens, Conrad B. Wilson, Carlton Paton Browne Melbourne, A. B. Hazlewood, C. A. Glasgow, James Alfred Trotman, George Arlington Ashmore Younge, William Appleton Dodsley Younge, C.N. Agard, George Herbert Westwell Luke, Ivan Pollard, Fred Seaforth, Oscar Hobbs, Silas H. Hamlett, George E. Wilson, Lydon Barton, John Barton, Edward Wilson, S. E. A. Talbot, Vivian Reece, J. Dinally, Winslow Lewis, John Graham, McLean Jervis, Clinton Moore, W. A. Stephenson, Reginald Howard, Micholas Martin, L. Gomes, Bertie Hamer, D. Brotherson, Ex-Sergeant Major James Butcher, Sergeant J. Mentore and Marius Sankies.
Source: the Daily Chronicle Sunday, August 15, 1937:page 11.

REQUESTS:
Will you inform the GGBS respecting the legal names of the persons mentioned above?
If you know and/or can obtain the names and biographical (primarily dates of deaths) and genealogical data of the persons mentioned above and enlighten the GGBS soonest?

NOTE:
The majority of the persons mentioned above are or were members of the rural elite resident in the African communities, primarily Buxton- Friendship, Golden Grove – Nabaclis, Victoria-Belfield village districts on the East Coast of Demerara.
Most were schoolteachers including members of the British Guiana Teachers’ Association (BGTA) and executive committee of the British Guiana Teachers’ Association (BGTA) and leaders in politics and community development in the village Districts?
Most of their descendants who possess academic abilities are likely found in Canada, United Kingdom, and USA. Those who remain on the East Coast are catching hell there is that something to shout out about…
The villages which produced leaders and educators under the British colonial administrators, are said to be reproducing and graduating thieves and murders under the watch of the PNC and the PPP, and more so in the recent past…
How could that be possible? It is beyond the effects of BRAIN DRAIN – don’t you think?

Sunday, August 8, 1937

2011-02-23T15:08:00.000-08:00

MARRIED: -
LEWIS – LA ROSE – On Wednesday, August 4, 1937, by the Reverends M. A. Cossou and T. A. Giles at All Saints Scots Church, New Amsterdam, SARAH GEORGIANA, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. E. La Rose of New Amsterdam to SAMUEL SULTON, Tailor-in-charge at Mental Hospital, son of Mrs. Catherine Lewis of Islington.

ZITMAN-BELGRAVE – On Saturday, July 31, 1937, at 5.15 p.m. at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Brickdam, by the Reverend Father J. Goodwin. FRANCES LAWRENCE to IRIS VIVIAN

SILVER WEDDING
DAVIS- ZITMAN – On Tuesday, August 6, 1912 at the Catholic Cathedral, Georgetown by the Reverend Father Austin Monan S.J., N. EVERARD (Harry) to GERTRUDE S. (Gertie)
DIED
BENNETT – On Sunday, July 25, 1937, at Ithaca Village, West Bank, Berbice, GEORGE BERNARD, aged 68 years. R.I.P. beloved husband of Elfreda Bennett, born Amour of Friendship Village, East Coast, Demerara.
CLARKE - On Saturday, August 7, 1937, at lot 49 High Street, Charlestown. LAWRENCE, aged 60 years. Beloved husband of Eliza and father of William, Maude, Eloise and Anita.
Funeral from the Queenstown Parlour at 4 o’clock this afternoon.
DEYALJEE - On Sunday, August 8, 1937, at her late residence 22 Asylum Street, New Amsterdam . FUBHAGIA (Katie) the beloved wife of Jechand Deyaljee, mother of Milton, Mrs. Doris Jugdeo, Sonny, Herman, Clarice, Zinnia, and Pansy and grandmother of Kasree and Baby Jugdeo. Aged 47 years.
Funeral from the above address at 4.00 p.m. today.

CARD
MR. E. ASHFORD and family beg to thank through this medium the many kind friends who attended the funeral of their beloved one, as well as those who sent wreaths, telegrams, letters and cards, and in other ways condoled with them in their recent bereavement.
MR. CYRIL R. HUMPHREY and family beg to thank the many friends who attended the funeral and also those who sent wreaths, cards, letters of condolence and in any other way condoled with them in their recent bereavement.

MR. C. A. HIRSCHFELD and his daughters wish to thank the many friends who attended the funeral of his late wife and their mother, and also those who sent wreaths, cards, and other tokens of sympathy.
Source: The Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana. Sunday, August 8, 1937: page 12.

Hoyte-Sampson clan

2010-10-15T10:19:00.000-07:00

Is Desmond Hoyte related to the Hoyte-Sampson clan of Golden Grove and Nabaclis? Are you aware of any DNA relationship between Forbes Burnham and Desmond Hoyte? I am trying to link up with the members of the kinship of Sampson of Golden Grove and Nabaclis. The urgent need is to identify our inter-related people. Thereby determine whether Christine Sampson and Caroline Sampson and other members of the kinship of Sampson are related to any of the members of the kinship of Sancho.

MARTIN LEOPOLD ADOLPHUS HOYTE
Tin and Guttersmith
RESIDES at Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
BORN: February 11, 1905 at Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara. to James R. Hoyte, Farmer, and his wife, Caroline nee Sampson.
EDUCATED at Golden Grove Wesleyan School.
was assistant Choirmaster Seventh Days Adventist Church
MARRIED: Alice Damon
Has two sons.
(Source: Roth, Vincent & Delph, Claude Noel (Editors) Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: page 259)

PERSONS OF INTERESTS: Olivia Hoyte(U.K), Corinne Hoyte(U.K), Telbert Hoyte (U.K), Martin Leopold Adolphus Hoyte, Buddy Hoyte, James R. Hoyte, Alice Damon, Christine Sampson and Caroline Sampson

Surnames: HOYTE, SAMPSON, DAMON

Village Ordinance 1892

2010-08-31T11:29:00.001-07:00

VILLAGE NOTICE
In pursuance of section 28 of the Village Ordinance, 1892, it is hereby notified that the Chairmen of the undermentioned Village Councils have reported to the Villages Committees of the Central Board of Health, that the following election of Councillors have been made in room of those retiring as provided in section 32 and 33 of the said Ordinance.
Thomas Daly
Secretary, Central Board of Health and Inspector of Villages.
Office of the Central Board of Health,
Georgetown,
30th December 1893.
RESULT OF ELECTIONS FOR THE YEAR 1894 UNDER THE VILLAGE ORDINANCE, 1892.
PLAISANCE – Joshua Furry, William Bowman, V. C. Bunbury.
BETERVERWAGTING – A. T. Hubbard, R. J. Stephens, Richard Rodney
BUXTON AND FRIENDSHIP – S. Ogle, Roger Jacobs, R. R. Carter, William Ogle.
GOLDEN GROVE AND NABACLIS - M. G. Pitta, James Morrison.
VICTORIA – E. B. Collins, John Joyce.
ANN’S GROVE AND TWO FRIENDS – Zacchaeus Pompey, Henry Osborne
DEN AMSTEL AND FELLOWSHIP – J. G. Vieira, W. Cummings, G. Adams
QUEENSTOWN – Joseph Johnson, C. B. Higgins, Samuel Muller
DANIELSTOWN – B. N. Nichols, Bahama Livan
BAGOTVILLE – A. T. St. Pierre, Benjamin Peter Hodge, John Schultz.
STANLEYTOWN – James Prowell, Esau Sutherland
GOOD INTENT AND SISTERS – Charles Persic, John Adams.
CRAIG - John Kiernan, Samuel Johnson
CUMBERLAND – Ramdayal, F. A. Tross
Source: Village Notice - The Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana. Tuesday, May 31, 1893:page 2 columns 6 & 7.

The Late Reverend Henry Valentine Peter Bronkhurst

2010-08-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

DEATHS
PEARSON – on the 17th inst., at 21 First Street, Alberttown, FLORENCE JOHANNA, late Assistant Teachers, Christ Church School. Funeral at 4pm. Friends will please accept this the only intimation.
BRONKHURST – on the 17th instant, at his residence, Green Street, Charlestown, REV. HENRY VALENTINE PETER BRONKHURST, Wesleyan Missionary for 34 years to the East Indian Immigrants, aged 59 years. (Madras papers will please copy)
Source: Deaths - The Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana. Thursday, July 18, 1895: page 3 Column 1.

It is with deep regret we have to record the death of the Reverend Henry Valentine Peter Bronkhurst, Wesleyan Missionary, which took place on the morning of the 17th inst., at his residence in Green Street, Charlestown. The reverend gentleman arrived in this colony thirty-four years ago as Wesleyan Missionary to the East Indian Immigrants, and has done much for the uplifting of that race. The deceased was a man of considerable learning and ability, and in 1881 he contributed several articles to the then Colonist newspapers on, “the origin of the Guyanian Indians &c,” which were afterwards re-published in pamphlet form. He also contributed to these columns several interesting papers on the East Indian race. He was the author of a book entitled, “Among the Hindus and Creoles of British Guiana.” His mortal remains were interred yesterday afternoon at La Repentir Cemetery, amidst a sorrowing crowd.
Source: The Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana. Thursday, July 18, 1895: page 3 Column 1.

THE LATE REVEREND HENRY VALENTINE PETER BRONKHURST
TO THE EDITOR: THE DAILY CHRONICLE.
Sir, - the death of the Reverend Henry Valentine Peter Bronkhurst must come as a shock to not a few of the people of British Guiana. To-day, many like myself who have been accustomed to draw inspiration from him, and who have experienced his kindness and profited by his fatherly counsel which he was always so very ready and anxious to give, are inclined to cry out, “a great man has fallen in Israel”, and one whose place in Society made vacant by his vanished presence it is so very difficult, nay, altogether impossible, to fill. I leave it to others to dwell on the public life and career of this good man who has left us, and made us poor indeed, by his departure from our midst.
But as one who on several occasions has been privileged to sit by his side and to listen to the words of wisdom that flowed from his lips – words that have always inspired and nerved my heart, taking their throbbed with love and sympathy, I cannot refrain with the opportunity the sad occasion offers of publicly and gratefully acknowledging my great personal indebtedness to him.
The late Mr. Bronkhurst has not only benefited me personally, but a large number of my East Indian friends in the colony, who had come into direct contact with him. They have in a no mean measure been influenced for good by the sweet, stronger power, exercised over them by the deceased gentleman, and it is chiefly owing to him that they to-day hold respectable positions in the Colony. A patriot he had always been and a great lover of his countrymen and their off-spring – the Hindo-Guianese, and the many and various attempts he had made to benefit them morally and socially, and the vast amount of real good he has been the means of achieving in endeavouring to better and ameliorate the conditions of East Indians in general in this colony, will ever be a lasting and permanent memorial to his sterling character and solid worth as a man and a Christian worker.
Thanking you for space.
I am, Sir, &c.,
Joseph Ruhomon
New Amsterdam.
18th July 1895.
Source: The Late Reverend Henry Valentine Peter Bronkhurst - Correspondence - The Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana. Sunday, July 21, 1895: page 8 Columns 6/7.

Reverend Henry Valentine Peter Bronkhurst (1826-1895)

2010-08-19T13:16:00.000-07:00

The Late Reverend Henry Valentine Peter Bronkhurst (1826-1895)
On Wednesday, July 17th, one of our most faithful and earnest workers passed away, The Rev. Henry V. P. Bronkhurst. Though he had been ailing for a number of years, the end was rather sudden and unexpected. He was still up and about on the Friday before his death but the following Sunday it was evident that there was but little hope of his recovery. He was in great pain and agony for two days before the end came, and unconscious at the time of his death. The news of his death spread quickly and was received with deep sorrow by all who knew him.
Mr. Bronkhurst was a very familiar figure in Georgetown, and known by almost everyone. For the last thirty - five years he had been engaged in work among the East Indians whom he loved greatly and who found in him one who was always ready to stand by them and help in word and deed. One of the most touching scenes in the death chamber was the service conducted by one of his Hindoo converts in the presence of a large number of East Indians. The sorrow that was written in their faces bore testimony to the great esteem in which their shepherd was held by them, and to the love they felt for him. It will be well-nigh impossible to find a successor to Mr. Bronkhurst; for, to work among the East Indians, more is wanted than a mere knowledge of the language. Such work needs a man who is able to appreciate and sympathize with the needs and difficulties of a people who are unjustly looked down upon and treated as if they were strangers to the feelings and affections that are common to other mortals.
Mr. Bronkhurst was born on the 21st March, 1826, in the Tanjore District, where his grandfather, a Dutchman, was a Judge. When only a lad of fourteen he understood several different Indian languages, and made himself acquainted with the leading religious teachings of India, especially was he a student of the Rig-Veda. At the age of sixteen he left southern India for Australia. After a short stay there he went to the holy land where he spent three years, and many of our readers, doubtless, have had ample opportunity of listening to Mr. Bronkhurst’s lectures on his travels there. He was a keen observer of men and customs, with an eye for everything that could prove in the least interesting, and was always ready to give to others the benefit of his extensive knowledge and learning in an unamusing and unostentatious way. From Palestine he went to England, and for some time was engaged as teacher for eastern languages, especially Syriac, Sanskrit, and Hebrew, and was also for a time employed at Holloway’s Establishment as translater.
On the death of the Rev. John E. S. Williams, who was the first Wesleyan Missionary to the East Indians in this colony, Mr. Bronkhurst was approached by the Missionary Committee to take over the work. He landed in Demerara late in December 1860, and has since then been a most indefatigable worker. In 1876 he was compelled to go to England where he remained a few months for the benefit of his health. His heart was in the work; and even in his declining years, though in feeble health, he would hardly ever fail to discharge his duties as a minister. In addition to his ordinary work he found time for writing. His many and various contributions, especially those relating to Eastern subjects, have been widely read and appreciated. Mr. Bronkhurst was a man with deep and Christ-like sympathies. Broad in his views and liberal in his concessions, he never allowed any difference of opinion, creed or nationality to stand in the way of rendering assistance whenever it was needed. It was enough for him to hear that anyone was in trouble and he was ready to help. He was also a fearless Christian, and one that would never sacrifice his principles for the sake of public opinion; in short, as far as his whole character was concerned, he was a man worthy of imitation. His entire life was an exposition of the power of faith in the Christ whom he loved and served. Wesleyan Methodist Monthly Greeting.
Source:The Late Rev. H. V. P. Bronkhurst - the Daily Chronicle, Thursday, July 25, 1895: Page 3 Column 5.

GUIANESE DOCTOR HOME

2010-07-24T11:03:00.002-07:00

OUTSTANDING GUIANESE DOCTOR HOME ON HOLIDAY FROM US.
Dr. Aaron T. Peters returned to the Colony yesterday afternoon on a two weeks vacation. Dr. Peters left British Guiana in September 1937 for the United States of America where he entered Lincoln University in Pennsylvania.
He graduated at the top of his class with Magna Cum Laude in 1941. He entered Howard University in 1943 from where he graduated with an MD degree in 1946. He spent one year internship at Harlem Hospital in New York before going into private practice in Brooklyn which community he is now serving. He is a member of the staff of Cumberland Hospital in Brooklyn and the Mount Morris Park Hospital in New York.
Dr. Peters specialized in Neurology and is a member of the King’s County Medical Society, and a member of the King’s Council Surgeons’ Society. He obtained membership to the latter only a few months ago after his career as a surgeon had been carefully scrutinized by his associates. Members of this society must uphold the highest ideals in Surgery. He is also a Major in the National Guards of the United States Army.
Dr. Peters who is the son of the Reverend A. T. Peters, M.A., said that he noticed that there was much improvement in the economic civic and cultural live in the colony. He said that he was very happy to be back to meet his old friends and contemporaries.
An old boy of St. Saviour’s, St. Stephen’s and Ketley Primary Schools, Dr. Peters won Government County Scholarship in 1928 from Ketley’s and then went to Queen’s College. He was an apprentice Sick nurse and Dispenser under Dr. L. R. Sharples at Port Mourant from 1931 to 1933 before entering the Georgetown Hospital. He qualified as a Dispenser in 1936. He then opened a dispensary in Fyrish Village on the Corentyne in 1937. He left the same year for the USA.
Dr. Peters intends to make a tour of Berbice before he returns to the USA.

Manslaughter Trial Starts

2010-07-24T11:03:00.001-07:00

Manslaughter Trial Starts
On a charge of Motor Manslaughter J. Ramcharran yesterday appeared at the Assizes in Justice Bollers’ Court.
The Crown’s case, conducted by Mr. K. L. George, was that Ramcharran was driving a car from the Carib Hotel in the early hours of the morning on April 29, 1958 when the car turned turtle into the trench at the Kitty Bend, Joyce Devonish, one of the occupants, died as a result of the accident. The others escaped with slight injuries.
Ramcharran is defended by Mr. L. F. S. Burnham.
Evidence led by the Crown is that there was a party of four in the car and after a spot of at the Good; they went to the Hotel Carib. It was while on their way back to the city that the car, a Gaevert, PA 97, turned turtle.
Source: The Daily Chronicle, Thursday, December 18, 1958: page 4.

Village Fathers Meet Minister

2010-07-24T11:02:00.001-07:00

Village Fathers Meet Minister
A seven-man delegation from the British Guiana Village Chairmen’s Conference, Tuesday morning resumed discussions with the Minister of Local Government over a memorandum submitted late last month.
Yesterday’s delegation included Messrs. E. M. A. Wilson, Acting President of the conference; C. P. B. Melbourne, M.B.E., Senior Vice-President; Sydney King, Secretary to the Deputation; B. P. A. Branco, R. Glen, George Younge and H. L. Palmer.
After the meeting, Mr. Wilson said the discussions were held in a cordial atmosphere and the delegation left much more satisfied; than on the last occasion. The minister promised to give consideration to the points raised.

DRAINAGE
In the afternoon the delegation met with the Director of Drainage and Irrigation, Mr. R. F. Camacho, and discussed with him the memorandum on preliminary recommendations for proposed Drainage and Irrigation legislation for the Colony by Mr. C. S. Ridley, Assistant Director, Drainage and Irrigation.

POINTS
The points raised in the Ridley memorandum, were main Irrigation, subsidiary Irrigation, main Drainage, and subsidiary Drainage.
Control operation and maintenance extent of vesting of Control operation and maintenance were also discussed at length.
Source: The Daily Chronicle, Thursday, December 18, 1958: page 4.

Percy Kennedy Laid To Rest

2010-07-24T10:56:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCEMENT- DEATH - KENNEDY :- on Monday December 15, 1958, at his residence, 66 Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Percival A. (PERCY) beloved husband of Anne, brother of Mesdames. L. Knight, Lizzi Grant, May Bascom, Misses Anna Kennedy and Edith Kennedy and J, A. Kennedy (Demba).
Funeral from the British Guiana Funeral Parlour at 4.30, today.

OBITUARY - MR. PERCY KENNEDY
Another Journalist passed away ay his Bent Street residence late on Monday evening after ailing for some time. He is Mr. Percy Kennedy, one of the oldest members of the British Guiana Press.
Mr. Kennedy, a member of the old brigade worked at all three Dailies in this country. As a young man, he served as a Cub Reporter at the Daily Chronicle, under the management of the late Mr. D. K. Jardine, when Mr. Marchant was Editor.
Some time late he joined the Daily Argosy Staff where he worked for thirty years rising to the post of Senior Sub-Editor.
He resigned from the Daily Argosy in 1950 and took up an appointment as News Editor of the Guiana Graphic.
Uncle Percy as he was familiarly known by the Press too ill in 1955 and was confined to his bed from that time.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Anne Kennedy, his Sisters Mesdames L. Knight, L. Grant and M. Bascom, the Misses Anna and Edith Kennedy and a brother Mr. J. A. Kennedy.
The funeral takes place from the British Guiana Funeral Parlour today at 4.30 PM.
Source: Obituary - Mr. Percy Kennedy - The Daily Chronicle, Wednesday, December 17, 1958: page 8.

PERCY KENNEDY LAID TO REST
Mr. Percival A. Kennedy, late Sub-Editor of the Guiana Graphic was laid to rest yesterday afternoon. Members of the Press, relatives and his friends gathered at the British Guiana Funeral Parlour, Queenstown, to pay their final tribute.
Mr. Kennedy died at his residence 66 Bent Street, after ailing for some time. A service was conducted at the Parlour by the Reverends A. S. Russell and W. A. Fraser, after which the cortege proceeded to Le Repentir Cemetery, where the body was laid to rest. The final rites were performed by the Reverends Russell and Fraser. Leaving the Parlour the funeral procession wended its way to St. Stephen’s Scots Church where a service was conducted by the Reverend W. A. Fraser, who also paid tribute to Mr. Kennedy, an ardent member of the Church in his lifetime.
He has left to mourn their loss his widow, Mrs. Anne Kennedy, three sisters and a brother.

THE ATTENDANCE
Among those in attendance were Mr. J. E. Kennedy (brother); sir Donald Jackson, Messrs. A. H. Thorne, R. J. De Corum, H. Bunyan, L. Park, H. S. Johnson, A. C. Isaacs, Percy Watson, W. Gooding, P. F. Loncke, C. A. Bond, J. Starker, E. Deane, L. A. and W. A. Thompson, G. C. Bascom, W. Brathwaite, R. E. Harewood, T. A. Paul, O. McGibbon, C. D. Hopkinson, W. Hercules, W. S. Anthony, E. G. Rawlins, A. Castello, T. D. Brewster, R. Branker, H. A. Grimshaw, L. H. Rohlehr, R. M. Holder, John Mohamed, R. J. Bowling, H. B. Fraser, J. Agard, J. Patternella, P. Legall, H. Hall, A. E. Isaacs, B. T. I. and H. Pollard, J. Owen, H. Peters, S. M. Bowery, C. and H. Charles, T. King, V. W. Edwards, A. F. Jordan, H. F. Cromwell, M. Harte, C. C. Dowding, H. Jardine, W. St. C. Best, C. G. Knight, D. Seetram, E. Morrison, N. M. Hinds, L. Jones, S. Thompson, A. King, J. Croker, O. S. McLeod, W. Sealy, F. R. Mittelholzer and C. Williams.

TRIBUTES
Floral tributes were received from his loving wife, Anne, his sisters Hilda and Mabel, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Dowding, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Agard, the Shacklefords, Doreen and family, Mr. and Mrs. John Mohamed, R. Herbert and family, Mr. and Mrs. E. A. Adams, Joe, Elphin and Aubrey, Anna Edith and May, Carlton and family, the Legall family, Mrs. L. Hunter, Mr. and Mrs. G. F. de Sebadtiani, M. Harlequin, Dr. and Mrs. P. G. Barrow, Mrs. S. E. Bishop, Edith and
Ann and Mrs. G. Clarke.
Many cards, letters and telegrams were also received.
Source: Percy Kennedy Laid To Rest - The Daily Chronicle, Thursday, December 18, 1958: page 4.

ApplewhaiteGonsalvesKennedy

2010-07-24T10:54:00.000-07:00

ANNOUNCEMENT - DEATHS -
APPLEWHAITE :- on Saturday, December 20, 1958, at the Georgetown, Hospital, WINSLOW, the brother of May, Eric and Lily (USA) and Mrs. I. U. Skerett.
Funeral from the British Guiana Funeral Parlour at 4.30, o’clock, today.
Page 4.
GONSALVES:- on Sunday, December 21, 1958, CHARLES, at his residence, 80 Croal Street, Stabroek, father of Charles of Messrs. Psaila bros., brother of Caesar, Mesdames Lizzie Serrao, Olive Gonsalves and Misses Chris, Phil, Cecelia and Angela Gonsalves
Funeral from Queenstown Funeral Parlour at 4.30PM, today.
Page 4.
KENNEDY :- on Monday December 15, 1958, at his residence, 66 Bent Street, Werk-en-Rust, Percival A. (PERCY) beloved husband of Anne, brother of mesdames. L. Knight, Lizzi Grant, May Bascom, Missess Anna Kennedy and Edith Kennedy and J, A. Kennedy (Demba).
Funeral from the British Guiana Funeral Parlour at 4.30, today.

Canon Burgan dies at 72

2010-07-24T07:50:00.000-07:00

Canon Burgan dies at 72.
The death of Canon William Granville Burgan occurred at his residence, Robb Street, yesterday, after ailing for some time.

Canon Burgan was born at Beterverwagting, East Coast, Demerara on June 16, 1886 to William Garland Barrett Burgan, retired Schoolmaster and Mrs. Rebecca (Hopkinson) Burgan. He received his education at Codrington College and Durham University. He was the Wilson Reading prizeman while at Codrington College in 1910. In 1938 he became Canon of the Stall of St. Albans. The ceremony was performed in St. George’s Cathedral.
Prior to this he was an assistant Curate of St. George’s Cathedral and all Saint’s Church in New Amsterdam and Vicar at the churches at Belladrum and Lichfield, West Coast Berbice.
Canon Burgan was appointed Settlement Officer in the Partitioning of Belladrum, Eldorado, Paradise and Golden Fleece, West Coast Berbice.
JOURNALIST
He was also a Journalist. He wrote among other things a book on Some West Indian Memorials. Canon Burgan was married on February 9, 1915 to the former Miss Imelda Husbands. He was in his day a great cricket enthusiast and his recreation was Historical Research and folk lore.
The time and place of his funeral will be announced later.
Source: Canon Burgan dies at 72 - The Daily Chronicle, Thursday, December 18, 1958: page 4.

PORT MOURANT PLAYS WEST BERBICE TOMORROW

2010-07-19T12:46:00.000-07:00

PORT MOURANT PLAYS WEST BERBICE TOMORROW
Port Mourant - A strong side from the Port Mourant Cricket Club will journey tomorrow morning to No. # 41 Village, West Coast Berbice, to engage that village in a friendly game of cricket.
The homesters are known to have a strong side, and gave a creditable performance earlier this year when opposing a second string Berbice X1 led by Cyril Plummer. They will include in their line-up Steve Wailoo, County left arm spinner and forcing batsman, and Fitzroy Duff, one of the leading all-rounders of the Police sports club, who himself hails from this village.
In the face of this, Port Mourant is taking no chances, and are fielding their strongest line-up. R. Ramnarace will skipper the side, and others making the trip will be Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, Indray Persaud, Gajanand, M. Mcallister, R. Latcha, Esau Mootoo, L. Solomon, Johnny Teekasingh, H. Rampersaud, and S, Dharry with Mr. Charles Benn as Manager.
Source: Port Mourant Plays West Berbice Tomorrow - Berbice weekly Argosy - the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, British Guiana - May 23, 1956: page 6.

Why was Ivan Madray omitted? Isn’t this a bit too much - too over the top? Come on, Am I to believe the cricketers from #41 village, West Coast Berbice possessed abilities comparable to the Clyde Walcott and Robert Christaini coached Port Mourant Cricket Club? More over a number of the cricketers on this port Mourant Club at this period had appeared on the colonial British Guiana teams in the regional tournament. I do not know. However, I am willing to wager - none from #41 village, West Coast Berbice has perhaps to this day, some 54 years later, represented Guyana. #41 village, West Coast Berbice, as this article suggests, possessed comparable talent, necessitating Port Mourant to bring to bear numerous members of their all-time eleven upon this team from the West Coast Berbice. Very difficult for me to accept this as the fact of the matter in 1956. What became of those talented players from West Coast Berbice? It simply and vividly shows it takes more than talent to become test cricketers and international cricketers of stature. I was very familiar with Charles Benn. However, I never thought of Charles Benn as a Man from Port Mourant. Charles Benn is a member of the Guianese contingent of Southern Caribbean Forces. He was perhaps, the youngest member. He was later employed in the Public Works Department. Charles Benn and his family had the privilege of residing in residents provided by the colonial government at Paradise and golden Grove on the East coast of Demerara. I last saw Charles Benn in September 1981. In fact, mother and I slept at his residence in New Amsterdam. I suppose Charles Benn is in the spiritual realm of existence. Charles Benn has numerous sons including Patrick Benn, Brian Benn, and Kevie Benn...

November 1938

2010-07-19T11:44:00.000-07:00

DEATHS
ABDOOL - On Tuesday, November 22, at his late residence, Plantation Ruimveldt, East Bank Demerara, ABDOOL (Sardar), retired driver of Plantation Farm, East Bank Demerara, father of Messrs. A. Hussain (Plantation Ogle), A. Unus and A. Yussuf (Baba) of Bookers’ Saw Mills.
Funeral will take place at 4:p.m., sharp, today and the interment will be made at the Ruimveldt Burial Ground.
Friends please accept this the only intimation.
SEYMOUR - on November 29, 1938 (by drowning) GEORGE TUDOR, brother of the late J. T. Seymour, C. H. Seymour of Messrs. S. Wreford and Co., Ltd., New Amsterdam, Berbice, Mrs. Marian Martin and Mrs. Mabel Cox.
Funeral will take place from his late residence 107 D’Urban Street, Werk-en-Rust at 8:30 AM to-day.
Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, British Guiana - Wednesday, November 30, 1938: page 6.

MARRIAGE
LEE - PEREIRA - on Saturday, November 26, 1938, at Christ Church, Georgetown, EDWIN, third son of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel E. Lee, Vreed-en-Hoop, and of the firm of Messrs. Lee Bros., to URSULA, only daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. Pereira of this City.
DEATHS
DORNFORD - on Wednesday, November 23, 1938, HUBERT HERBERT (Manikin), late of The Sena sugar Estates, Ltd., at Luabo, Portuguese East Africa. (By Cable)
DEFREITAS - on Saturday, November 26, 1938, at Golden Grove, East Coast, Demerara, JOAQUINA, the beloved mother of Arthur P. DeFreitas of Fogarty’s Philharmonic Hall and grand mother of twelve.
Funeral from the British Guiana Funeral Parlour, Queenstown, at 4: P. M. To-day.
Friends please accept this the only intimation.
LEWIS - At 9.30 P.M. on Wednesday, November 9, 1938, at her residence, Van Roseveltkade, 21, Paramaribo, Dutch Guiana, LUCILLE OLIVIA, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Th. Lewis and sister of Stanley, Edna, Clarice, Alma and Ismay.
The funeral took place on the following afternoon.

A CARD
Mrs. MARIA AUGUSTA SIMON and family beg to thank all those who attended the funeral of their beloved VINCENT, and all those who sent wreaths, letters, telegrams, and in other ways sympathised with them in their sad bereavement.

IN MEMORIAM
ADONIS - In loving memory of JOHN ALEXANDER, who departed this life on November 26, 1937.
Rest eternal grant him
from a weary fight
pour on him the radiance
of the heavenly light.
LACHMANSINGH - In ever loving memory of BABU, of Bush Lot, West Coast, Berbice, who departed this life on November 27, 1937.
One year has passed since that sad day,
when our dear Papa was taken away.
God took him home it was his will,
But in our hearts he liveth still.
Gone but not forgotten.
Inserted by his beloved family.
PILGRIM - In ever loving memory of CHARLES EDWARD, who departed this life on November 24, 1934, and MARY ELIZABETH, who fell asleep on June 23, 1924.
Gone but ne’er can be forgot,
May both bodies and soul rest in peace.
- Inserted by an ever remembered close one, Lily.
Source: In Memoriam - Pilgrim - the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, British Guiana - Sunday, November 27, 1938: page 8.

Abdool Simud, Ganja Case, December 1898

2010-03-31T08:25:00.000-07:00

ALLEGED ILLEGAL IMPORTATION OF GANJE
At the City Police Court yesterday, the hearing of the Case was resumed in which Abdool Simud, stands charged by Mr. F. W. Collier, Acting Comptroller of Customs, with bringing to the Colony, on board the R.M.S. Eden, nine pounds of Ganje, secreted in a false bottom of a trunk. Mr. King, Crown solicitor, appeared for the prosecution, and Mr. Payne, associated with Mr. R. S. E. Hodgson, for the defendant. Mr. Payne commented on the Case submitted by the prosecution and raised several points of law arising out of the evidence. His worship reserved decision.
Source: Alleged Illegal Importation of Ganje - the Daily Chronicle Demerara Thursday, December 1, 1898 Page 3.

MR. MAGISTRATE PARKER GAVE DECISION YESTERDAY
On the point raised by Mr. Payne in the case of the Acting Comptroller of Customs against Abdool Simud, for importing into the colony nine pounds of Ganje secreted beneath a false bottom of a trunk. Mr. Parker decided that there was no evidence on which he could assess the penalty, and the defendant was therefore discharged. Source:The Daily Chronicle Demerara Wednesday, December 7, 1898 Page 3.

THE CUSTOMS PROSECUTION
The case in which the coolieman named Abdool Simud, stood charged by the Acting Comptroller of Customs, for bringing to the Colony on board the R.M.S. Eden, nine pounds of Ganje, secreted in a false bottom of a trunk, contrary to the provisions of the Customs ordinance, was again called.
Mr. King, Crown solicitor, again appeared to prosecute, and Mr. Payne, associated with Mr. R. S. Hodgson, to defend.
His worship said that he had considered the point raised by Mr. Payne, and he was satisfied that there was nothing before him on which he could assess the penalty to be imposed. He also remarked that it was a pity that the prosecution did not procure the aid of the Crown Solicitor at the outset. The defendant was discharged.
Source:The Daily Chronicle Demerara Wednesday, December 7, 1898 Page 3.

New Compromise Syndicate , December 1898

2010-03-31T08:22:00.000-07:00

TERRIBLE BOATING FATALITY - ELEVEN LIVES LOST IN THE ESSEQUEBO
News was brought to town on Monday, by Mr. J. H. Nicholson, Warden for District No.2 of a terrible boating accident in the Essequebo River which was unfortunately attended by a serious loss of life.
An expedition, consisting of fourteen labourers with provisions, was dispatched by Mr. J. L. Chapman for the New Compromise Syndicate at the end of last week for the Potaro. They started from Rockstone on Friday Morning in a large batteau named L'Esperance, belonging to Mr. F. W. Hutson, and in addition to the fourteen labourers there were on board two men who paid for their passage, and the captain; a man named Christie. All went well until Saturday afternoon, about half past three or four o'clock, when, opposite the Arissaro Mountains, a sudden squall struck the batteau which took in a lot of water and sank before the crew could get it righted. All the hands were precipitated into the water, and apparently an indescribable scene of confusion followed. The captain and five of the labourers, including one of the two who paid for their passages, succeeded in scrambling onto some rocks and a sand bank about twenty or thirty yards away, but they could give no account of how the remaining eleven met their end. They suppose they were drowned.
Mr. Nicholson, who was recently appointed to take over the wardenship of the Arakaka District, was on the following morning on his way to town to take up his new appointment. He reached Arissaro about eight o'clock and there he saw the six survivors perched on the rocks. They were all nearly naked, and they presented a pitable spectacle as they sat shivering and starving waiting to be rescued. After taking them into his boat Mr. Nicholson elicited from them the particulars mentioned above. They stated that no sail had been hoisted on the batteau that it was not overloaded, and that the whole cause of the accident was the sudden squall.
At Rockstone, Mr. Nicholson, handed the survivors over to the police, but they have not yet come to town, and further particulars of the occurrence cannot yet be obtained. Neither the names of the unfortunate men who lost their lives, nor those of the survivors have yet been received, but the following is a list of the labourers who were registered by Mr. A. A. L. Stoby for the New Compromise Syndicate and who were in the ill-fated expedition: - Thomas Alexander, Anna Catherina; James Wright, 161 Lamaha Street; James Lewis, Regent street; Henry Lewis, Alexander Street; William Redman, Albuoy's town; Jas. Sancho, New North Road; Joseph Barrow, Windsor Forest; Joseph Brathwaite, D'Urban Street; Alex. France, James Street; Jas. Harris, Cumings Street; Thos. Ferguson, Essequebo; John Maynard, Essequebo; Robert Shepherd, Essequebo; Alex. Isaac, Saffon Street.
When Mr. Nicholson, reached Rockstone, none of the bodies had been found.
Source: Terrible Boating Fatality - The Daily Chronicle Demerara, Wednesday, December 7, 1898 Page 3.

clippings 1922

2010-03-12T14:22:00.000-08:00

DEATH
ROHLEHR - on Wednesday, February 22, 1922, at the Colonial hospital, Georgetown, Dr. JOHN MONTEITH, beloved husband of Mary Theresa (nee Gomes), and brother of Mr. A. B. Rohlehr, solicitor. Aged 64 years. (Trinidad Papers Please Copy).Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 23, 1922: Page 4.

ALLEGED THEFT OF WEDDING RING:
An East Indian named John Matthews stole a pair of earrings Jewellery property of Elizabeth London of Goed Fortuin Village. Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, October 19, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
LONDON - On Sunday, June 11, 1922, at 10 Lamaha Street, Dr. JOHN EDWARD LONDON MD., M.R.C.S., etc, beloved husband of the late Beatrice Annie London, loving father of Eddie London, now in Birmingham, England, brother of Mrs. Janet Hall and uncle of Mrs. R.S. La Rose. Aged 85 years.
Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, June 13, 1922: Page 4.

PUPIL TEACHERS, 1922
GOLDEN GROVE WESLEYAN SCHOOL, 1922
Prince Van Olton Jeune
Margaret McLean
Sasie L. Simon
Almond Ward
Thomas Ward (End of First Year)
Beryl C. Trotman
Victoria Elliott

COVE & JOHN
Windslade Simon
Rosaline Thompson
Florence Thompson (End of First Year)
Amy L. Whyte (Enmore Estate, End of First Year)
Douglas Bobb (Ann’s Grove Wesleyan School, End of First Year)
Kenneth S. Burrowes (Christ Church Episcopal)

DEMERARIAN DEPORTED FROM AMERICA
The SS Lake Sewus of the Clyde Steamship company at Trinidad recently had on board a young man named George Gainford, who was sent back from New York to this colony where he was landed a few days ago. It is stated that when the American Steamer WM Tupper was about to leave Georgetown on August 11, 1922, Gainford concealed himself on board a few hours previous to the ships sailing and was not detected until the steamer was near New York. He was handed over to the Port Authorities and sent back by the US Government after spending a month at Ellis Island. Source:
The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, January 26, 1922: Page 4.

Stanley E. Watson Trinity Wesleyan Church October 15, 1922
Isaac St. Kitts and Alvin Mendonca Golden Grove, East Coast, Demerara buyer and Seller licenses January 1922 page 3

THEODORE WILSON HARRIS died on Saturday, November 18, 1922. Mr. Harris was the editor, printer and publisher of "The People", a newspaper in published in the town of New Amsterdam, in the county of Berbice in the colony of British Guiana. His wife is a Miss Glasford. They had one child. Theodore Wilson Harris died on Saturday, November 18, 1922. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana, Sunday, November 19, 1922: page 6.

ARCHER - On Sunday 15 inst., at his residence, “ the Nest”, Lot 4, Main Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice, ROBERT MONTGOMERY METCALFE, Jeweler, Strand, New Amsterdam, the beloved father of Agnes, in his 67th year. RIP “father if ‘tis thy will”.Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, October 17, 1922: Page 4.

BLACKMAN - On the 16th inst., at his residence, 151 6th Street, Albert town, GEORGE JOSEPH, for many years boatman to Messrs. Booker Bros, McConnell & Co., Aged 56 years. Funeral at 4:P.M., to-day. Friends please accept this the only intimation. Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, October 17, 1922: Page 4.

Funeral from the above address at 4:P.M., to-day. Friends please accept this the only intimation.
MARCUS – On Tuesday morning 17th inst., at his residence, Buxton, East Coast, Demerara, JOHN JAMES, Chemist & Druggist, Late of Government Service, the beloved husband of Jane A. Marcus and brother-in-law of Messrs. William Nicholas Arno and J. A. Arno. Aged 59 years. Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, October 19, 1922: Page 4.

MARRIED:
BOBB-CUMMINGS – On Wednesday 27 inst., at 90 Well’s C by the Reverend Canon J. T. Roberts-Rae, Ewan Alexander, Assistant Clerk to the Inspector of Prisons HMP Settlement to Frances Celestina, eldest daughter of Mrs. Amanda Cummings. Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Sunday, December 31, 1922: Page 4.

Deaths
FITZ HERBERT ALONZA WILTSHIRE pastor of New Jerusalem Mission Church died December 27, 1921

Goodluck Amos Young – Esther Emily Young: Partition of Paradise, West Coast Berbice, on Thursday, February 16, 1922. Cannon Burgan, Partition Officer. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Saturday, February 25, 1922: Page 8.
E. E. Young, Overseer, Eldorado, West Coast Berbice. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, June 20, 1922: Page 3.

BIRTH – on 3rd instant at 49 Robb Street, Bourda to Mr. and Mrs. O. D. H. Cole – A daughter. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, September 5, 1922: Page 4.

CARD:
BOBB Sacred to the memory of my beloved husband ARCHIBALD ALEXANDER, late cooper, Wakenaam and father of M. A. Bobb, Prison warder, Mesdames Barrington, and Heyligar, Phillip and Felicia Bobb who departed on September 13, 1922 Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, September 5, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
DICKSON – on Friday, August 25, 1922 at Morawhanna, North West District, MARY ELIZABETH, the Mother-in-law of Sergeant-Major B. A. H. Walcott and mother of Cecelia Ann Walcott. Aged 70 years. (Barbados, Trinidad, and Canada Papers Please Copy) Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Friday, September 1, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
BOBB-SEMPLE - On Sunday, January 1, 1922, in Chicago, USA, JAMES ALEXANDER BOBB-SEMPLE (JACOB) late Dispenser, Public Lunatic Asylum, New Amsterdam, the beloved husband of Jane and father of Sybil, Connie and Dorie also second son of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Bobb-Semple of Plaisance, East Coast. Aged 30 years. (Requiescat in Peace) Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Sunday, January 29, 1922: Page 4.

Marriage
SAVORY – CALDER wedding on Saturday, January 28, 1922
Ruby Calder daughter of W. L. Calder and Edwin Cecil Savory, son of E.B. and A.M. Savory
Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, January 31, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
DATHORNE – on Wednesday, 22nd February, 1922 at lot 00 Upper Hadfield Street, Georgetown, ROBERT EDMUND. Aged 53 years . Funeral from the above address at 4:P.M., to-day. Friends please accept this the only intimation. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 23, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
SAMPSON -– on Wednesday, 22nd February, 1922 ,EMMA BEATRICE ADRIANA Sampson, born at Ann’s Grove, East Coast, Demerara, eldest daughter of Rev. Sampson Congregational Minister, sister of E. A. W. Sampson, J. W. Sampson, and Mrs. F. A. Lewis. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 23, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
LEVI – at 1.20 AM on Tuesday 21 February, 1922 at the residence of Mr. A. B. Brown, lot 72 Hadfield Street, Wortmanville, Georgetown, SARAH AMELIA JANE, widow of the late Jas. C. Levi of Bel Air, and mother of Mrs. C. A. Campbell. Aged 67 years. (New York and Barbados Papers Please Copy) Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 23, 1922: Page 4.
Death of Mrs. S. A. Levi. wife of James O. Levi. Sarah Broderick, daughter of James Broderick, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 23, 1922: Page 5.

DEATH
HOPE - on Thursday 23rd February, 1922 at Buxton, East Coast Demerara, MARY VICTORINE , the beloved wife of Mr. Samuel Hope, also sister of Miss Letitia Assay, and aunt of the Misses Maggie and Gladys Ogle of 116 Duke street, Kingston. Aged 45 years. She has left 5 sons and 2 daughters to mourn her loss. Funeral will take place at 4 PM to-day (Friday) from her residence. Friends please accept this the only intimation. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Friday, February 24, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
LAWRENCE - On Sunday, May 28, 1922, at Plaisance Village, AARON, ex-schoolmaster and correspondent of “The Daily Argosy”, husband of Eliza Lawrence, father of Selbourne, Aloysius, Francis and Brucie Lawrence and grandfather of Clement S. Wills, Medical Student of Edinburgh, Scotland (Guiana Scholar of 1906-1907) and Aaron Victor Lawrence, Schoolmaster, Buxton.
(Scottish and English papers please copy) deeply regretted
Source:
The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, May 30, 1922: Page 4

Samuel Saywack, businessman of New Amsterdam and bother –in-law of the Rev. James Persaud.

Death of C. T. Holder, Head Master of Friendship School. 58 years old.
Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, May 7, 1922: Page 5.

Cyril Abrahams, Buxton East Coast Demerara, third year Dental Student in Chicago, Illinois Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, May 8, 1922: Page 4.

Death
ROSS - On August 5, 1922 155 Regent Street, Bourda MILLICENT, daughter of Alice Ross, and sister of Edmund William Ross, Mrs. Albertha Gittens and Mrs. Eliza Clarke. Aged 26 years.
Funeral from the above address at 4 pm to-day. Friends please accept this the only intimation. Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, August 6, 1922: Page 4.

In Memoriam
ADELAIDE CHESTER, mother of Eliza Gravesande of Plaisance, East Coast, Demerara, and Isaac Chester, merchant of Plantation Enmore, East Coast, Demerara, who died on August 6, 1919.
Source: “In Memoriam” The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, August 6, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH
SHARPLES - On the 8th instant at Friendship, East Coast, Demerara, MARIA AGATHA, wife of the late JOSEPH SCOTT SHARPLES. Aged 68 years. Funeral this morning. (Barbados papers please copy)
Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, August 6, 1922: Page 4.

SILVER WEDDING:
YOUNG – NEDD
On the 21st February, 1897, at Friendship Wesleyan Church by the Reverend Gibson Fisher, JACOB DATSON of Friendship to MARY ELEANOR of the same village –
Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, February 21, 1922: Page 4.

SAM – MANNINGS
At 2.30PM on Saturday 7 inst., at St. Augustine’s Church, Friendship, East Coast, Demerara, by the Reverend James Persaud, Vicar, JOHN ALFRED EMANUEL, Head-Master, Non Pareil Episcopal School, to LILLIAN CLARISSA, niece of Mr. Jacob Datson Young, Overseer, attached to the Buxton Village Council and until recently Charge-Nurse, Colonial Hospital, Georgetown
Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Sunday, October 15, 1922: Page 4.

AGNES THOMPSON, Nurse- Midwife Plantation Diamond, mother of Ivy Parris died before November 20, 1922.

DEATH
THOMPSON – on Sunday 26th inst., at the Colonial Hospital Georgetown, ELIZABETH (Lizzie) nee Storey, the beloved wife of Hubert Alfred Thompson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Edward Storey and sister of Messrs. T. A. Storey and Edward Mitchinson Storey and the Misses. A. M. Storey and Emily D. Storey.
(Barbados, Trinidad and New York Papers Please Copy). Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, November 28, 1922: Page 4.

CARD
Mr. Hubert Alfred Thompson and children and the Storey family beg to thank all the numerous friends who attended the funeral of their dear on, and those who sent wreaths, flowers, letters, and telegrams or otherwise condoled with them in their sad bereavement.Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Tuesday, November 28, 1922: Page 4.
RURAL CONSTABLES 1922 Isaac Jacobs (Victoria Village), John Campbell: # 2 Village, Canje, and Robert Campbell: Hopetown, WCB., Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 2, 1922: Pages 2 and 3.

Accidental Deaths other than Drowning

2010-03-06T10:59:00.000-08:00

Alonzo F. Chase (died June 19, 1899, suffocated by earth falling in and covering him); Samuel Rollox (died September 19, 1899, suffocated by earth falling in and covering him); Michael Henry (died September 28, 1899, killed by falling tree); Abraham Newland (died October 2, 1899, killed by falling tree) - Source: Accidental Deaths other than Drowning 1899-1900
A. Count (died May 10, 1900); Moses Beaton (died July 30, 1900);Thomas Wingfield (died August 28,1900); Victor A. Jones (died September 22,1900); Colin Robinson and Abraham Samuel (died February 13, 1901) - Source: Accidental Deaths other than Drowning, 1900-1901
DaCosta Allen (died February 13,1908); David C. Williams (died March 23,1908);F. Hodge (died May, 1908); James Burke (died July 23, 1908); James Hamilton (died July 26,1908); Frederick Mercurius.(died July 26,1908); and Joseph Mack (died July 29,1908) - the Causes of deaths -Explosion of dynamite, crushed by shaft, explosion in mine, fall down shaft, and fall of tree - Source: Accidental Deaths other than Drowning, 1908.
James Lynch (died March 11, 1909); Cornelius Gibbs (died March 17, 1910); Thomas Arthur (died April 5, 1909) ; Nathaniel Burgess, Alfred Edwards, and W. Christiani (died April 16, 1909) F. Adolphus Archer (died May 24, 1909) - Source: Accidental Deaths other than Drowning, 1909.
April 8, 1911 at Devil’s Hole, Cuyuni River Boat Aberdeen - two lives lost; H. Callender (died January/February 1911); William Chester (died May 3, 1911, Crushed by a stone);J. Reece (died June 19, 1911); L. Scanterbury (died July 17, 1911) ; March 24, 1912 Camaria falls, Cuyuni River Boat Ostrich - one man drowned – Mercurius - Source: Accidental Deaths other than Drowning, 1911.
Ho-a-shoo Limited and George Dinklage Wenamu-Cuyuni; Corporations :lawyers, and firms which owned claims. British Guiana Gold Mines Limited

Plantations Unity and Lancaster

2010-03-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

#51 Plantations Unity and Lancaster –
These estates were mostly utilized for pasturage but there were twenty-one East Indian squatters on them when the government purchased the properties, and to legalize their occupation it was decided to charge them a rental based on seventy five cents per acre per mensem. They proved, however, most unsatisfactory tenants, and after they were sued for the recovery of arrears of rent promptly left the district without making settlement. They possessed nothing to restrain on, and therefore the amount of their indebtedness will have to be written off as irrecoverable.
Colony Lands, Department of Lands and Mines, Georgetown, September 1, 1913
Frank Fowler, Commissioner of Lands and Mines. Report of the Commissioner of Lands and Mines: page 10.

Kanhai Secondary to Sunil Gavaskar?

2010-02-27T10:41:00.000-08:00

Kanhai Secondary to Sunil Gavaskar
I am perturbed. The selection of Rohan Babulal Kanhai as a secondary to Sunil Gavaskar entity into the cricket Hall of Fame in Connecticut is nothing short of a travesty.
I was simply an absurd and demeaning. I do not know and I cannot understand what’s the measurement for induction into that Connecticut connection. I do know Kanhai can and must only be grouped with the players, of his prime. It’s an injustice to this master batsman to be place into the hall after the majority of the players now inducted. I could understand it, if Kanhai was inducted in the company of Gary Sobers and lance Gibbs that’s more like it.
Another point; when did Viv Richards and Sunil Gavaskar et all surpass Kanhai in the art the art of batsmanship?
I am of the view perhaps only Headley Weeks and Bradman could be considered in the class of Kanhai. I doubt whether there was any better batsman than Kanhai.
Sobers, Rowe, Richards, Kallicharran and Butcher could all rival Kanhai in stroke play but never his shot making.
I am yet to see or hear of a batsman who can play and make the shot Kanhai reproduced. Kanhai was law onto his at the crease, a fan’s delight – entertainment dollar well spent.

Prudential Cup and A Great Victory {chapter 8 page 160 -161} by Gordon Ross
Lloyd the skipper, is one of the greats of West Indies cricket, and in his company is the ‘greying master’ Rohan Kanhai, a player of both skill and flair, with considerable technical qualities but with the improvisational capacity of the great maestros; he could introduce into the music of cricket a crochet or a quaver that had never been there before and the game would be all the more illuminating for it.

Rohan was born at Port Mourant Berbice and made his debut for British Guiana now Guyana in 1954-55, so he has grace the cricket fields of the world for over 20 years. Between 1957, on a tour to England, and 1973-74, Kanhai played in 79 tests for the West Indies and captained the team for 13 of them.
His statistical achievement speaks for them selves, whether in five-day, three-day or one-day. Runs scored are the lifeblood of cricket, but the manner of performance remains more vividly etched in memory; Kanhai; methodically reducing an attack to shreds with his full repertoire of glittering strokes, is a cricket gem to treasure.
Source: Ross, Gordon A History of West Indies Cricket (London, 1976) -

Roy Fredericks

2010-02-27T10:21:00.000-08:00

Roy Fredericks is not a big man - he is only five feet four inches tall - but as an openning batsman of international stature the Guyanese left-hander ranks with the highest. He's been in and around the top-flight scene since 1967, when he scored 127 and 115 against Barbados in the Shell Sheild. The next year he won a place in the West Indian party to Australia, where he averaged 33.87 in the series. Since then his position in the national side has never been seriously challenged.

His three-year stay in the english county cricket was always exciting, frequently brilliant, often stormy and eventually ended in acrimony. He was first seen in the United Kingdom in 1969, when he became the only member of that West indian team which included Sobers, Lloyd and Butcher, to top 1000 runs on the short tour.

Like so many Caribbean cricketers, his ability to play the game lifted him clear of a bleak financial future. But for cricket he would probably have spent his days as an insignificant filing clerk in Georgetown, Guyana, where he was born.

The advantage of playing in the close proximity of local luminaries like Clive Lloyd, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon and Clyde Walcott, who was then the Guyana coach in the early stages of Frederick's development, help to mould a technique and an attitude which enabled him to overcome the handicap of his lack of inches. Quick on his feet, a wristy cutter of deadly certainty, the perfection of his timing sends the ball flying away to the boundary with an incredible speed considering his body weight is under ten stone. The advantage of batting on the truce-bounce, even-paced wickets of Guyana gave him the early confidence to play his strokes with total freedom, so that by the time he arrived on a three-year contract for his first professional engagement with Glamorgan in 1971, he was pretty nearly at his peak.

His introduction to English county cricket could hardly have been more dramatic. Fredericks had been signed as a replacement for Bryan Davis, the Trinidadian batsman who had played a substantial part in the Welsh county's winning the championship in 1969, the year Prince Charles was invested as Prince of Wales. Davis had sought and found a better livelihood outside the game back in his home town of Port- of-Spain. Jeff Stollmeyer, the former West Indian Test captain, suggested Fredericks as a suitable replacement, and he duly arrived at the April pre-season nets comparatively unknown in this country despite his tour of 1969. He was selected to play in the first county match of the season early in May 1971. The venue, Trent Bridge, Nottingham. He made 145 in the second innings, took five wickets in the match with his left-handed chinamen and googlies, and was awarded his county cap at the end of the three days!
It was an eventual season for the diminutive left-hander. In his first home game for Glamorgan against Worcestershire, fast bowler and fellow West Indian Vanburn Holder made a ball rear off a lenght and broke fredericks' right forearm. He missed the next six weeks' cricket but on his return still reached 1000 runs for the season at a club average topping 45.90 runs per innings. Reviewing the season, Wisden wrote:"There was some who believed that Fredericks' adventurous approach was an embarrassment. He was law unto himself, but let it also be admitted that he brought a breezier and fresher gust of gaiety to the cricket grounds of South Wales. His two innings at Swansea against Northamptonshire and Yorkshire will remain in the memory of cricket cameos for all time if only for the joyous abandon of his batting."
It was this quality above all others that endeared and yet infuriated members, paying spectators and his county colleagues, for during his three-years spell on the seven-day-a-week United kingdom circuit he never managed to add a measure of consistency to his repertoire. Even in Test matches, he still has two sides to his cricketing nature. The brilliant cavalier, capable of being out first ball by accepting the challenge of the short-pitched ball and hooking it for a 6 or straight down the throat of a fielder at deep fine leg; or alternatively destroying an attack completely as he did in the fourth Test match at Headlingly in 1976, when he scored a breathtaking hundred in the first innings. The there was the annihilation of Lillee and Thompson at Perth in 1976, when his century not only helped the West Indies to win the game but has passed into history as one of the six most sustained exhibitions of scientific hitting ever recorded.
The other side is the ultra-cautious sheet anchor, the mantle he unconsciously inherited from Conrad Hunte. His 150 in the second Test against England in the 1973 season, which took eight and a half hours, is a classic example of this Jekyll and Hyde aspect of his character. But it must not be forgotten that on this accasion he rescued his team from a potentially lost situation with a masterly exhibition of self-control, a feat that won him the Prudential-Wisden award.
Like so many cricketers from the Caribbean, Fredericks is a quick learner, explaining no doubt why it is that cricketers from that part of the world seem to reach maturity so much earlier than those in the United Kingdom. His experience on english wickets paid off when on a difficult Port of Spain pitch in the second test against New Zealand in 1972, he made 69 and 31; two innings which he regards as technically the best he's ever played. I remember Freddie telling me at the beginning of the summer of 1972:"The experience I gained playing on English county wickets helped me tremendously. I never really really watched the ball until I joined Glamorgan. Playing all my cricket on flat West Indian and Australian wickets had made me technically a little slack. You don't have to concentrate so hard at home. Once you're in and have got the pace of the pitch and the bounce of the ball, only fatigue or carelessness should get you out. In England it's so different. You can get a ball bowled at you when you're 40 and set, which is totally unplayable! By that I mean that once I get over the initial few overs and survive, then I try to make the most of my time at the crease and not throw it away as I used to."
Yet inside eighteen months of telling me this, he'd been thrown away by Glamorgan, sacked. The arguments then put forward for this extraordinary decision, taken when the club was near the bottom of all the competitions and left rudderless by the retirement of Don Shepherd and a number of senior players, still does not make sense five years after the event. It was alleged that the little man did not try when playing for his adopted county. Yet the crowds loved him and in his three years with Glamorgan he consistently either topped the batting averages or was never out of the first three. There was also the laudable statement that the club wanted to encourage local talent. They then promptly went out and made a disastrous signing of a wayward Barbadian fast bowler, Gregory Armstrong!
There is no doubt that Roy Fredericks was and remains a moody player. The West Indian personality is by nature a happy-go-lucky one, ill equipped to tackle disaster, and Roy is certainly archetypal in this respect. He is ultra-sensitive to criticism, loath to take advice that isn't self-originated, and from the county's point of view he did prove a law unto himself by flouting pre-arranged tactics.
But his virtues overall far outweighed his faults, and he injected into the Glamorgan team a sense of fun and enjoyment from playing the game that proved infectious. Asked how he felt just before going out to bat, the invariable answer would be:"I tink I'm agoin' to pelt some lash at de ball, man.' And lash it far and wide he often did.
Since leaving the county Roy has made a secure future for himself back in Guyana, but I like to recall the time I first talked to him in May 1971 in the days when he was fresh to the United Kingdom. Fresh in the sense that when he was emerging from the all-embracing clasp of a touring team to prove himself a solo artist in the most critical arena of cricket, the County Championship. We chatted in the buffet of the train as we journeyed back to Wales after his first week in professional cricket.

Fredericks: I suppose I'm pretty typical of most post-war West Indian cricketers. Ever since I made my debut for Guyana, against Trinidad in 1964. I've thought about playing professional cricket, but of course until the county registration laws were relaxed it just wasn't financially worthwhile to spend two years qualifying in a second team. I have four brothers and a sister, but surprisingly I'm the only one in the family with any interest in cricket.
Walker: You're established as a West Indian International opener, but just how much experience have you had?
Fredericks: Well, I went to Australia in 1968-69, and played in every game but one and then toured England in the West Indian side which came here for the latter part of the season. I played in eighteen games, more than any other player. After we went back home I became the national coach to Guyana, which meant teaching at schools all over the country. and of course I've played in the Shell Shield competition over the past seven years and in four of the Tests in the series against India which has just finished.
Walker: This is particularly interesting to me because
India are due to visit us in the middle of the summer. Although the West Indies lost the series to them, India rarely do well in this country. Is their team going to do any better than the previous ones?
Fredericks: In spite of us losing the series, I don't think the Indians will win a test match over here. Their batting is only fair - Gavaskar and Sardesai scored 776 and 624 runs, and the next best was 224, so they were terribly dependent upon these two. Both are strong 'bottom-hand' players, with great strength on the legside, but as always they are susceptible to real pace. On the only quick wicket we played them on, in Barbados, Vanburn Holder scythed through them and so England, with Snow, Ward and Shuttleworth, will have a big advantage here. If they're going to do well, then it will be because of their three world-class slow bowlers, the offspinners Venkataraghavan and Prasanna, and the left-hander Bedi, are allowed to pin down the English batsmen. They're very accurate, and Venkat in particular spins the ball a lot. But they didn't endear themselves to our spectators because if things were going against them they would drop to 14 overs per hour - Bedi sometimes took six minutes to bowl an over!
Walker: We read criticisms of Gary Sobers as captain, especially after you lost the second Test in Port of Spain and there was a call for the selectors to appoint Joey Carew as captain in his place. Has Sobers the confidence of the team?
Fredericks: Oh, there no question about this. To thge players Sobers is the captain. And as far as we are concerned it's very difficult to imagine playing under any one else. I'm sure Gary is in the captain's saddle for a long time to come.
Walker: when Bryan Davis left us at the end of last season we obviously had to look around for a replacement. I'll be honest, Roy, the first we as Glamorgan player knew of your comming was an announcement in the press just five weeks ago. How did the offer from the county reach you?
Fredericks: Well, Jeff Stollmeyer had been asked by the Glamorgan committe to see if any established West Indian players were interested in joining the county. I know they had approach a Guyanese team-mate of mine, Alvin Kallicharran, but Warwickshire stepped in first there. Jeff wasn't aware of my interest, but when he did hear that I wanted to try my hand he immediately contacted me, wired Glamorgan, and within ten days I'd agreed terms and was a Glamorgan player! I will say one thing, though. Before the deal was settled I'd spoken to Bryan Davis in Trinidad, Rohan Kanhai and Clive Lloyd, and they all said that Glamorgan were one of the best teams in the country and I couldn't go and play with a better bunch of lads.
Walker: I remember from my own experiences of two tours to the West indies that people out there are very aware of English county scores and the players involved. How highly thought of is county cricket in the Caribbean?
Fredericks:We recognize it as the best cricket in the world and players like Gary, Rohan, Clive , Lance, and the others are always stressing this point at home. I suppose this is why so many of my countrymen want to come here- it really means something back home to succeed in the United Kingdom.
Walker: You've signed a three-year contract. Will you stay in the game in this country for this period only or have you got longer-term aspirations?
Fredericks:Well, Peter, I now regard myself as a professional cricketer. To us West Indians that means playing cricket or coaching all the year round, if possible.
Walker: Yes, but surely this will mean you'll rapidly become stale and in the consequence not play anywhere near your true ability - even Sobers and Kanhai have suffered from this, and I'm sure that last season's wear and tear on Lancashire's Clive Lloyd affected his performances against India where he only scored 295 runs in the series at an average of 29.
Fredericks:Yes, I appreciate this possible - in fact I feel rather stale myself at the moment. But you people in England just don't realize what cricket means to us - it's one way of gaining people's respect, recognition, and eventually, one hopes, a good job. I'd like to play every day of the year. To me the hardest part of this comming season could well be trying to get used to all these lettuce lunches - Gary told me he's estimated he's eaten eight tons of lettuce since he started playing cricket in this country!
Walker: How confident, then, are you abot making an impact in this your first venture into county cricket? Do you think it will be easier than, say, succeeding the Shell Shield competition in the Caribbean?
Fredericks: Oh, no.Of course I'm apprehensive. I know that batting in England, or should I say Wales, is going to be far tougher than at home because the wickets vary so much. We always reckon that if I succed in the United Kingdom, you can succed anywhere. I'm anxious, too, because I'm playing in strange conditions, a long way from home, with players I don't know, and I'm very aware that every one in the county is expecting me to do as well as Bryan Davis.
Although I don't bowl much at home, I'm hoping to get in a few spellds of some left-handed wrist spin, because so few English batsmen seem to read this type of bowling. It's been a happy start so far. I felt I played pretty well at Chelmsford in the first Sunday League game of the season; the club have fixed my wife and me up in a very comfortable furnished flat in Swansea overlloking the bay; and from my first meeting with the Glamorgan lads I think I'm going to be very happy in Wales.Out in the West Indies we feel that of all the people in Great Britain we have more in common with the Welsh than any other race. Even the way we speak is vaguely similar.
If things go my way I'd like to spend the next ten years - or if you like the remainder of my active cricketing life - playing here in Britain. In fact, if I can get a clerical job here I'd like to stay for the winter as well; but of course this will depend on the West Indian selectors; if they want me for the coming series at home against New Zealand, then I'll go back. But right now my heart, my home, and my ambitions are here in Britain, and if I can help to win the County Championship for Glamorgan again, then it will be the greatest thing which has happened to me since I started playing cricket. After all, this is where the game began, and this is where all players have to eventually test and prove themselves.

Source: Peter Walker - Cricket Conversations forward by John Arlott Pelham Books, London May, 1978: Pages 72-81.

BRITISH GUIANA DRIVERS’ ASSOCIATION

2010-01-26T14:39:00.000-08:00

EMPIRE, LONDON, METROPOLE, OLYMPIC and RIALTO are the names of cinemas in the City of Georgetown, in the Colony of British Guiana, in January 1946.

BRITISH GUIANA DRIVERS’ ASSOCIATION
A special general meeting of the association is hereby summoned for Sunday the 13th inst., at 11a.m. at lot 2 Croal Street to discuss the attitude of Estate Managements toward the Association.
M. S. Fitzpatrick, Honorary Secretary.
SOURCE: The Daily Argosy - Saturday, January 5, 1946: page 1.

BRITISH GUIANA DRIVERS’ ASSOCIATION MEETING - STRONG DEMAND FOR IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION
Lionel A. Luckhoo (President), Miles S. Fitzpatrick (Secretary), Seetal Persaud (Treasurer), and
More than 300 drivers from sugar estates in the colony were in attendance at African Welfare Convention Hall located at Charlotte and Wellington streets in Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana. The following Drivers also addressed the Meeting; Samuel Seenanan Singh, Kun Kun Persaud, Rahiman, J. N. Singh, Scott, Anderson, Abdool Ganie and Niapaul Singh
SOURCE: The Daily Argosy - January 14, 1946: page 2.

OBITUARY: - MR. C. S. HOLDER

2010-01-26T14:00:00.000-08:00

OBITUARY: - MR. C. S. HOLDER
The death occurred at his home 7, North Road, Bourda, yesterday morning of Mr. Cecil Sinclair Holder after a brief illness.
Second son of the late J. B. and Mrs. O. Holder, the deceased who was very popular in the city, was Clerk-in-Charge, all - Departments of Messrs. Booker Bros.
He joined the Company after leaving school and served for 20 years.
Mr. Holder was ailing just before the Christmas holidays he took seriously ill on Tuesday last and despite the best medical attention, he succumbed at 10:00 a.m. yesterday. His death was a shock to his relatives and friends.
He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Olga Holder and three daughters, the Misses Liam, Avril and Patsie Holder, his mother, Mrs. O. Holder and three brothers, Messrs. Herbert, Hilbert and Eric Holder and a sister, Mrs. Audrey Williams.
The funeral takes place at 4:00 o’clock this afternoon from 7, North Road, Bourda.
SOURCE: the Daily Argosy - January 13, 1946: page 3.

OBITUARY: - MR. W. E. J. DELPH

2010-01-26T13:59:00.001-08:00

OBITUARY: - MR. W. E. J. DELPH
The death occurred at his home at Plantation Bel Air, East Coast Demerara, yesterday morning of Mr. William Ewing Jeffrey Delph, Manager of the Estate.
Although Mr. Delph took ill about a month ago, his death came as a shock to his relatives and friends.
Born in the colony, 58 years ago, Mr. Delph joined the Planting profession soon after leaving school. He rose to the position of Manager and served in that capacity at Plantations Golden Fleece, L’Union and Taymouth Manor, Essequebo. He also served as Deputy Manager of Plantations Wales, West Bank Demerara. He was Manager of Plantation Bel air for the past 22 years.
Of an amiable disposition, Mr. Delph had a wide circle of friends. He was for a long number of years, a member of the British Guiana Cricket Club, of which he was President for some time.
Mr. Delph is survived by his wife, three daughters Mrs. E. P. Christiani and the Misses Sybil and Elsa Delph, three brothers - Messrs. C. N. Delph (Manager of the Daily Chronicle, Ltd.), C. W. O. Delph (Accountant, Public Works Department), and W. G.. Delph (Registrar and Auditor, Co-operative Credit Banks, Agricultural Department), and two sisters - Mesdames H. V. Taitt and E. F. McDavid.
The funeral will take place from St. Andrew’s Scots Church at 4.15 o’clock, this afternoon.
SOURCE: The Daily Argosy - Thursday, March 7, 1946: page 3.

BMD January-March 1946

2010-01-26T13:52:00.000-08:00

DEATH: ADAMS - on Tuesday, January 29, 1946, at her residence, Plaisance, East Coast Demerara, AMY, the beloved wife of Colin Adams (Pan Boiler, Martinique), mother of Neville, Colin Jr., and Clement. The sister of Mrs. I. Austin, Leslie Dummett, Vida and Evelyn (Trinidad).
Funeral from the above address at 4.30 p.m., today.
Friends please accept this intimation and attend.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Wednesday, January 30, 1946: page 2.

DEATH: DOUGLAS - on Tuesday, March 12, 1946, Mary Ann, at her daughter’s residence, Mrs. Adriana Winter, 216 Charlotte Street, Bourda, the beloved wife of Robert Campbell Douglas, (Electrician, Plantation Versailles, West Bank Demerara), mother of Mesdames A. Winter, Rebecca Gordon (Canje, Berbice), Sybil Bryan, Victorine Quinn, and Phillip Li of Albouystown Market, 14 grand children, 6 great grand children.
Funeral from the House of Mourning 216 Charlotte Street, Bourda, at 2.30 p.m., today.
Interment at Enmore, St. Mark’s Churchyard at 4.30 p.m.
Friends can travel with the 2.30 p.m. train and return by 6pm train.
Friends please accept this the only intimation.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Wednesday, March 13, 1946: page 2.

DEATH: JONES - on Sunday, February 3, 1946, at her residence, 44 High Street, Werk-en-Rust, AGNES EVELYN nee BURGAN, the beloved wife of R. McD. Jones, Head Teacher, St. Philip’s Church of England School, mother of E. C. B. Jones, T. R. Jones (Agricultural Department), Agnes Jones(Broad Street Government School) Sister of Reverend Canon W, G. Burgan M.A., and Mrs. C. H. Bryan
Source: the Daily Argosy - Monday, February 4, 1946: page 2.

DEATH: LUKE - on Thursday, January10, 1946, at 11.30 a.m. BLANCHE VIOLA, the beloved wife of Joseph McKenzie Luke, mother of Mrs. Stella Franker, Sister of Arnold Boyle(New York), Inez Boyle: The aunt of Joseph and Claude Boyle of Liverpool, England, Edna, Gladys and Arnold jr., of New York, Mrs. Oliver Leon, Harold Nelson of Tenth Caribbean force and Wilfred Nelson and a grand mother of two.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Friday, January 11, 1946: page 2.

DEATH: MILLER - on Thursday, January 17, 1946, at her residence, Stewartville, West Coast Demerara, ELLEN ELIZABETH, relict of Robert Miller, and beloved mother of Dr. R. Sydney Miller, Dr. Carlyle Miller, James Miller, and Caroline Miller of New York City, Mesdames Lucretia Lewis, and Diana Taitt, grandmother of Sydney Miller (Magistrate), Milton Miller, fitz Miller, and others, and the great-grandmother of many.
Funeral at Stewartville, at four o’clock, this afternoon. Friends from the city should cross by 3.15 p.m. ferry boat.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Friday, January 18, 1946: page 2.

DEATH: WONG - on Friday, March 15, 1946, at her residence, 119 Regent Road, Bourda, DAISY (Mona), the beloved wife of James Wong, late of Georgetown Club, mother of Dorothy, George, Albert (Canada), Clarence (New York), Wilfred, Theophilus, Ethel and Frank.
Grand mother of 18, the sister of Rebecca Morris of Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Funeral from the House of Mourning at 4.30 p.m., today.
Friends are asked to accept this the only intimation.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Saturday, March 16, 1946: page 2.

SYDNEY ROSS died February 4, 1943. Kathleen is the given name of his wife.
LEONORA THERESA ELLIOTT died February 3, 1939. M. E. Elcock is the given name of her child.
DESMOND HOLDER died January 30, 1945 - the son of Fitzgerald Holder.
JOE BRISTOL died February 2, 1942
PATRICIA TEIXEIRA died February 17, 1943. Lionel, Greta and Norma are the given names of her children. Source: the Daily Argosy - February 17, 1946: page 2.
NELLIE SOBERS YOUNGE died March 3, 1945.
MARIAN LAYNE died March 9, 1945
FLORENCE ADAMS died March 11, 1943
LAURENCE ARNOLD BAIRD 3407 Corporal British Guiana Mounted Police died March 30, 1935. Names mentioned Stanhope, and Dennis.
EDWARD LAYNE died April 16, 1945. Gladys is the given name of his wife.
RACHAEL WILLS - ROSS Nurse Midwife died April 26, 1944.
WILLIAM ADOLPHUS VICTOR ABRAHAM died February 1, 1936.
ISABEL MARIE ELAINE DOS SANTOS died April 1, 1944.
CHLOE ADAMS January 13, 1946 Victoria Village, East Coast Demerara.

POLICEMEN DROWNED AT SOESDYKE
4713 James R. Pluck and 4759 Jacob R. Hodge drowned at Soesdyke on Tuesday, February 19, 1946. Pluck joined the force on October 1, 1941. Hodge joined the force on March 3, 1942. Source: the Daily Argosy - Wednesday, February 20, 1946: page 2.

BRITISH GUIANA POLICE FORCE - RECENT PROMOTIONS
3095 HEADLEY, 4018 DANIELS, 4019 THOMAS, 3980 LAYDOO, 4372 LA BORDE, 3836 JAMES, 4150 BAYNES, 3612 BLAIR, 4267 HENRY, 4171 BINNS, 3698 MURRAY, 4216 SHUFFLER, 4375 WILLS, 3990 DEGROOT, 4361 FRANKLIN, 4287 CRUICKSHANK, 4305 YAW, 4619 MURTLAND JOSEPH
Source: the Daily Argosy - Tuesday, February 12, 1946: page 2.

IN MEMORIAM
RAMDEHOLL - in loving memory of our darling ADA, who departed this life on January 18, 1933.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Friday, January 18, 1946: page 2.

BIRTH: YOUNG - on Monday, January 28, 1946 at St. Joseph’s Mercy Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. William Gordon Stuart Young - a daughter
Source: the Daily Argosy - Sunday, February 3, 1946: page 2.
HENRY JOSIAH JAMES died on January 27, 1944. Bernell, Mayleen and Lambert are the given names of his children.

MARRIED: MCWATT - SHARPLES
On Thursday, February 28, 1946, LESLIE CENDRECOURT, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. R. A. McWatt of Kitty, East Coast Demerara to DOROTHY MARGARET, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Sharples.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Sunday, March 17, 1946: page 2.

MARRIED: BOBB-SEMPLE - MURRAY
On January 29, 1944 at St. George’s Cathedral by Reverend W. J. Hughes, PAUL MILTON, fourth son of Mrs. Dorothy Bobb-Semple of Plaisance to JOYCE ANNETTA, third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Murray of Brickdam.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Tuesday, January 29, 1946: page 2.

MARRIED: ARNO - STOREY
On Saturday, April 27, 1944 by the Reverend W. A. Sears L.Th., at St. George’s Cathedral, BASIL EDMUND, second son of Mr. and Mrs. W. N. Arno to LEILA DOREEN, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Storey.
Source: the Daily Argosy - Sunday, April 28, 1946: page 2.

MARRIED: THORNE - CAMPBELL
On January 5, 1946 at St. Sidwell’s Church Lodge, ALFRED P., son of Mr. A. A.Thorne to VIVIENNE, second daughter of Mr. C. A. Campbell.
Source: the Daily Argosy - January 13, 1946: page 2.

LOCAL PRODUCE IN SHORT SUPPLY

2010-01-26T13:50:00.000-08:00

LOCAL PRODUCE IN SHORT SUPPLY - REPORT BY MARKETING OFFICER -
During February British Guiana imported half a million pounds of split peas, 321,000 oranges, 33,000 pounds of black-eye peas, 32,000 pounds of cabbage, and 7,000 pounds of Urid Dholl.
The seasonal shortage of local supplies was felt in all the major market areas in the colony during February. Plantains, Eddoes, and Tannias were scarcer than cassava, yams and sweet potatoes. Areas hardest hit were New Amsterdam and Mackenzie-Wismar.
The Depot Organisation in order to increase the flow of supplies to the Georgetown area paid farmers higher prices than those guaranteed and relaxed to some extent, its high standards for marketable produce. Despite these efforts supplies declined to less than a half of the normal consumption of the city. The bulk of produce brought by the Organisation came from the West Bank and West Coast, Demerara areas. Large quantities of green vegetables were marketed, and along with imports of potatoes and cabbage helped to offset the local deficiency of ground provisions.
The Marketing Officer anticipates “that supplies will improve shortly with the commencement of harvesting of the spring crop.”
The Marketing Officer’s report for February says: -
PULSES
Supplies of locally grown pulses continued to be negligible, consisting mainly of small quantities of pigeon peas. There is at present a shortage of vita peas, and very little improvement of local supplies is expected in the near future in view of the sharp decline of local production. The colony now relies for the bulk of its supplies on imports which have continued and which have included during the month some 500,000 lbs. of split peas, 33,000 lbs. of black-eye peas and 7,000 lbs. of Urid Dholl.
VEGETABLES
Large quantities of green leafy vegetables were marketed. Green corn, cucumbers and various vegetable gourds were in fair supply, while imported cabbage (approximately 32,000 lbs.) Was also available at a slightly lower retail price than in January.
IMPORTATION FROM TRINIDAD
FRUIT
In view of the poor local supply of oranges, import restrictions were relaxed and consequently some 321,000 fruits from Trinidad arrived in the colony. Local grapefruits were in poor supply while limes, sapodillas, awarras and mangoes were on the market in adequate quantities. Pineapple and bananas were in short supply.
CORN
Supplies arriving on the market improved considerably during the month and some 8,000 lbs. were purchased by the Central Depot mainly from Pomeroon and North West District farmers. Local production of this cereal still falls far short of requirements, and efforts are being made by the Controller of Supplies to obtain supplies from abroad.
COFFEE & COCOA
Arrivals of coffee from all the main producing areas (Canals, Pomeroon and North West District) though markedly improved were still below requirements. During the month the following increased prices for coffee beans were put into effect with a view to encouraging farmers to reap and market the bulk of the available crop and so as to cover the increased cost of imported beans:
Depot Buying Price - 15c per lb.
Wholesale Price - 18c per lb.
Supplies of home-grown Cocoa beans were again negligible but about 20,000 lbs. were imported by Controller of Supplies for distribution by the Depot Organisation in order to satisfy the local demand. It is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain adequate supplies of beans from overseas owing to the present world cocoa crisis.
EFFORTS TO EXPORT TAPIOCA
OTHER PRODUCE
Production of cassava flour was adversely affected by the general scarcity of cassava, and the demand was again well above the supplies available during the month. Sales of local tapioca continued to be poor, probably on account of the presence of imported sago on the market. The response by commercial interests in the neighbouring islands to offers of tapioca by the Depot Organisation has not been satisfactory so far. It is proposed, however, to further pursue this oration of as export trade. There was a slight improvement in the market arrivals of cassava starch, and it was possible to export 6,500 lbs. to Trinidad. - B. P. I.
SOURCE: The Daily Argosy - March 3, 1946: Page 3.

CLOSING OF PLANTATION CANE GROVE

2010-01-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

CLOSING OF PLANTATION CANE GROVE
– RESIDENTS PETITION PROPRIETORS - URGE CONSIDERABLE HARDSHIPS CERTAIN
Following is a copy of a largely signed petition forwarded to the local Directors and those in London of Messrs. Booker Bros., McConnell & Co., Ltd., relative to the proposed closing of Plantation Cane Grove: -
THE PETITION. Plantation Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara, February 20, 1946.
To the Directors of Plantation Cane Grove, C/o Messrs. Booker Bros., McConnell & Co., Ltd., Head Office, Georgetown.
Sirs, - In view of the decision of your Company to close down Plantation Cane Grove in two years’ time, the employees - both resident and nonresident - as well as those who are indirectly dependent on the estate for livelihood, respectfully present for your earnest and immediate consideration, this humble petition which shows: -
(1.)That your humble petitioners are about twelve thousand people who are solely dependent on the estate for livelihood. Three thousand of whom reside on Plantation Cane Grove and in Virginia Village, while the remainder are drawn from Villages as far distant as Buxton on the West and Mahaicony on the East.
(2.)That a very large number of your petitioners are (a.) persons who came indentured to the estate, (b.) the descendants of (a.) Above, and (c) the descendants of slaves, and that the majority of those have served all their lives on this estate having given upwards of 30 years service.
(3.)That the majority of your petitioners who will be affected are in needy circumstances.
(4.)That several of your petitioners will be unable to start life afresh in a new district because of their age.
(5.)That other sugar Estates will not be able to absorb all the employees who will be thrown out of employment by the closing of Plantation Cane Grove.
(6.)That the decline in profits, and that the losses sustained were brought about by no fault of the employees.
(7.)That it is the firm belief of your petitioners that owing to war conditions replacements of machinery have been difficult and/or impossible - hence the losses - but that with good machinery, effective drainage, and proper management, this estate can pay its way.
(8.)That after the 1934 floods, the estate was in a worst condition than it is at present, but after it had been reconditioned, the yield was doubled, the peak year being 1939.
(9.)That after the above reconditioning, the businessmen of the district increased their investments, and that by the closing of the estate, those men will suffer considerable losses.
(10.)That as the entire district is drained by means of the estate; it will not be possible to carry on peasant farming successfully it the estate is closed down.
Your petitioners humbly pray (a) that in view of the aforesaid the Directors reconsider their decision, (b) that the Directors receive a deputation of representatives selected by the employees to discuss the problem, if necessary and (c) that on account of the gravity of the situation, they be favoured with an early reply: - we remain, your Obedient Servants, (Here followed signatures)
SOURCE: the Daily Argosy - Thursday, March 7, 1946: page 2.

ROSE HALL VILLAGE ELECTION PETITION

2010-01-26T13:40:00.001-08:00

ROSE HALL VILLAGE ELECTION PETITION
ONE RESPONDENT CLAIMS RESIDENCE TO SHOP AT ROSE HALL- PETITIONER SAYS BOTH RESPONDENTS LIVE AT PORT MOURANT - HEARING RESUMES ON JANUARY 31.
New Amsterdam, Wednesday, January 21, 1942
Miss ELEANOR SEWDIN, one of the respondents in the Rose Hall Village Election Petition, claimed that she lives in her shop at Rose Hall Village, Corentyne, when the hearing of the petition seeking to unseat her from the Rose Hall Village Council, was begun before Mr. K. S. Stoby, Magistrate, on Saturday, January 17.
The Petition also seeks to unseat Mr. S. L. Sewdin, a brother of Miss Eleanor Sewdin, who was elected at the same time.
The Petition was brought by Mr. Edward Charles Batson, who was an unsuccessful candidate at the elections.
A legal submission made by the Hon. Joseph Eleazar (for the Respondents) claimed that the petition had not been properly brought before the Court since the name “Edward Charles Batson” was not on the Voters’ List. The Petitioner is described on the List as “E. C. Batson.”
The submission was, however, over-ruled with a promise of further consideration at a later stage.
Mr. Mungal Singh is representing the Petitioner.
Mr. George Wilkie, Deputy Manager of Plantation Port Mourant, Berbice, was the first witness called. He said that he had been on the Estate for the past sixteen years and had known Miss Sewdin for the past thirteen years. To the best of his knowledge she lived at Plantation Port Mourant. He also knew Mr. S. L. Sewdin, brother of Miss Sewdin, and he too resided at Port Mourant.
The Estate has a rent book and Miss Sewdin’s name is in the book (produced). She pays the Estate twenty-five cents per month for the land her house is on. Her father was the previous tenant of the Estate on the same land. He was “M. Sewdin.” Miss Sewdin became tenant on July 1, 1941. Witness said that he knew Rose Hall Village.

WHERE MISS SEWDIN SLEPT AT NIGHT
Cross-examined: he did not know, “M. Sewdin” at all; he only saw the name in the yard. He had never been to the house but to the shop, the building of which belonged to the estate. She took over the rent after her father died. He would not be able to say where Miss Sewdin slept at night. He knew she had a house at Rose Hall Village, when he said she lived at Port Mourant he meant that she resided there to the best of his knowledge and that she stayed there all the time except when she went to her shop at Rose Hall.
He could not say how long she had the shop at Rose Hall Village. He did not know that Miss Sewdin lived at Bohemia at one time. He would not say that he had seen her frequently on the Estate. Once or twice he went to the “Yard” in the early morning and saw her there. He denied ever meeting her on the behalf of her father. He saw her about the entrance (road) about a month or so before the father died.

RETURNING OFFICER’S EVIDENCE.

Mr. R. S. La Rose was the next witness called. He said he lived at Manchester Village, Corentyne, Berbice, and was a former Schoolmaster. He had lived on the Corentyne for forty-six years and knew Rose Hall well. He was appointed Returning officer by the local government board for Rose Hall Village, Corentyne in 1936. (The witness produced his letter of appointment).
On November 24, 1941, he conducted an election at Rose Hall Village. He received nominations on November 17, and Eleanor Sewdin, George Moonsawmy, W. C. Fraser, S. L. Sewdin, R. Monahar, Haradhar, D. N. E. Batson, E. C. Batson (the petitioner), Cyril De Souza and Cyril Bachan were nominated.
There were ten candidates with six seats to be filled, and the candidates elected were: -Eleanor Sewdin, 154 votes; George Moonsawmy, 144 votes; W. C. Fraser, 144 votes; S. L. Sewdin, 138; Monahar, 131; and Haradhar, 130.
The other received the following number of votes: - D. N. E. Batson, 122; E. C. Batson, 118; Cyril De Souza, 114; and Cyril Bachan, 110.
Witness produced the Voters’ List and said the name E. C. Batson was on it. Elections were held every two years.
Cross-examined: there was no complaint against him. The election, so far as witness was aware, was alright. E. C. Batson, on the list was numbered 34. (The Voters’ List was here tendered).

LEGAL SUBMISSION OVER-RULED
Mr. Eleazar said, at that stage, that he would make a legal submission. The Court ruled that he could not but Mr. Eleazar argued that it could be done at any stage so long as it was a legal submission.
Mr. Singh said Mr. Eleazar could, if it was directly on the Petition.
Mr. Eleazar said it was and the Court permitted the submission. Mr. Eleazar cited the case of Moorhouse vs. Lenny 2, B, 15, page 273, and submitted that the Petition cannot be maintained since it was brought by “Edward Charles Batson” while the name on the Voters’ List was “E. C. Batson.”
The Court over-ruled the submission but promised, on the appeal of Mr. Eleazar, to give it further consideration at a later stage.

PETITIONER’S EVIDENCE
Mr. Edward Charles Batson said he was the Petitioner. His name was on the Voters’ List opposite No. 34, as E. C. Batson. Mr. Singh: What do the “E. C.” stand for? Mr. Eleazar: this is not an inquiry; you are leading the witness. The Court held that the question was permissible. Mr. Eleazar: all right; go on flundering. The Court: I don’t think I am flundering up to now. Mr. Eleazar: oh, beg your pardon, Sir, I could not say that of you. I mean my learned friend. The Court: Well, if he is flundering, why stop him?
Mr. Eleazar: Because he is wasting your time and my time. The Court: I am here for that.
The witness said the “E. C.” represented Edward Charles. He resided at Rose Hall Village. He had known Miss Sewdin for 30 years, and except for about five years when she lived at Bohemia, she lived at Plantation Port Mourant. The brother, S. L. Sewdin, had also lived at Port Mourant, for about 26 years, including the twelve months preceding the election.
He had known their father for about forty years. Miss Sewdin has a business at Rose Hall. It is a shop with two compartments, one for selling goods and the other for fresh beef. It is a one flat building, with no back room, only a kitchen. The shop closes between 8 and 8.15 at nights. S. L. Sewdin who sells in the shop would then go to Port Mourant.
Witness concluded by saying that he possessed the necessary qualifications for election at the time of the election. He, therefore, asked the Magistrate to grand the prayer of the petition.

“RESIDENCE” QUALIFICATION QUESTIONED
Cross-examined: he wanted to become a Councillor. He lived in a house at Rose Hall Village and paid $1.08c per month rent. It was not true that the house he based his qualification belonged to C. B. Batson, his brother when he put, residence, Rose Hall Village, it was with respect to the house in question.
Mr. Eleazar: I put it to you that the house is not yours.
Witness: The house is mine.
Mr. Eleazar: How did you get it?
Witness did not answer, and the Court told him he had to answer the question.
The witness said that his mother had given him the house and eventually admitted that his mother was “E. C. Batson” and his father was also “E. C. Batson.”
Mr. Eleazar: Did you go there and impersonate your mother? I put it to you that you did that.
Witness: No
Continuing the witness said that his father died in 1936. He (witness) had never been to the goldfields, but he had been to the balata fields four times, remaining for periods of three to six months. He had been to Miss Sewdin’s house at Port Mourant and seen her and her brother there. On one or two occasions he saw a sister of Miss Sewdin’s.

ROSE HALL HOUSE TENANTED
Miss Sewdin has a house at Rose Hall Village, but she does not sleep there, and the house was only built in September some time last year (about August) there was a strike and they had to get Miss Sewdin. They remained in a conference for a long time and they had to walk back to Port Mourant with Miss Sewdin. The house which was built last year at Rose Hall had a tenant.
Witness admitted that Miss Sewdin had a farm there, but denied that the man in charge lived at the house. He also denied that Miss Sewdin lived in her shop at Rose Hall. Asked if anybody who had a shop at Rose Hall would be so foolish as to leave it and sleep somewhere else, the witness said they could hire a watchman and pointed out that Miss Sewdin had a watchman for the shop.
Witness had never slept at Rose Hall in any house where Miss Sewdin sleeps. His brother carried on a butchery in part of Miss Sewdin’s shop and although he had slept there sometimes he had not seen Miss Sewdin.
Re-examined: the strike referred to took place in August or September. They had accompanied Miss Sewdin to Port Mourant about 11 o’clock that night. She did not return with them. Witness slept at his brother’s shop in October last year.
Donald Fingall of Rose Hall Village said that he was a Rural Constable and was also an employee of Rose Hall Village Council. He had resided in Rose Hall for the past 28 years.
At this stage the hearing was adjourned to Saturday, January 31.

MAGISTRATE TO VISIT SHOP
The Magistrate said he would like to see the shop and would visit it on Wednesday, January 28, at 8.45 a.m. He would like one or two representatives from each side to be present. He would ask no questions. He liked parties to be present when he visited places.
Source: Rose Hall Village Election Petition, Berbice Chronicle, British Guiana, Wednesday, January 21, 1942

Man of Distinction: Dr. Ivan Van Sertima.

2009-08-13T10:47:00.000-07:00

Some Thoughts on the Passing of A Man of Distinction: Dr. Ivan Van Sertima.

THE MAKING OF AN ACADEMIC FREEDOM FIGHTER – A TRUTH WARRIOR
I am not absolutely sure I can accurately pinpoint the precise date when I first heard of Dr. Ivan Van Sertima. I would not be wrong by concluding - I first heard of Dr. Van Sertima in perhaps 1976 – the year his life - defining text “They Came Before Columbus”, was published.
Let me quickly state the premise was nothing new to many of us in the rural communities in Guyana. I evocate, I had heard arguments profiling Cristobal Colon(Christopher Columbus) as an opportunist, a liar, a thief, mass-murderer, pirate and oppressor , long before Van Sertima’s book, “They Came Before Columbus”, and the Reggae Anthems, Burning Spear,” Christopher Columbus” and Peter Tosh’s, “Here Comes the Judge”, were presented to the consumers.
In fact, many hours were spent under the Tamarind tree on the Middle Walk north of the Public Road at Nabaclis, on the Sea Coast, East of the Demerara River, discussing all phases of life respecting the Global Black Experience with particular emphasis to the African Experience in British Guiana (Guyana) and the Caribbean Basin.
Thus, “They Came Before Columbus,” became the third publication, joining “Stolen Legacy” and “How Europe Underdeveloped Africa” which preceded it in 1954 and 1972 respectively. Those works produced by Guyanese Scholars in the decade prior to and in the post independence period were highly heralded in the academic world. Those works gave many young Guyanese the assurance that our academics can garner worldwide acclaim, especially where it matters most in the African Diaspora. Therefore, if they apply themselves they too could very be so recognized, in the near future.
Van Sertima stands upon the works of the schoolmasters and their protégées who benefited from the programs at the institutions established by Bishop Percy Austin in the colony of British Guiana. Two academic institutions; The Bishop’s College for the Training of Teachers in Charlestown, on the East Bank of the Demerara River and Queen’s College, a Grammar School for Boys in Georgetown is part of the legacy of Bishop Austin
The scholarship of Van Sertima is indeed that of the social reformation. It merits accolades. It harkens back to the period when Blackman ruled the planet. Imhotep, the renowned scholar and philosopher of the most ancient of civilizations would be proud to be associated with a scholar of the magnitude and the class of Professor Ivan Van Sertima.
One has to understand that the people of the colony of British Guiana depended on the media for information. The print media ruled the roost from around 1795 to the end of the so-called First World War in the twentieth century - when radio was introduced into the colony. By 1880 The Daily Chronicle and the Daily Argosy were established. Those publications began printing articles on the emerging Guianese intelligentsia. Notices are found therein - informing readers- that persons are attending universities abroad and they successfully completed their studies. That aspiring young Guianese certainly felt it was quite an achievement to appear in the publications. Also it was a matter of family pride and honor as much as it was personal.
By the early 1950s, ALF-CIO had infiltrated the Labor unions in the Colony of British Guiana. McCarthyism had arrived in the Colony of British Guiana. They came to root out communism in South America. One is not quite sure what role the effects of these developments played if at all any in the decision Van Sertima made to migrate to the United Kingdom.
It is such a pity Professor Van Sertima did not research and/or publish presentations on the humanities and social sciences respecting the political boundary known as Guyana, as he did on the subject of the African Presence on the entire planet.
I emailed perhaps three correspondences to Professor Van Sertima. He did not respond to enquires I made. All were relative to Guyana. The contents are relative to my belief;

1.African people dwelt amongst the indigenous people of Guyana, before Columbus was found in the Americas.
2. Also concerning the origins and the identity of the Picture Writings
3. The bark less-dog
4.The Islamic emblem; the sun, moon and star probably of the Mendi people found amongst the indigenous people of Guyana,
5.The origins of the name and/or word; Berbice
6.The 1976 Denis Williams article found in the Guyana Chronicle.
7.The Death announcement of Sydney Jacob Van Sertima.
8.What is his relationship to Sydney Jacob Van Sertima?

It is clear to me that research is necessary to determine and expose the African contact with the people resident between the Amazon and the Orinoco Rivers prior to the arrival of Cristobal Colon in the Americas in 1492.
It is however, much more frustrating that the dumb, deaf and the blind amongst us still refuses to accept as factual the African presence all over creation long before that pirate Cristobal Colon (Christopher Columbus).
The scholarship is referred to as “Out of Africa” and “Before Columbus”. It is much maligned in the academic institutions of the western world. The media has continued its stout resistance. It is irrational opposition to the undeniable truth. The birth place of humanity is in the vicinity of the Mountains of the Moon. Social Scientists stated several waves of people of the Great Lakes Region of East Africa migrated to various locations on earth. There, their descendants became the autochthonous of the land. They continue to catch hell, as their ancestors did beginning some four thousand years. Today, they are fighting for Aborigines Rights on every location on this planet.

WHO IS THIS MAN, IVAN VAN SERTIMA?
Van Sertima is of Dutch origins. It is the family name of Dutch Colonists in the colonies of Essequebo, Demerary and Berbice. By most accounts Dr. Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima was broadcaster, critic, Poet, teacher, scholar, and story writer. Dr. Van Sertima birthed on January 26, 1935 in the Village of Kitty, on the Atlantic Sea Coast East of the Demerara River, in the colony of British Guiana, on the South American Continent. He is one of five children of, the Trade Unionist and politician, Frank Obermuller Van Sertima. He was educated at the School of Oriental and African Studies, London University. Certainly, the ancestral heritage of Professor Van Sertima dates back to Dutch immigrants, and it includes enslaved “Africans,” the Macusi, an indigenous people of Guiana and members of the kinships of Obermuller and Van Sertima.
It is very likely the legal mind Sydney Jacob Van Sertima is an Uncle of Professor Van Sertima. The early twentieth century academic was a Sub-Editor, Argosy newspaper. On February 12, 1931, Sydney Jacob Van Sertima was the Commissioner of inquiry into the Affairs of the Village of Beterverwagting, on the East Sea Coast of Demerara in the colony of British Guiana.
Joseph Alexander Van Sertima is known to publish three books between 1897 and 1905. Amongst the members of the kinships of VAN SERTIMA and OBERMULLER are persons of note such as the following; Willem August Van Sertima, George Aubrey Sydney Van Sertima, John Augustus Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander Van Sertima, Joseph Aubert Van Sertima, Lionel Obermuller Van Sertima, William Van Sertima, Eulalie Van Sertima, E. V. Van Sertima, J. A. Van Sertima, Frank Obermuller Van Sertima, Maria Catherine Obermuller, Arnott Francois Obermuller, Carel Emanuel Obermuller, Henrietta Johanna Obermuller, Jan Frederick Obermuller, Johan Wilhelm Obermuller, Johanna Obermuller, Sophia Hellena Christina Obermuller, David Obermuller, and John Angus Obermuller.
It is clear that “Africans” enslaved by the Dutch in the colonies of Berbice, Demeraray and Essequebo were literate. It is known; a number of enslaved Africans on plantations on the East Coast of Demerara planned a revolt to begin at Stabroek on Christmas day 1807. The revolt was foiled. A daughter of the leader betrayed the revolt. She informed her lover, an overseer, a Scotsman. Her father and eight others were hanged as consequence of that betrayal. Also, during this period December 1807, a document was found written in characters resembling Arabic. It was believed to originate in Essequebo, and written by Africans. This, thus, clearly demonstrated Africans were literate. (St. Clair 1947:240) Colonel Nicholson and Governor Bentinck waged several campaigns against runaway slaves. The colonial authorities burnt their cultivation of which included Rice and Yam. Please note: neither Chinese nor East Indians were in the colonies of Berbice, Demeraray and Essequebo. They arrived after the colonies were united and known as British Guiana in 1831. Rice was introduced into the colonies by Africans. This debunks the misinformation and/or the misconception which have stigmatized generations of Africans – that Black people were sitting upon their hands and knees praying and hoping for some Messiah, and/or others to come to their rescue, in their efforts to realize emancipation and self-sufficient. Nothing can be further from the truth.
In 1839, the British Guiana African Association (BGAA) begun to produce its organ, “The Freedman’s Sentinel”.(Westmaas, 2007:7) However, it was not until 1874 when the Reverend John Richard Moore published the text, “A Handbook of the Causes of Non-Success and Degradation of the Negro Race in British Guiana”, that the beginning of African Guianese scholarship is recognized.

What are the ingredients which comprised the mind the man and his works?
It is hoped this exercise will serve as perhaps, as a springboard to someone more talented, and acclaim than myself to research and document that effort bringing to life and light, and thereby preserving for posterity the story of a truth warrior most deserving of such acclaim.
It is really tiresome, and defeating that in this late date, Black people continue to allow others to determine for us who our heroes are and/or who our heroes should be. It is such a shame the transition of The Most Honorable Dr. Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima was overshadowed by that of a Peter Pan character.
Only those that are ignorant of the knowledge of self, and/or have no intention to acquire the true history of the human experience will lift up buffoonery over truth of their existence.
Professor Van Sertima must and will be remembered for his scholarship. His efforts helped immensely to counter the mis-education of Negroes in the Americas and elsewhere on the planet. Thus Van Sertima belongs in the same argument as the following; Arturo Alfonso Schomburg (1871-1938), Malcolm X (1925-1965), Betty Shabazz, Hairiest Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Mariana Grajales (1808 -1893), Shirley Anita Chisholm, Edward Wilmot Blyden (1832-1912), Lucy Parsons (1853-1942), Frederick Douglass, Martin Robinson Delaney, Antonio Maceo (1845-1896), Ella Reeve Bloor (1862), Hubert Henry Harrison (1883 -1927), Marcus Garvey (1887 -1940), Franz Fanon, Wesley McDonald Holder (1897-1993), Walter Anthony Rodney, George Granville Monah James, Jan Rynveld Carew, Eric Eustace Williams, Cyril Lionel Robert James, Henry Sylvester Williams, Richard Benjamin Moore, Yosef Alfredo Antonio Ben-Jochannan, John Hendricks Clarke, Chancellor Williams, Gerald Massey, John George Jackson, Edward Scobie, Cheikh Anta Diop, Rafique Ali Jairazboy, Alexander Von Wuthenau, Theophile Obenga, Runoko Rashidi, Llaila Afrika, Joel Augustus Rogers, Aime Cesaire and Rene Maran and the African teachers and advocates of self- emancipation and self-love. They are in my opinion without doubt heroes of Black people all over the Diaspora.
In the context of Guianese scholars and scholarship, Van Sertima will be compared and favorably so, with the likes of Rev. Dr. John Edward London, John Monteith Rohlehr, Dale Arlington Bisnauth, Norman Eustace Cameron, Jan Rynveld Carew, Martin Carter, Bertram Aggrey Nathaniel Collins, Vere T. Daly, Rawle E. G. Farley, Elsa Govieva, Violet Graham, Ivelaw Griffith, Theodore Wilson Harris, George Granville Monah James, Eusi Kwayana, Joycellyne Loncke, Harold Alexander Lutchman, Basdeo Mangru, Mary Noel Mendes, Brian L. Moore, John Richard Moore, Robert James Moore, Dwarka Nath, Lesley M. Potter, Shirdatt Ramphal, Walter Anthony Rodney, Joseph Ruhomon, Peter Ruhomon, Thomas Anson Sancho, Clem Seecharan, Arthur James Seymour (1914-1989), Clive Yancey Thomas, Alvin O. Thompson, Nigel David Westmaas, Denis Williams, and John Allan Ethelbert Young and others of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries.

JAMES, CAREW, VAN SERTIMA, and RODNEY
James, Carew, Van Sertima, and Rodney are recognized as the most outstanding Guianese historians in the international arena. However a brief look at the contributions of African-Guianese to academic, including the sciences, arts, and literature will reveal that Africans were writing in Arabic during the failed attempt at self-emancipation in December 1808. However by 1839 Africans attached to the British Guiana African-American Association began publishing their organ. The newspaper became known as Freeman Sentinel. During the period shortly after apprenticeship, between November 18, 1839 and December 31, 1852, this period now known as the Village Movement gave rise to letters of protest. Numerous petitions were addressed to the governor of the colony of British Guiana. One such petition resulted in the Land Partition Ordinance for estates and Village management in February 1851. It was referred to as Buxton Ordinance. Between 1852 and 1900 the rise of the Schoolmasters, Poets, Local Preachers, doctors, lawyers, African-Guianese newspapers, the Village Councils’ Conferences, the Village Chairman’s Conferences and the British Guiana Teachers’ Association. The John Richard Moore publication is widely regarded as the first book written and published by an African-in-the-Guianese experience. However, folks, such as the Reverend John George Urling, were publishing articles in the local press of African-Guianese newspapers. also, between 1861 and 1879, the writings of Reverend John George Urling were printed in outlets such as the Christian Recorder
Stephen Arminius Robertson is the maternal grandfather of Jan Rynveld Carew. He was the President of the British Guiana Teachers’ Association 1894-1910 and again, 1915-1916. Mr. Robertson was the president of the Peoples’ Political Association, in 1901. He was the headmaster of Agricola Wesleyan School. Schoolmaster Robertson resided at Agricola on the East Bank of the Demerara River. It is my humble opinion the gentle revolutionary’s work is not completed. He needs to write and publish a biographical account of the life and time of his grandfather.
Thus Professor Ivan Van Sertima is a product of the tradition of Guianese academia. in the early 1850s, Guianese scholarship begun to attract attention of the working class people of the populace. This period produced teachers and preachers on the local scene. The schoolmaster was looked upon with great admiration and respect in the colonial era and especially so, in the rural communities. Kitty was then a village. The representatives and the administration of Kitty were closely linked with those of the major progressive villages of the East Coast of Demerara.
The Reverend George Granville Monah James is the father of Professor James. He was an advocate for local self-government. At the beginning of the twentieth century, he was a force in the socio-political movement in New Amsterdam. It is said Professor James died mysteriously shortly after the text stolen Legacy was published in 1954. in June 1980, Rodney was assassinated by loyalists to the illegal and ruthless regime of the callous dictator Forbes Burnham. Thus James and Rodney were physically removed under suspicious means.
Ivan Van Sertima recently joined the ancestors. Carew the gentle revolutionary is aged. He is sickly. Thus the four major African-Guianese scholars of the twentieth century are off the lecture circuit. However, I believe it is relevant and necessary to point out that The Reverend John Richard Moore and Norman Eustace Cameron were admirable forerunners.
It must be understood that the tradition which gave rise to Moore, Cameron, James, Carew, Van Sertima Rodney, and numerous others has now been all but abandoned, for all that has been coming out of the marginalized Black communities in Guyana during the last seventeen years are the industry of criminal enterprise which continue to graduate thieves, and murderers specializing in the illegal narcotic drugs trade. Thus it is more than a bit much; that European domination has been replaced by East Indian domination much to the chagrin of the Africans in the Guianese experience.
Certainly, the warnings of the Prophet Wills of Buxton were not headed. Gang culture is now a dominant factor amongst the youth of Guyana. The government is unable and unwilling to provide impetus for change and the greatest amount of blame rests precisely upon the heads and shoulders of the population of Guyana. They provide fertile ground for the continuance of the culture of ineptitude and governance of racism in Guyana. It is certainly unacceptable that under the administration of Guianese government between may 26, 1966 and this very day; Africans are not inclined to pursue industry or education but participate in the process of making life unbearable in the communities their ancestors gave their lives to preserve their heritage. The remains of A man of distinction such as Dr. Ivan Gladstone Van Sertima should have been given a national send-off. The government of Guyana should have declared A national day of mourning. Professor Van Sertima should be given the highest national award a civilian is eligible to receive. Also institutions and streets should be named in his honor. A good man is seldom honored in his own country and such is the scenario respecting the life and contributions of Professor Van Sertima.

RECOMMENDED READING:
Cameron, Norman E., (1951) A History of Queen’s College (Georgetown, British Guiana) - Cameron, Norman E., (1968)150 years of Education in Guyana 1808-1957 (Georgetown, Guyana) Daly, P. H. (1948) Story of Heroes book two (Georgetown, British Guiana) Daly Vere Tresvlyn (1985) Short History of the Guyanese People. London St. Clair, Thomas Staunton A Soldier’s Sojourn in British Guiana, 1806-1808. Edited by Vincent Roth. Georgetown, British Guiana, Daily Chronicle, 1947. Webber, A. R. F., (1935) Centenary History and Handbook of British Guiana (Georgetown, British Guiana)
Westmaas, Nigel David, [2007] The newspaper press of Guyana,1839-1899. State University of New York at Binghamton, New York, USA, 2007
Carew, Jan R. The rape of paradise: Columbus and the birth of racism in the Americas
Carew, Jan R. Ghosts in our blood: with Malcolm X in Africa, England, and the Caribbean. New York: Lawrence Hill Books, c1994.
Carew, Jan R. Fulcrums of change: African presence in the Americas.1988
James, George G. M. (1941) The fate of black people under Germany- World War, 1939-1945 -New York, 1941.
James, George G. M. League of Colored Peoples (1950) The need of a new education for the subject peoples of the world: a lecture delivered before the League of Colored People Georgetown, British Guiana, on August 24th, 1950 by Associate Professor George G.M. James of Arkansas State College
Van Sertima, Sydney Jacob, Hints on Village Administration and Parliamentary Procedure.
Sydney Jacob Van Sertima Commissioner of inquiry into the Affairs of the village of Beterverwagting, on the East Sea Coast of Demerara in the colony of British Guiana. February 12, 1931.
Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander, ‘Among The Common People Of British Guiana, (Demerara, The Argosy Press, 1897)
Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander, Scenes and Sketches of Demerara Life(Demerara, The Argosy Press, 1899)
Van Sertima, Joseph Alexander, “The Creole Tongue of British Guiana”[New- Amsterdam: The Argosy Press, 1905],
Thompson, Alvin O., Colonialism and Underdevelopment in Guyana, 1580-1803
Van Sertima, Ivan Egypt: child of Africa
Van Sertima, Ivan They came before Columbus, the African presence in ancient America

VAN SERTIMA-OBERMULLER

2009-07-16T14:26:00.000-07:00

The Members of the Kinships of VAN SERTIMA and OBERMULLER

Willem August VAN SERTIMA (c. 1789)
John Frederic OBERMULLER, between January 1812 and February 1815, Assistant Agent for the Commission for the Management of Crown Slaves in the Colony of Berbice,.

EULALIE VAN SERTIMA
Second Grade Telephone Attendant, Telecommunications Branch, Post Office Department.
Resides in Georgetown.
Born: September 6, 1900
1934 – Present Appointment
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

E. V. VAN SERTIMA
Sugar Planter, Head Overseer, Plantation Versailles, West Bank Demerara
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

J. A. VAN SERTIMA
Sugar Planter, Head Overseer,
Resides at Plantation Versailles, West Bank Demerara.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

FRANK OBERMULLER VAN SERTIMA
Chief Clerk, Road Transport, Bartica.
Resides at Bartica, Essequibo River.
Born: December 28, 1897Educated at St. Thomas’s Scots School and Queen’s College, Georgetown.
1917 – Served with Berbice Steam Saw Mill and Foundry Company Limited.
1923 – Clerical Assistant, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
- Acting Cashier, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
1924- Invoice Clerk, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
1929 – Cashier, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
1942 – Present Appointment
Has acted on several occasions as Chief Clerk, Goods Department, Transport and Harbour Department.
Public Auditor for Friendly Societies.
Chairman, British Guiana Trades Union Assembly
Twice Married
Has five children.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Pages 534-535)

JOSEPH AUBERT VAN SERTIMA
Superintendent Engineer, Power Plant Mackenzie.
Resides at Mackenzie, Demerara River. Born: October 23, 1892, at Essequibo, to John A. Van Sertima, Balata Agent, and his wife, Sophia, nee Toby.
Educated at Berbice Boys’ School and Collegiate School Georgetown.
Is an Associate Member of the Institute of British Engineers.
1907-1910 – Apprenticed to Berbice Foundry, worked at Sprostons for two and a half years, was chief engineer, Navy Patrol Boat and was for two years refrigeration Engineer “R.M.S. Chateur” 1923 – Present Appointment
Married: July 30, 1916:- Gladys Leonora Binning.
Has five sons and two daughters.
Recreation -Tennis and Billiards.
Hobby – Fishing.
Holds Distinguished Service Medal rendered Service Patrol Boat “Essequibo” when Boiler tubes burst, killing Chief Engineer, Freeman and Oiler during 1914-1918 war.
1945 – Justice of the Peace.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48 : Pages 534-535)

JOHN ANGUS OBERMULLER
Head Teacher, Orealla Anglican School.
Resides at Orealla Mission, Corentyne River, Berbice.
Born: March 18, 1912 at Expectation #9, West Coast Berbice, to David Obermuller, Engineer, Rice and Live-Stock Farmer and his wife, Ellen nee Alexander.
Educated at St. Oriel’s now renamed St. Nicholas Anglican School, Bath , West Coast Berbice and Teachers’ Training College, Georgetown.
Holds class Two Trained Teachers’ Certificate
1926-1934 – was a private Teacher and Un-Certificated Assistant, St. Nicholas Anglican School.
1934-1936 – Certificated Assistant, at St. Nicholas Anglican School.
1938-1943 - Certificated Assistant, at Skeldon Anglican School.
1943-1945 – First Assistant, at St. Nicholas and Skeldon Anglican School.
1945-1946– Present Appointment
Married: January 8, 1941:- Edna S. Pitt.
Recreation –Boating.
Hobby – Gardening.
(Source: Who is Who in British Guiana [Fourth Edition] 1945-48: Page 391)

Partition of Plantation Anna Clementia

2009-04-09T15:46:00.000-07:00

Partition of Plantation Anna Clementia: Alma/Inkernian Village, left bank of the Canje River, April 1953
Lucy Adams, Sarah Bascom, Marion Benfield, Boodhoo, Ali Bramna, Malvina Chapperfield, Victoria Duncan, Angelina Catherine Ellis, Nancy Ellis, Nathaniel Ellis,
Peggy Galloway, Nathaniel Grant, John Greenidge,
Caroline Haywood, John Hill, Altaf Hussain,
Letitia King, Soondri Kumar, Lucy McAlman, Ellen Mitchell, Minta Money, Moogola, Margaret Morris, George Noel, David A. Oldfield,
B. P. Panday, Diana Paul, Chandra Persaud, Esrom Persaud, Adolphus Quail,
Charles Richards, Ernest Richards, John Richards, Trenton Richards, Herman Rohlehr, Keturah Rose, Sewnateh, Madodri Sumintra,
Clement James Telford, Angelia Thom, and Mariam Welcome.
Source: Local Government Board; Notices # -Partition of Plantation Anna Clementia, Canje River - Official Gazette of British Guiana – April 18, 1953: page 1577.

Partitioning of Plantation New Orange Nassau

2009-04-09T15:44:00.000-07:00

An Ordinance for partitioning, Plantation “New Orange Nassau," a part of which forms the Village of Buxton, among the Joint Proprietors thereof, and for partitioning other Lands and Villages similarly circumstanced. By Command, on February 18, 1851, and published on February 19, 1851, Henry Barkly, Governor of the colony of British Guiana. Guiana Public Buildings, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana W. B. Wolseley, Acting Government Secretary.
The following were enacted by this legislation;

1. Justice Of The Peace Nominated By the Governor, To Convene Meeting of the Proprietors.
2. Meeting Shall Consist Of One Fourth In Number Of Proprietors, And Shall Elect Commissioners.
3. Any Commissioner Dying, His Place to Be Filled Up.
4. Commissioners to Take Oath.
5. Chairman May Convene Meeting Of Commissioners
6. Posts, Denoting Boundaries of Lots to Be Placed.
7. Effect Of Boundaries Of Lots Being Defined
8. Certificates Of Survey
9. Commissioners to Pass Transports.
10. Cost of Transports.
11. Assessment of Lots for Expenses.
12. Amounts of Assessment, How Recoverable.
13. Lots Liable For Amounts of Assessments.
14. Joint Proprietors of Other Lands than Those of New Orange Nassau May Be Entitled To Advantages of This Ordinance.
15. How Commissioners Of Other Lands Are To Act.
16. Interpretation Clause.
17. When Ordinance To Take Effect.

Partition of Plantation Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, 1953

2009-04-09T15:40:00.000-07:00

Partition of Eastern half of Plantation Bel Air, West Coast Berbice, 1953
Bel Air Country District 1953
Abel Alexander, Chesney Alexander, Princess Alexander, William Alfred, Beatrice Arrindell,

Edward James Baird, Daniel Hamilton Baker, Dorcas Baptiste, Christopher Benjamin, Clement Benjamin, Clifton Benjamin, Cornwall Benjamin, Cortwright Benjamin, Daniel Benjamin, Fitz Benjamin, Gladford Benjamin, Harriet Maria Benjamin, Harris Benjamin, Leah Benjamin, Marcia Benjamin, Sarah Virginia Benjamin, John Leyland Blair, London Clifford Blair, Watson Eustace Bowling, Albertha Bowman, Jacob Bowman, Randolph Bowman, Sarah Bowman, Thomas Britton,

Eleanor Charles, Ethel Charles, James Chesney,
Lydia David, Edna Dublin, Hildred Dublin,
Moses Edwards, Ellen Embrack,
Benjamin Fraser, Levi Fraser, Lydia Fraser, Rupert Nathaniel Fyffe, Samuel Josephus Fyffe,

Winston Gillis,
Josephine Halley, Frances Europa Harte, Heeralall, Frederick Hero, Betsy Homer, Edward Hyderkhan, John Hyderkhan, Mark Hyderkhan, Matthew Hyderkhan,
James Jacob Isaacs,
Alexander James, Allonzo James, Archie Pilbert James, David James, Dora James, Edward James, Eleazer James, George W. James, Henry James James, Hilton Nathaniel James, James James, Jacob James, John James, Martin James, Nathalee Mayleen James, Rachel James, Rhoda James, Samuel James, Samuel Alexander James, Sarah James, Thomas James, Trenton James, Walter James, Whitfield James, Edwin John, Adam Alexander Johnson, Albert Johnson, James Jacob Johnson, Martha Johnson, Wilhelmina Johnson, Alexander Joseph, Archibald Joseph, Archie Philbert Joseph, Daniel Joseph, Frances Joseph, George Joseph, Ivanhoe Joseph, Oscar Joseph, Watson Oswald Benjamin Joseph,
Charles Lewis, Thomas Luther,
Charles Mars, Dorcas Mars, Edward Mars, James Victor Mars, Thomas Whitfield Mars, Edward McAlmont, Daniel McCalmon, Betsy McCammon, Abel McDonald, Lillian McDonald, Nathaniel McDonald, Renford McDonald, William McDonald, Edward McKenzie,
Thomas Nicholson,
F. Parris, Justina E. Parris, Bisie Persaud,
Ramdhan, Jane Roberts, William Rogers,
Phillip Semple, Richard Semple,
Eucil Thompson, Princess Maria Thompson, Thomas Theophilus Thompson,
Cedric Wayne, David Wayne, Isaiah Wayne, John N. Wayne, Laurence Wayne, Mary Wayne, Morrell Wayne, Rolleston Wayne, and Edward Richard Webster.

Source: Local Government Board; Notices # 784 -Partition of Eastern half of Plantation Bel Air, Lot 22, West Coast Berbice - Official Gazette of British Guiana – April 18, 1953: pages 1574-1576.

Jasodia Nehaul, Mother of Mr. Harry Manghan Nehaul

2009-04-09T14:43:00.000-07:00

Dr. BALBIR BALL GREENE NEHAUL
Government Bacteriologist and Pathologist, Central Medical Laboratory, Georgetown.
RESIDES: at 233 Camp Street, Georgetown
BORN: September 6, 1912, Friendship Village, East Coast Demerara, British Guiana, son of Harry Manghan Nehaul and his wife Bipti.
EDUCATED: St. Augustine's School; Queen's College, University College, University College Hospital, London, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Pathology Department, Leeds University and Forensic Medicine Department, University of Edinburgh.
Is an M.B.B.S. (London), M.R.C.S. (England), L.R.C.P. (London), and DT &M(England),
Is an M.B. (Queen’s University, Ontario).L.R.C.P., L.R.C.S. (Edinburgh)L.R.F.P.F., (Glasgow).
Holds Certificate of London School of Hygiene, and Tropical Medicine.
1939 - Acting Government Medical Officer.
1940 – Assistant Venereal Disease Officer (Part-Time) Public Hospital , Georgetown.
1940 – Acting Assistant Government Medical Officer.
1940 – Acting Resident Surgeon, Public Hospital, Mabaruma.
1941 - Assistant Government Medical Officer.
1941– Acting Government Bacteriologist
1943 – Honorary Research Assistant and Demonstrator in Pathology and Bacteriology, Pathology Department, University of Leeds.
1944 –Assistant and Honorary Demonstrator, Department Forensic Medicine, University of Edinburgh.
1945–Present Appointment.
MARRIED: April 15, 1939 :- Aileen Jaikaran.
Has one son and two daughters.
RECREATION – Tennis.
HOBBY – Photography.
Is a winner of First Buxton Scholarship, Percival Exhibition and Queen’s College Scholarship at Queen’s College.
Holds Liston Gold Medal for clinical surgery and Proxime Accesit Erichsen Prize in Practical surgery at University College Hospital, University of London.
Medical Officer selected for training in Pathology and Bacteriology in England, 1943-1945.
PUBLISHED PAPERS: Dermal Leishmaniasis, Caribbean Medical Journal, 1942-44 Pages: 101-103.
Elastiglass Dermatitis, Caribbean Medical Journal, 1942-44 Pages :103-104.
Report on the Physical Development and Health of a Sample of School
Children In the Island of Leguan, British Guiana, 1941. British Guiana Medical Annual, 1942 Pages:95-113.
MEDICAL SOCIETIES:
Member of the British Medical Association.
Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine (London).
Fellow of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (London).
Member of the American Society of Tropical Medicine.
Member of the Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
Member of the American Society of Pathologists and Bacteriologists.
Member of the Association of Clinical Pathologists (Great Britain).
Member of the American Society of Parasitologists.
Member of the American Public Health Association.
1947 - Member of British Guiana Medical Board.
- Secretary of British Guiana Branch, British Medical Association.

SUGREEN AUGUSTUS SHAKURDIAL NEHAUL
Sworn Land Surveyor
RESIDES: at 14 Vlissengen Road, Newtown, Kitty, East Coast Demerara.
BORN: June 3, 1914, Buxton, East Coast Demerara, British Guiana, son of Harry Manghan Nehaul, Landed Proprietor, and his wife Bipti.
EDUCATED: St. Augustine's Anglican School, Friendship, East Coast Demerara and Queen’s College, Georgetown.
Was a Surveyor with the Demerara Bauxite Company Limited.
MARRIED: August 10, 1935: Ivy Guiana Binning.
Has two sons and one daughter.
RECREATION – Billiards, Football, and Cricket.
HOBBIES – Philately, Correspondence and Photography.
Has had experience in Drainage and Irrigation work.
SOURCES: Roth, Vincent and Delph, Charles Noel (editors) Who is Who in British Guiana, 1945 - 1948 (Fourth Edition) Pages: 361-362.
Personalities in the Caribbean‎ -1962- Page 491.

Obituary:-Jasodia, Mother of Mr. Harry Manghan Nehaul
Buxton, East Coast of Demerara - Jasodia, mother of Mr. Harry Manghan Nehaul, Councillor of Buxton and Friendship Village District and Proprietor of Chapman Grove, died on Monday, November 12, 1934 at age of 85 and was laid to rest in the Friendship cemetery on Tuesday, afternoon.
Born in India, she came to British Guiana in the year 1851 an orphan but three years of age, her parents having died on board the ship. She went to Plantation Nonpareil and was placed under the guardianship of the Head Driver. At the age of 20 years she got married to Mr. Nehaul, who was then the Head Driver. After two children were born the family left for India, where they remained for a year, and then returned to British Guiana. Time went on and the family increased. The children alive are – Neranjan and Mr. H. M. Nehaul. She was of genial disposition, a sympathetic mother, and a very religious individual. She was ill only for a couple of days and predicted her death. She left to mourn her loss two children and several grand children.
The funeral was largely attended, and the chief mourners were: Harry Manghan Nehaul and Neranjan (son and daughter); Balbir Ball Greene Nehaul (Medical Student, London), Sugreen Augustus Nehaul and G. B. Nehaul (grandsons).
Among those present were the following; Dr. James Edwin Rampersaud Ramdeholl, Messrs: Abrams, Robert Reuben Baird, Boney Persaud, Lallabahadur, M. Sumner, R. Persaud, J. Jaikaran, John Jaikaran, G. B. Seeraj, A. M. Leo, F. Moses, J. R. Gomes, May Fung-a-fat, Mary Gomes, Messrs; Blackie Shaw, S. Persaud, H. Warren, Mrs. Shedarsan, Messrs; Prashad, J. Rampaul, H. Rampaul, W. Sam, Kempt Carter, H. Dolphin, S. Morgan, J. DeSouza, D. G. Munroe, W. Dinally, S. K. Singh, J. G. Stephens, Mohabeer, Ouditsingh, M. G. Ghanie, J. Inasie, M. Haniff, Gango, G., & M. McKinnon, J. France, W. B. Moses, H. A. Moses, George Wilson, S. G. Charran, Miss Douglas, Messrs; Debidan, J. P. Gordon, J. P. Barlow, Narain, C. P. Persaud, D. French, Mr. & Mrs. Rodrigues, Rhikieran,J. Shortt, Mrs. V. Stephens, Mrs. D. Peters, L. Lovell, Suteh, Jagdeo, Ragnarain, Maraj, Hansa Persaud, Mrs. Easton, Misses Melbourne, Gertrude Paul, Ivy Seaforth, Messrs; Mance Phillips, Joe Phillips, Gangu, N. Martins and S. A. King.
Floral tributes were received from Messrs; Mohabeer, Persaud brothers, and Mrs. Rodrigues.

Source: Obituary – Jasodia, Mother of Mr. H. M. Nehaul - The Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana - Sunday, November 18, 1934: Page seven.

Please note:
If you can either identify or obtain the identity of the persons mentioned herein - will you please do so and enlighten me soonest.
Also if you are aware of persons mentioned herein feel free to forward the information to their relatives and/or to persons connected to the Buxton-Friendship Village District on the East Coast of Demerara. They perhaps, will find it necessary to enlighten me respecting the identification of the persons mentioned in the publication. I would also love to be enlightened concerning contributions persons of East Indians, Chinese and Portuguese heritage made to the development of all phases of life in Golden Grove-Nabaclis and the Buxton-Friendship Village Districts.
Thank you for contributing.

Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser: Centenarian

2009-04-09T12:58:00.000-07:00

Obituary – Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser: Centenarian -

Georgetown, Thursday, November 15, 1934.

– The death of Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser occurred at 11.55 AM on Thursday, November 1, 1934 at Ann’s Grove, East Coast, Demerara. Mrs. Fraser who had attained the advanced age of 103 years, was born at Victoria Village, on the East Coast, Demerara and as a girl was taken to Ann’s Grove by her father, the late Mr. Benjamin Kennedy, who was the first ticket Collector on the extended railway at Clonbrook.
She was married to the late Cornelius Fraser, engineer of Plantation Hope, East Coast, Demerara, who died many years ago. They had four children, two of whom are alive – Mr. B. C. Fraser of Plantation Providence, Berbice and Mr. N. B. Fraser of the Public Works Department.
The late Mrs. Fraser was of cheerful disposition and was dear to the whole community of Ann’s Grove. She was fondly called “Auntie Bet”. For a number of years, she was a member of the Ann’s Grove Methodist Church. The funeral which took place on Friday, November 2, 1934 was well-attended.
At 4 PM the procession moved from the residence to the Ann’s Grove Methodist Church. In the absence of the Reverend R. Daniel, Minister-in-Charge, Mr. J. N. Small, School-Master, conducted the funeral service, which was choral. Mr. B. C. Fraser presided at the organ.
The chief mourners were Messrs, Mr. B. C. Fraser and Mr. N. B. Fraser (sons), F. Fraser, S. Fraser, E. Fraser, Stanley Fraser, Mrs. Clothie McDougall, Baby Richmond, Mrs. M. Anderson, the Misses Agnes and Geralda Fraser (grand children) and three great grand children.
The Pall-Bearers were: Messrs. Felix Fraser, W. Anderson, E. Bristol, S. Maynard, J. Bookey, and Thos. Sertima.

The Attendance

Among those who attended the funeral were: Messrs. Hubert Alfred Thompson JP, Simon Eleazer Alpheus Talbot, S. Maynard, P. Pellew, T. N. Alexander, P. Nedd, H. Thomas, D. Sam, N. Collins, Sidney Lewis, B. Collins, Thomas Adams, A. Pellew, J. Lindo, J. Dodson, L. Wilson, J. R. Massiah, Thomas Sertima, J. Bookey, Felix Fraser, W. Anderson, and E. Bristol. Mesdames; E. Henry, F. Jenkins, F. Dublin, L. Wilson, R. Jerrick, the Misses; Harmon, C. Hector, Nellie Johnson, D. Simon, N. Samuels, H. Williams, F. Greene, and Matilda Nelson.

Floral tributes were numerous.

Source: Obituary – Mrs. Elizabeth Fraser: Centenarian- the Daily Chronicle, Georgetown, British Guiana - Thursday, November 15, 1934: Page 6.

PLEASE NOTE:

If you can either identify or obtain the identity of the persons mentioned herein will you please do so and enlighten me soonest.
Also if you are aware of persons mentioned herein feel free to forward the information to their relatives and/or to persons connected to the villages of Victoria and Ann’s Grove on the East Coast of Demerara. They perhaps, will find it necessary to enlighten me respecting the identification of the persons mentioned in the publication.
Thank you for contributing.

Death of A Well-Known Colonist – the Late Rev. J. R. Mittelholzer

2009-03-13T12:02:00.001-07:00

Death of A Well-Known Colonist – the Late Rev. J. R. Mittelholzer
After a long and painful illness, borne with remarkable patience, the death occurred in New Amsterdam on Friday night of the Rev. John Robert Mittelholzer, pastor of the Ebenezer Lutheran Evangelical Church, and one of the most public Spirited of the Citizens of New Amsterdam.
For more than a year Mr. Mittelholzer was confined to his room, and although on more than one occasion his life was despaired of he rallied through his illness until Friday night when the end came in the presence of nearly all the members of a well-known and much respected Berbice family. In his young days Mr. Mittelholzer was a Congregational Schoolmaster and subsequently took to the ministry of that denomination, being trained by the late Reverend John Dalgleish. When the vacancy occurred at the Lutheran Church Mr. Mittelholzer accepted the invitation of the members, led by the late Mr. Schwartz, and for over a quarter of a century ministered to his flock. He practically rebuilt and enlarged the present church which to-day in one of the architectural ornaments of New Amsterdam. Of scholastic attainments he conducted an academy at the Lutheran Manse for several years where he not only educated his children, but several of the prominent citizens of New Amsterdam to-day received their education at his hands. He was connected with the Berbice Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society for a long period and for a number of years discharged the duties of honorary Secretary with much satisfaction locally and abroad. It was only a few years ago when active work began to tell upon him that he was compelled to resign the position which was regretted on all sides.

A Public Spirited Citizen
A Berbician to the core he took a prominent and leading part in the agitation when the Government in the interests of economy attempted to remove the public institutions and officers from New Amsterdam. He had great faith in the prospects of Berbice and particularly the river district where he successfully carried on several missions. He was very kind and charitably disposed to the poor and his familiar figure and the influence of his personality will be much missed. The deceased gentleman was also chairman of the Cumberland Village Council at one time and on several occasions represented the Council at the conference of Village Chairmen. His advice, no matter in what business or purpose, was always readily given. Thought not a brilliant orator – he belonged to the old school – his appearances on the public platform were always the source of much satisfaction and he invariably found a point which appealed to the audience. He was born in Berbice and had some distant connection with the Dutch. To his credit be it said he had not an enemy and there was never an ill-word uttered of him. At the time of his death he was 73 years of age.
The late Mr. Mittelholzer was twice married and leaves a widow and seven children – three sons and four daughters – to mourn their loss. One of his sons is Mr. J. V. Mittelholzer, of the Customs Department, Georgetown, another Mr. E. A. Mittelholzer, of the local branch of the Registrar’s Office. The deceased was of a musical turn of mind and took a keen interest in stringed instrumentation as instinct which he has handed down to his several children, all of whom are musicians of some ability. It might be mentioned that Mr. Mittelholzer, was at one time a member of the old Board of Superintendence.
Source: The Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana – Sunday, August 24, 1913 page 4.

100_1406

2009-03-04T14:17:00.005-08:00

100_1406
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

100_1405

2009-03-04T14:17:00.003-08:00

100_1405
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

100_1404

2009-03-04T14:17:00.001-08:00

100_1404
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

100_1407

2009-03-04T14:15:00.001-08:00

100_1407
Originally uploaded by childrenofsancho

Books-The British West Indies Regiment

2009-02-04T13:36:00.001-08:00

Books-The British West Indies Regiment

Posted using ShareThis

POLICE MEDAL AWARDS

2009-01-27T14:50:00.001-08:00

POLICE MEDAL AWARDS
The Colonial Police Long Service Medal has been awarded to the following:-
INSPECTOR:
4930 Vincent Ivor Renaldo, 5016 James Grosvenor
SERGEANTS:
4230 Alonzo Theophilus Augustus Fenty, 4550 Teddy Anselmo Heyliger, 4558 John Bearam, 4597 Alexander Josephus Klass, 4748 Sydney Archibald Richmond, 4878 Thomas Adolphus Junor, 4928 Ezurick Adolphus Mickle, 4958 Damechand, 4981 Percival McLeod, 4996 Allan McIntosh, 4998 Edward Anthony, 5008 Arthur Fraser, 5011 Harold London
CORPORAL:
4238 Rupert Cort, 4570 Edgar Yaw, 4600 McDonald Fitzpatrick Osborne, 4607Gershom Eustace Anderson, 4689 Charles Constantine Ceres, 4732 Thomas Chalmers, 4775 Nathan Isaac Brown, 4781 William Piercy Babb, 4792 Leyland Ovid Holder, 4803 Lanceworth Rolston, 4886 Abraham Bertnice Scott, 4896 Wilfred Jackson, 4915 Richard Archibald, 4934 Periweeran Karpenna, 4937 Charles Amsterdam Lynch, 4940 Reuben Ovid Housty, 4947 Frank Ernest Collins, 5002 Victor Holder, 5006 Cleveden Harris, 5032Edward Horatio
CONSTABLES:
4686 Charles Robert Bourne, 4691 Joseph Christopher Caleb, 4745 Frank Albertis Knights, 4749 Timothy Richardson, 4768 James Amsterdam, 4773 Lloyd Bowery, 4793 Alvin Archibald Hendericks, 4832 Reginald Hubert Innis, 4844 Jeffrey Trim, 4852 Abraham Dalrymple, 4866 Vere Yelverton Thomas, 4868 Brentnol Williams, 4895 Theodore Emanuel Van Brook, 4899 Joseph Alexander Browne, 4906 Sudat Rampersaud, 4907 Egbert Nathaniel La Rose, 4919 Samuel Augustus Francis, 4960 Richard Budhoo, 4967 Joseph Bayley, 4968 Joseph White Webb, 4972 Ovid Gladstone Andrews, 4994 Thomas Lovell, 5003 William Thom, 5013 Donald Thomas, 5029 Thomas Henry Eustace Coppin, 5030 Hector Fraser, 5036 Thomas Heyligar, 5039 Theophilus George,

The First Clasp to the Medal has been awarded to the following:-
INSPECTOR:
4344 Bruce Billington James, 4358 Leslie Wallace Ogle, 4360 Eric Randolph Bryan
SERGEANTS:
4342 Cornelius Alphonso Douglas, 4348 Emulus Alphonso Duncan, 4351 John Hannibal Thomas Fredericks, 4260 Wilfred Robinson Mitchell,
CORPORAL:
4238 Joseph Newton Fenty, 4570 Edward Gladstone Williams,
Winter Henry Thompson
CONSTABLE:
4336 Lionel David Gill,
The Second Clasp to the Medal has been awarded to the following:-
CHIEF INSPECTOR:
4167 Edward Alexander Washington,
CONSTABLE:
4233 Joseph Noble,

A. A. Abraham
Secretary to the Office of the Governor.
Source: The Official Gazette of British Guiana; 1962:

Kinship of Sumner

2008-11-26T07:26:00.000-08:00

Kinship of Sumner
Surnames: ADAMS, CLARKE, PETERS, SUMNER, WEATHERSPOON, WILLIAMS, YORKE

JOHN SUMNER and SAMBO SUMNER: the proprietors of Golden Grove Village, East Coast, Demerara. Source: B.G. News Historical Review of Golden Grove Village Events, Improvements and Achievements, 1848 -1948; The Daily Argosy, Friday, May 7, 1948: page 3.

JANE SUMNER: the grand mother of the Belton family, a member of which is at the present time serving in the Postal Department of the City. Source: Rustik - Around the Rural Areas - The Sunday Chronicle, January 23, 1944: pages 8 & 11.

It was also reported that ROBERT SUMNER had been fined $5.00 and costs for erecting a thatched house without the consent of the Council. Source: - "East Coast News" -The Daily Chronicle, Tuesday, February 11, 1919: Page 10.

P. SUMNER Source: http://eastseacoastdemerara.blogspot.com/2005/05/personal-interest.html

ALEXANDER SUMNER (Farmer, Nabaclis); HILTON SUMNER (Diamond Seeker, Nabaclis); JONATHAN SUMNER(Farmer, Nabaclis); JOHN SUMNER (Farmer, Nabaclis); JOSEPH SUMNER (Oil Manufacturer, Nabaclis); THOMAS SUMNER (Farmer, Nabaclis); http://goldengrovenabaclis.blogspot.com/2007/05/golden-grove-and-nabaclis-working.html http://goldengrovenabaclis.blogspot.com/2007/04/working-class-people-of-golden-grove.html

P. SUMNER: Member of the Local Authorities of the Golden Grove and Nabaclis Village District, January, 1908 - December 1909 http://goldengrovenabaclis.blogspot.com/2004/10/members-of-local-authorities-of-golden.html

ANNE SUMNER GRIFFITH http://goldengrovenabaclis.blogspot.com/2004/10/learned-members-of-golden-grove-and.html

ROBERT ALEXANDER SUMNER (1888/89-1938)
SUMNER- On Monday, June 20, 1938 at 4:30PM at his late residence, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara, ROBERT ALEXANDER, beloved father of Dudley, Dodson, Philip, George, James, Olga, May, Sheila, Nina and Mrs. Yorke. Aged 49 years. Funeral will take place from his late residence at 4:30PM to-day. Friends please accept this the only intimation. Source: The Daily Chronicle; Tuesday, June 20, 1938: page 6.

DODSON AUGUSTUS SUMNER (April 10, 1914-July 4, 2006), Law Enforcement Officer, British Guiana Police Force, and his immediate relatives; Hanif K. Sumner, Hazel E. Sumner, Hugh Andre Sumner, Hyacinth Sumner, Judith C. Sumner, and Michael F. Sumner

JONATHAN ADOLPHUS SUMNER
Farmer
Resides at Golden Grove, East Coast, Demerara.
Born: September 9, 1891 at Paradise, East Coast Demerara to Budsy Sumner, Carpenter, and his wife, Ellen Jane nee Barry.
Educated at St. Marks School, Paradise.
Married: 2nd January 1918: Angelina Bristol
Has four sons and three daughters.
Source: Who is Who in British Guiana (Fourth Edition, 1945- 1948): Page 509.

DENZEL SUMNER, DIANA SUMNER, DION SUMNER, GAILANNA SUMNER, SHANNON SUMNER, SHELLON SUMNER, LUCILLE G. A. SUMNER, EYELASH SUMNER, ALFRED SUMNER, DODSON SUMNER, OLGA ISABELLA SUMNER, JAMES G. SUMNER (October 12, 1892: Golden Grove);

His Excellency, Governor (now Sir) C. H. Kortright, K.C.M.G., received the following villagers of Victoria Village, on Friday the 12th July, 1878, at his residence, Belfield Villa, on the East Sea Coast, viz. : — Messrs. JOHN SUMNER, Farmer ; CAMBRIDGE SUMNER, Schoolmaster ; CHARLES SUMNER, Tailor ; HENRY SUMNER, Farmer ; Thomas Collins, farmer ; Michael Goring, carpenter ; Samuel Sam, carpenter ; Newton Pool, cooper ; Samuel Dodson, carpenter ; John Horatio Reynolds, newspaper reporter ; and Thomas Adams, carpenter. Source: Bronkhurst, Rev. Henry Valentine Peter The colony of British Guyana and its labouring population: containing a short account of the colony, and brief descriptions of the Black Creole, Portuguese, East Indian, and Chinese coolies ... collected ... from sundry articles published ... at different times, and arranged by Rev. H. V. P. Bronkhurst. London , T. Woolmer, 1883. : Page 196

SUMNER
John Sumner: Fatal Fall - The Daily Chronicle; August 9, 1887: page 2
Trim Sumner, Nabaclis: Proposed Race Meeting - The Daily Chronicle; August 16, 1888: page 3.
Solomon Sumner, Golden Grove: - The Daily Chronicle; March 13, 1888: page 1, Col 6.
Francis Sumner Golden Grove Abusive Words - The Daily Chronicle; May 26, 1887: page 4.
Aaron Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; January 5, 1888: page 3.
Antonella Sumner v. De’Souza Plantation Enmore The Daily Chronicle; August 16, 1888:page 3 Antonella Sumner v. De’Souza Plantation Enmore The Daily Chronicle; August 30, 1888:page 4.
Cambridge Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; July 31, 1891: page 4.
Isabella Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; July 17, 1891: page 8.
G. E. Sumner & S. Sumner, Belfield Donkey Race; The Daily Chronicle; December 19, 1888: page 2.
Japheth Sumner, Victoria, Rural Constable, The Daily Chronicle; February 11, 1894: page 2.
Charles C. Sumner Overseer, Victoria-Belfield Village District, The Daily Chronicle; January 26, 1895: page 3.
Charles C. Sumner Overseer, Victoria-Belfield Village District, The Daily Chronicle; January 11, 1896: page 4.
The Daily Chronicle; April 19, 1893: page 3.
The Daily Chronicle; October 3, 1893: page 3.
Daniel Sumner versus John Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; December 24, 1897: page 4.
Catherine Sumner and Samuel Sumner, executrix and executor of John Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; January 24, 25 and 26, March 14 and 15, 1882: page 4.
Stoby versus Catherine Sumner and Samuel Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; August 1, 1882: page 3.
Sonny Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; July 6, 1883: page 3.
Joseph Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; February 16, 1883:page 2.
Trim Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; June12, 1884:page 3.
James Sumner, Golden Grove and Nathan Portsmouth indicted and charged with assaulting David Collins, The Daily Chronicle; October 23, 1884:page 4.
Jane Sumner, The Daily Chronicle; February 21, 1884:page 4.
James Sumner and Alex. Sumner, Belfield Sports, The Daily Chronicle; April 28, 1886: page 3.

ROBERT SUMNER: Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
GEORGE SUMNER: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1613.

EDUCATION: Golden Grove Wesleyan School, Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Holds Primary School Certificate and Certificate for technical woodwork.
Was a student at Government Trade Centre.
Gave recitals and Concerts.
MARRIED: September 9, 1942:- Lucille G. A. Sumner.
Has one son and two daughters.
RECREATION: Cricket, Swimming, and Boxing.
CLUB: THD Sports Club.
HOBBY: Gardening.
Source: Who is who in British Guiana 1945-1948 4th. Edition: Page 547.

ELLIOT CHRISTIAN SUMNER [Carpenter] Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara; SHENON ORLANDO SUMNER Bagotstown, Peters Hall ; JANICE CECELIA ABEL-SUMNER Alberttown ; LETROY AUGUSTUS SUMNER South Cummingsburg ; ROY RYAN SUMNER Cummingsburg ;
STANLEY AUGUSTUS SUMNER

GOLDEN GROVE , East Coast Demerara.
ROBERT EMMANUEL SUMNER [Guard] , SAMANTHA ONEKA OLANA SUMNER , SHELLON DENISE SUMNER , STANLEY AGUSTUS SUMNER [Miner] , STANLEY JERMIAH SUMNER [Cane Harvester] , PAULETTE VERONICA SUMMER [Cook] , ANTHIA LATOYA SUMNER, KURT HERBERT RODWELL SUMNER [Joiner], LAMBERT SUMNER [Cane Cutter], LEROY SUMNER [Linesman], LIONEL SUMNER [Mechanic], LOMALITA SUMNER, PATRICIA SUMNER, RAWLESTON ANDREW SUMNER [CANE CUTTER]

NABACLIS VILLAGE, East Coast Demerara.
DENZIL SUMNER, LLOYD JOHN SUMNER, VICTOR SUMNER, LINDON SUMNER,
PEARLY SUMNER, CYRIL EDWARD SUMMER [Farmer], JENNIFER ANN SUMMER [Teacher], TERRY SUMMER [Bartender], WENDY OLIVIA SUMMER [Vendor], ANTHONY SUMNER [Painter],
FOLAKA TRAVIENA SUMMER [Teacher], HAROLD HENRY SUMNER [Maintenance Worker], JOAN EILEEN SUMNER, OSWALD SUMNER [Operator], ZWADE DIMANI SUMNER [Sales Clerks]
_______________________________________
ALISON SUMNER: Triumph
________________________________________
ANDREA SUMNER: Bachelors Adventure ECD
________________________________________
CAROL SUMNER: Soesdyke
________________________________________
CLAUDETTE SUMNER: South Ruimveldt Park
________________________________________
CLEMENT SUMNER: La Penitence
________________________________________
CLEMENT SUMNER : Christianburg
________________________________________
COLLINS CHERYL SUMNER: Wismar
________________________________________
DENNIS SUMNER : McKenzie
________________________________________
DODSON SUMNER: Newtown
________________________________________
DONELLA SUMNER: West Ruimveldt
________________________________________
DWAYNE SUMNER: East La Penitence
________________________________________
EDGAR SUMNER: Kitty
________________________________________
EILEEN SUMNER: New Amsterdam
________________________________________
SUMNER GENERAL STORE: McKenzie
________________________________________
HERMAN SUMNER: Bachelors Adventure
________________________________________
JACQUELINE SUMNER: Lacy town
________________________________________
JOAN SUMNER: Golden Grove, ECD
________________________________________
JOHN SUMNER: Nabaclis ECD
________________________________________
KENRICK SUMNER: Guyhoc Park
________________________________________
KIM SUMNER : Golden Grove ECD
________________________________________
LAMBERT SUMNER: Golden Grove ECD
________________________________________
MABEL SUMNER: Wert-en-Rust
________________________________________
MEGAN SUMNER: Lyandall
________________________________________
MONICA SUMNER: Charlestown
________________________________________
OSWALD SUMNER: Nabaclis ECD
________________________________________
PAULETTE SUMNER : Golden Grove ECD
________________________________________
RAWLSTON SUMNER:
________________________________________
ROBERT SUMNER: Golden Grove ECD
________________________________________
ROXANNE SUMNER: McKenzie
________________________________________
ROYSTON SUMNER: Newtown
________________________________________
SHEILA SUMNER: Haslington ECD
________________________________________
SUSAN SUMNER: South Ruimveldt Gardens
________________________________________
SUSAN SUMNER: Melanie Damishan
________________________________________
SYDNEY SUMNER:
________________________________________
WENDY SUMNER: Nabaclis
________________________________________
WILMA SUMNER: Wortmanville
________________________________________
WINSTON SUMNER: East La Penitence
________________________________________
WOOLSLEY SUMNER: Newburg
________________________________________
YONETTE SUMNER: Buxton
________________________________________

British Guiana 1927-1928

2008-10-31T14:06:00.000-07:00

ADAMS -
Daniel Adams: Fellowship, West Coast Demerara.
William Adams: #2 Canal Polder, West Bank Demerara.
James Festus Adams: Wismar, Demerara River.
Jacob Adams: Blank-en-burg, West Coast Demerara.
Saml. Aug., Adams (probably Samuel Augustus Adams): Good Intent, West Bank Demerara.
William Josiah Adams: Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara.
Samuel McDonald Adams: Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.
Joseph Henry Adams: Inner Stanley town, West Coast Demerara.
Curtis FitzGerald Adams: Hague, West Coast Demerara.
Oswald Christopher Adams: Good Intent, West Bank Demerara.
James Adolphus Adams: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Alexander Adams: Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
Thomas Adams: Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Thomas Adams: Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Cardwell Ferrier Adams: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Colin Adams: Lot 1&2, Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Robert Adams: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Eliakin Ebenezer Adams: Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Samuel Adams: Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Thomas Adams: Plantation Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.
Charles Jacob Adams: Dalgin, Demerara River.
Joseph Adams: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Ambrose Croslyn Adams: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Joseph Jenico Tillotson Adams: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Eleazar Ebenezer Adams: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
James William Adams: Mackenzie City, Demerara River.
Theodore Adams: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
John Allen Adams: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1556.

ABRAMS –
Charles McLean Abrams: Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
Randolph Abrams: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Richard Benson Abrams: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Rogers Nathaniel Abrams: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Isaiah Abrams: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Frederick Eleazar Abrams: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Simon Shakespeare Abrams: Plantation Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.
James Patrick Abrams: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
William Abrams: Plantation La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1556.

MAJOR –
Joseph Bean Major: Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
Cyrus Major: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Goliah Major: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Augustus Major: Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.
James Augustus Major: Plantation Wales, West Bank Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1592.

MAISON -
Nathaniel Apolie Maison: Lot 55, Section D, Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Claude Ashley Maison : Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Simon Augustus Maison: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1592.

GILL –
Joseph Gill: Plantation Ruimveldt, East Bank Demerara.
James Alexander Gill: Christianburg, Demerara River.
Joseph Alexander Gill: Plantation Ruimveldt, East Bank Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1577.

SUMNER -
Robert Sumner: Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
George Sumner: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1613.

NERO -
David Cardover Nero: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Titus McLawrence Nero (Senior): Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Titus McLawrence Nero (Junior): Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 31, 1928: Page 1973.

BOBB –
Thomas Bobb: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Samuel Augustus Bobb: Two Friends, East Coast Demerara.
Benjamin Abijah Bobb: Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
George Lewis Bobb: 17 America Street, Georgetown, British Guiana.
Jehoshaphat A. Bobb: Ann’s Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Eleazar Adolphus Bobb: Zes Kinderen, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
Benjamin Bobb: [dead] Farm, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1563.

BRISTOL –
James Bristol: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Samuel Bristol: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Henrique Jerome Bristol: Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Ebenezer Bristol: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Gershom Bristol: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Samuel Bristol: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1565.

CORBIN -
Charles Corbin :Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.
Arnold St. Clair Corbin: Mackenzie City, Demerara River.

JACOBS -
Joshua Eustace Jacobs: Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.
Edward Jacobs: Mackenzie City, Demerara River.
Titus Theophilus Jacobs: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Johannis Emanuel Jacobs: Sisters, West Bank Demerara.
Joseph Andrew Jacobs: Stanley town, West Bank Demerara.
Darllingher Jacobs: Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara.
Edward Augustus Jacobs: Stanley town, West Bank Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1584.

BARNWELL -
Henry Regamy Barnwell: Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara.
Arthur Barnwell: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Caryl Wyndham Barnwell: Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
William Augustus Barnwell: Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana -May 19, 1928: Page 1561.

CUMMINGS -
Clifton Cummings: Islington, Berbice River.
Cyril Cummings: Brighton, Corentyne, Berbice.
Alexander Egbert Cummings (PC 3582): Blairmont Police Station, West Bank Berbice.
John Henry Cummings: # 40 Village, West Coast Berbice.
Robert Cummings: Seafield Village, West Coast Berbice.
John S. Willington Cummings: # 8 Village, West Coast Berbice.

Luiz Frederick Gomes: Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana - November 12, 1927: Page 1,600.

ELLIOTT -
Tappin Johnson Elliott: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Henry John Elliott: Good Hope, Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
Sydney Elliott: Hoo-a-ShooVille , Demerara River.

OGLE –
James Samuel Ogle: Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
William Ogle: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
James William Ogle: Lots 80/81 Triumph, East Coast Demerara.
McLean Ogle (Junior): Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Albert McLean Ogle: 123 Parade Street, Kingston, Georgetown.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana - November 12, 1927: Page 1,620.

PALMER –
William Henry Palmer: Triumph, East Coast Demerara.
Richard William Palmer: Plantation Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Henry Llewellyn Palmer: Plantation La Grange, West Bank Demerara.
Henry William Palmer: Triumph, East Coast Demerara.
Daniel Lamerald Halbry Palmer: Roden Rust, Lower West Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana - November 12, 1927: Page 1,620.

PILGRIM –
Charles Edward Pilgrim: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
James Randolph Pilgrim: Mackenzie City, Demerara River.
Percy Pilgrim: Pouderoyen, Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana - November 12, 1927: Page 1,624.

MORRISON –
James Nathaniel Smith Morrison: Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Lewis Gamaliel Morrison: L’Oratoire, Canal #1, West Bank Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana - November 12, 1927: Page 1,618.

KOO –
Jeremiah Benjamin Koo: Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
Jacob Timothy Koo: Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara.
George William Koo: Plantation Enmore, East Coast Demerara.

ROHLEHR
Archibald Barrington Rohlehr: High Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Leopold Augustus Henry Rohlehr: High Street, New Amsterdam, Berbice.

LUKE –
Joseph William Luke: Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
James Henry Luke: Plantation Diamond, East Bank Demerara.
George Albert Luke: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Cornelius Luke: Victoria, East Coast Demerara.
Moses Luke: Bagotville, West Bank Demerara.
Grant E. Luke: La Grange Police Station, West Bank Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana – May 19, 1928: Page 1,591.

WILLS-
Prince Albert Wills: Plaisance, East Coast Demerara.
Esau Wills: Kitty, East Coast Demerara.
George Henry Wills: Virginia, East Coast Demerara.
John Eleazar Wills: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Joseph L. A. Wills: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Oscar Wills: Virginia, East Coast Demerara.
Edward Wills: Virginia, East Coast Demerara.
George Henry Wills (dead): Plantation Lusignan, East Coast Demerara.
Joseph Wills: La Retraite, West Bank Demerara.
Frederick Telemachus Wills: Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
John Wills: Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana – May 19, 1928: Page 1,618.

ZEPHYR -
Joseph Zephyr: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Samuel Nathaniel Zephyr: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Donald Zephyr: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana – May 19, 1928: Page 1,619.

SCOTLAND -
William Barnabas Scotland: Plantation Ruimveldt, East Bank Demerara.
Eleazar Adolphus Scotland: Plantation Cane Grove, East Coast Demerara.

RODNEY -
Moses Rodney: Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.
Charles Benjamin Rodney: Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Samuel Rodney: Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Jeremiah Rodney: Plantation Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara.
Archibald Gustavus Rodney: Plantation Vryheid’s Lust, East Coast Demerara.
Daniel Reginald Rodney: Friendship, East Coast Demerara.
Jonathan Cornelius Rodney: Buxton, East Coast Demerara.
Joseph Horatio Rodney: Triumph, East Coast Demerara.
Ebenezer Rodney: Goed Fortuin, West Coast Demerara.
Josiah Gibson Rodney: Goed Fortuin, West Coast Demerara.
Alexander Rodney: Canal #2 Polder, West Bank Demerara.
James E. Rodney: Plantation Wales, West Bank Demerara.
John Eliasmoe Rodney: Vreed-en-Hoop, West Coast Demerara.
Jonathan Rodney: Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.
Percival William Rodney: Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.
Joseph Rodney: Stewartville, West Coast Demerara.
Albert Edward Jones Rodney: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Philip Augustus Rodney: Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Lionel Fitz Herbert Rodney: Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Joseph Rodney: Plantation Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.
Antonio Rodney: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
R. C. Rodney: Beterverwagting, East Coast Demerara.
Charles Richard Rodney: Mackenzie City, Demerara River.
Joseph Horatio Rodney: Plantation Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara.

Jacob Emanuel Sandy: Machaicony, East Coast Demerara.
Alexander Sancho: Golden Grove, East Coast Demerara.
Edwin Wallace Savory: Nabaclis, East Coast Demerara.
Edgar Hendricks Sturge Savory: Plantation Leonora, West Coast Demerara.
Eustace Ulric Newborn Wilson: Mackenzie City, Demerara River.

CORT –
David Cort: Courtland, Corentyne, Berbice.
Henry McDonald Cort: Courtland, Corentyne, Berbice.
Henry Cort (dead by May 12, 1928): Rose Hall Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
Jones Cort (dead by May 12, 1928): Rose Hall Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
Johnson Cort: Ulverston Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
Walter Kingel Cort : Plantation Albion, Corentyne, Berbice.
Fraser Patrick Cort: Rose Hall Village, Corentyne, Berbice.
Fraser Patrick Cort (Junior): Rose Hall Village, Corentyne, Berbice.

CRANDON-
Daniel Adolphus Crandon: Courtland, Corentyne, Berbice.
Douglas Crandon
Fraser Crandon
Johnson Crandon
Noah Crandon
Watson Crandon

DOWNER -
Alexander Downer: Lichfield, West Coast Berbice.
Alpin Downer: Union/# 30 Village, West Coast Berbice.
George Downer: Lichfield, West Coast Berbice.
John Downer: New Amsterdam, Berbice.
Isaac Downer: Islington, Berbice River.
Ebenezer Downer: Glasgow Village, Berbice River.

SCARDER -
Harold Christopher Scarder: St. Patrick’s School, Plantation Rose Hall, Canje, Berbice.
James Whitney Scarder: Plantation Rose Hall, Canje, Berbice.

SEMPLE:-
Edwin Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Elias Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Isry Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Frederick Clarence Semple (# 9 Village, West Coast Berbice),
Levi J. Semple (Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice),
Edward Semple (Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice),
Edward Bristol Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Evan Semple (Hopetown Village, West Coast Berbice),
Phillip Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Robin Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
William Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Adam Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Edwin Joseph Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Levi Semple (Lichfield Village, West Coast Berbice),
Edward Alexander Semple (Paradise Village, West Coast Berbice),

Source: Electoral District # 1 - Official Gazette of British Guiana- May 19, 1928: Pages 1556-1,619.

Training College for Teachers

2008-10-31T13:59:00.001-07:00

Teachers Training Centre
The Teachers Training Centre was located at 28 Main Street, in the city of Georgetown, in the colony of British Guiana. Every two years from 1928 to 1956 a batch of thirty student-teachers were chosen to attend the institution. However, in 1957 a one year course for one hundred and fifty student-teachers was undertaken by the institution. Also, the institution was subjected to a number of changes respecting its name.

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT NOTICES #52 – Teachers Training Centre – Entrance Examination 1928
(1.) The following candidates have qualified for admission to the Teachers Training Centre and will be admitted in September 1928, subject to the passing a Medical Examination; and fulfilling other necessary conditions; Instructions regarding which will be sent to candidates later.
(2.) Any candidate who does not desire to be admitted is requested to communicate at once with the Department in order that his place may be filled.
W. Bain Gray, Director of Education
Education Department,
Georgetown, British Guiana
July 10, 1928.
TEACHERS TRAINING CENTRE 1928-1930:- The First Batch of Student Teachers.
No.; Name; Schools
(151)Shelcharran,(91) Albert C. Robinson,(84) Wilfred A. Pollard,(74) Harold I. McKenzie, (134) Joseph D. Hentren,(130) Alfred Aloysius Charles,(70) Hyacinth V. Lowe,(132) Jacob W. Chinapen,(15)Philip B. Bowen,(21)Sydney L. Callender,(36) Guy E. DeWeever,(150) Alfred Ramasammy,(44) Eric I. Fields,(18)Frank A. Bryan,(24)Joshua Ng-Chung,(149)John Raghunath,(118)E. M. Gladstone Wilson,(104) Herman A. Stephens,(50)Walter George Griffith,(1) Princess May Accra,(145)Wilfred E. Patterson,(2)Clarice A. Alleyne,(22)Hugh M. Cholmondeley,(73)Hubert A. McGowan,(30)Frederick A.Cruickshank,(39) Walter V. Doobay,(62)Randolph Johnson,(40)Ivan G. Douglas-Hall,(148)Bennett Rhagnauth,(163) George T. Trim

TEACHERS TRAINING CENTRE 1932-1934:- The Third Batch of Student Teachers.
(77)Ismay Andrews [Main Street R.C. (Boys Dept.),(215)William G. Armogan [Rose Hall Scots],(34)Joseph A. Borse [St. Philip’s E],(4)Jonathan Brown [Trinity High], (84)Lucille Campbell [St. Andrew’s Scots],(50)Marie Campbell [Queenstown M.],(38)Frederick W. Case [St. Philip’s E],(276) Randolph Cheeks ,(2)Francis A. Cooke [St. Stephen’s Scots],(67)James A. Fletcher [Uitvlugt Scots],(246)Richard Fowler [San Souci Wesleyan],(183)James H. Gopaul [Albion C.M.],(224)Theophilus Greene [Rosignol],(64) Joyce O. Hall, (250)John James [Queenstown Wesleyan],(35)George W.(Ukaran) Jhagroo [Freeburg E],(87)Mildred Johnson [Main Street R.C. (Girls’ Dept.)],(40)David L. Lampkin [Christ Church E],(24)Edgar Lawrence [Bedford Wesleyan],(33)Beryl A. Miller [St. Philip’s E],(57)Mignon Murray [Kingston Wesleyan],(249)Francis Paul [Huis t’Dieren Scots],(141)Clarice Potter[Graham’s Hall M.],(194)Abdul Rahaman [Massiah C. M.],(208)Edmund Richards [New Amsterdam Boys’ R. C.],(55)Nathalie J. Rollins [Kingston Wesleyan],(142)Muriel Sancho [Golden Grove Wesleyan],(214)Richard J. Semple [No 5 C (Branch)],(39)Marion K. Small (Mrs. Potter)[Main Street R.C. (Boys Dept.)],(79)Robert A. Warner [Saffon Street E.]
Source: “Education Department Notice # 938” - Teachers’ Training Centre Entrance Examination, 1932- the Official Gazette of British Guiana – 25th June 1932

“Education Department Notice No. # 253” - Teachers’ Training Centre - Entrance Examination, 1934
The following Candidates have been selected for admission to the next course of Teachers’ Training Centre,1934-36, subject to their fulfilling the necessary conditions:-

TEACHERS TRAINING CENTRE 1934-1936:- The Fourth Batch of Student Teachers.
No.; Name; Schools
(42)Kenneth Bagot,Ruimveldt;(15)Ivan A. Bowen,Malgre Tout R. C.;( 114)Norman A. Browman,Bourda R.C.;(66)John W. Britton, Philadelphia Scots;(51) Edgar H. Browne, Kingston Meth.; ( 75) Edith V. Campbell, Comenius Mor.; ( 168) Doris O. Chin, Queenstown R. C.; ( 242) Henry T. Ching, St. Patrick's E. ; (121 ) Vivienne H. Daniels, Wortmanville R. C. ; (58) Lynette Dolphin, Government School ; ( 38) Robert B. Garrat, St. George's E.; ( 20) Wilfred E. George, Noitgedacht C. M. ; ( 228)Joyce G. Grant, N. A. Girls’ R. C.; ( 231) Lilia V. Harry, N. A. Boys’ R. C.;( 16) Robert Hart, Bourda R.C. ; ( 204) Isaac T.Henry, St. Patrick's E. ; ( 142) Thomas J. Hill, Christ Church E; (215) Kenneth N. Hooper, Rose Hall S. ;(113) Carl B. Husbands, St. Mary's R. C.; (77) Constance V. Moore, Comenius Mor.; (81) Millicent A. Pollard, Comenius Mor.: (252) R. Rambarran, Johanna Cecillia Meth. ; ( 201) James A.Richards, New Amsterdam; (85) Reginald Sears, Comenius Mor.;(72)Alfred Shepperd,Mahaica S.;(25)Winslade R. Simon, Golden Grove Meth.;(209)Owen S. Smith,Rose Hall S.; (233) Duncan Stuart, N. A. Boys’ R. C;(47)Joseph E. Thom,Smith Church;(82)Lionel Barrington Trotz,Hyde Park C.

W. Bain Gray,
Director of Education, Education Department, Georgetown, British Guiana. 10th August 1934 (M.P. No.434/34)
Source: “Education Department Notice No. # 253” - Teachers’ Training Centre - Entrance Examination, 1934 - The Official Gazette of British Guiana – August 18th, 1934: Page 415

GOVERNMENT TRAINING COLLEGE FOR TEACHERS -September 1952
JOYCE ALLEYNE - Freeburg Anglican; HORACE W. R. BANARSEE - St. Barnabas Anglican; ALBERT AMOS BEHARRY; SHEILA R. COZIER -St. Winifred’s Roman Catholic School; LIONEL A. CRAWFORD -St. John’s Anglican School, Suddie; EULA N. DATHORNE - Campbellville Government School; JAMES N. FRASER - Skeldon Anglican School; OLGA GREENE - St. James-the-Less Anglican School; EDWARD HEYLIGER - All Saints Church of Scotland School; VINCENT MONIRAM -St Lawrence’s Anglican School; EFFIE MAUGHN -All Saints Anglican School; NITYANAND - Ann’s Grove Roman Catholic School; WILFRED RAJKUMAR- Corentyne High School; CLEMENT B. RODNEY-St. Mary-Ye-Virgin Anglican; FRANK K. SAWH -Crabwood Creek Canadian Mission; OLIVER J. SEECOOMAR- Ogle Canadian Mission; SAMUEL A. SMALL-Sacred Heart Roman Catholic School; UDHO - Anna Regina Government School; MARIE WHITTAKER -Diamond Government School; CYNTHIA WILLIAMS - Transfiguration Lutheran
Source: Official Gazette of British Guiana November 1, 1952: page 1010

Roy Fredericks much better than Romain Etwaroo

2008-07-16T06:22:00.000-07:00

I read with great interest the article, "What if Romain Etwaroo had remained in Georgetown? - written by Shan Razack and printed on page 36 in the Caribbean Daylight issued on Friday September 14, 2007. I must state I rather enjoyed the article. It brought back many fond
memories of my experiences on the cricket grounds in Guyana particularly in Berbice.
It also reminded me of a number of cricketers I had forgotten over the ensuing years. I had forgotten Ivan Archibald and several others.
I do not recall The Berbice Times newspapers. I did not recall the Berbice versus Demerara Secondary Schools' Boys match. Shan Razack tells us The Berbice team was captained by Patrick "Sporty" Liverpool, and included the following; Isardat Ramdehal, Anan Sookram, Dowlat
Ramgahan, Ricky Bovell, Tyrone Ramnarace, Jairam Bickharry, Leon Smith, Stanley Moore, Lavan Thompson, Adolph Thompson, Scott Joseph, Alex Joseph, Ayube Mohamed and Jubraj Sewsankar and Romain Etwaroo. It was a shame Shan Razack neglected to name the members of the Demerara team. In fact I was disappointed. I am wondering whether the Thompson brothers and Joseph brothers are from Hopetown.
Romain Etwaroo was a prolific scorer in Berbice cricket that's a fact. I considered Romain Etwaroo was a grafter, a batsman who simply accumulated runs by staying at the crease. Certainly, Romain Etwaroo I do not recall a dominating performance by Romain Etwaroo.
However, I loved watching Isaac Seurnarie bat – even against my beloved cricketer, Joe Doolam aka Joe Best and the # 64 Village All Stars teams of the late 1960s and the early 1970s. It is a pity Joe Doolam and his brothers are not honored for their contributions to cricket in that region of the Corentyne. I was rather familiar with a number of the Etwaroo brothers; Romain, Randolph, Reginald and Tyrone and the Beassmonie brothers, Gopie and Vinoo and a host of others who
represented Port Mourant in the late 1960s and the early 1970s. I witnessed many of their performances against Joe Doolam at No. # 63 Village Cricket Ground. Tagore High School was located right next to the ground. In fact, in that era, Randolph Etwaroo was a primary School Teacher employed at New Market Anglican school. I considered Randolph Etwaroo the best
cricketer of his brothers. Joe Doolam was the finest left arm spin bowler I ever witnessed. I was instructed in the nuances of the game by primarily Randolph Etwaroo, Joe Doolam and Roy Fredericks. I loved hanging out (liming) with Isaac Seunarine and Anan Sookram. I simply
did not recall Tyrone Ramnarace and I do not recall Romain Etwaroo scoring heavily against Joe Doolam… I take solace in the fact the cream often rises to the top – Roy Fredericks is simply the greatest batsman against fast bowling I ever witnessed - Romain Etwaroo well not in the same church – only Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher and Alvin Kalicharran were better batsmen than Roy Fredericks….
I am ecstatic good people are honoring Romain Etwaroo – all too often our unsung heroes go unnoticed and underappreciated… Do you recall a Jefferali a fast bowler from Skeldon? Feel free to enlighten me – will you?

EVANS HITS UP HURRICANE 87 N.O.

2008-04-23T09:37:00.001-07:00

COVERING SPORTS IN THE RURAL AREAS
EVANS HITS UP HURRICANE 87 N.O.
Berbice new batting star Hubern Evans hit a hurricane 87 n.o. in 35 minutes to help Complex beat Electricians by 10 wickets recently at Fort Canje, Ground.
It was a practice match in preparation for the Robert Persaud 40-over cricket final against Essequibo Coast (Ministry of Works) at Anna Regina Community Centre Ground, today.

Batting first Electricians hit up 102 off 26.2 overs. Opening batsman Rickford Belgrave top scored with 58. Medium pacer Motilall Sona was the best bowler taking 6 wickets for 7 runs including the hat-trick.
Complex in reply raced to victory with 103 without loss off 7 overs. Evans who scored a century in the Harnanan Cup a week ago was in devastating mood hitting a cavalier 87 which carried 8 fours and 7 sixes. Raymond De Freitas who accompanied Evans made 5 not out after facing only seven balls.
Meanwhile the team to represent East Berbice will be selected from the following; Basil Rajcoomar (Capt.), Hubern Evans, Suresh Ganouri, Motilall Sona, Frederick Minty, Allas Seepersaud, Raymond De Freitas, Budhoo Budhai, Percy Lancaster, Freddy Balman, Harrichand, George Mendonca, Cyril Sancho, Moses Ramdass, and Rickford Deosarran.
Source: The Guyana Chronicle - Wednesday, November 10, 1976: Page 17.

Nurse-Midwives Examination

2008-04-23T09:36:00.000-07:00

Nurse-Midwives Examination – 21 successful candidates
21 of the 28 candidates who took part in the Nurse-Midwives Examination at the Public Hospital on Friday and Saturday, last were successful. The following are their names in order of merit.
L. Dannett, M. Ward, E. Blackman, M. Glasgow, E. Stoute, M. Niles, H. Nelson, I. David, A. Joyce, M. Cox, L. Spellos, I. Brice, L. Pang, L. Roberts, M. Sancho, J. Schultz, M. Sutherland, V. Wylde, E. Gilkes, E. Todd, and M. Isaacs
Source: The Daily Argosy – Tuesday, May 3, 1921: Page 4.

Teachers at Cricket

2008-04-23T09:35:00.001-07:00

Teachers at Cricket
DEMERARA
A. G. Devonish lbw b. Lawrence 8
F. A. Leuben c. Burke b. Lawrence 4
H. A. Lewis c. King b. Farley 3
J. H. Perry c. & b. Adams 7
J. A. Nicholson b. Lawrence 3
C. Irving c. Adams b. Lawrence 0
D. E. Jackson c. Harper b. Lawrence 0
C. S. Thomas lbw b. Harper 14
C. A. Thomas b. Lawrence 2
D. Iloo c. & b. Adams 4
W. Baird not out 12
R. C. Potter run out 1
Extras 6
Total 64
Bowling O. M. R. Wkts.
R. Farley 5 0 22 1
W. E. Lawrence 10 4 10 6
S. H. Adams 7 1 25 2
J. N. Harper 1 0 1 1
BERBICE
S. H. Adams c. Thomas b. Devonish 6
W. E. Lawrence c. Leuben b. Devonish 19
J. H. Burke b. Devonish 0
P. Patterson b. Devonish 1
M. J. Abrahams b. Devonish 3
R. Farley c. Lewis b. Devonish 0
C. A. Clarke b. Thomas 0
P. M. Nathoo b. Thomas 0
J. N. Harper b. Thomas 0
L. Obermuller run out 0
A. Chesney b. Thomas 2
J. King not out 4
Extras 2
Total 37
Bowling O. M. R. Wkts.
A. G. Devonish 8 0 17 6
F. A. Leuben 2 0 11 0
C. S. Thomas 6 0 7 4
Source: Teachers at Cricket – The Daily Argosy - May 8, 1921: Page 5.

HEAD TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS 1899-1949

2008-04-07T12:34:00.000-07:00

HEAD TEACHERS OF PRIMARY SCHOOLS 1899-1949

ST. PATRICK’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL
Charles E. Peters (brother of J. Z. Peters and Rev. Aaron Theophilus Peters) 1899, B. W. Challenger, H. F. Boston, David Emanuel Griffith, Charles F. La Rose, King H. Chalmers, Harold Christopher Scarder 1949

GLADSTONE HALL ANGLICAN SCHOOL
Rachel E. Aaron, C. O. Patterson1949

LEEDS ANGLICAN SCHOOL
A. A. Charles 1949
Sheet Anchor Anglican
Moses Rodney, Prince J. Patterson, Miss Ellen S. Ogle, George E. St. Hill, Henry F. Boston, William Walter Evans

CUMBERLAND ANGLICAN
F. A. Tross, George H. H. Morrison (County Inspector of Schools for Berbice), Sydney E. King (transferred to Friendship Wesleyan School), Fred A. St. Hill, Andrew Cruickshank, C. A. Joseph, Cornelius M. Gibbs, J. A. R. Mitchell

King Fighter for New York

2008-03-29T11:07:00.000-07:00

King Fighter for New York by Thelma Payne
BG Calypsonian for Sparrow shows after hectic Carnival…and successful reign in Virgin Islands.
Have you seen him? You have? Around Town? Wearing or floral red, white and blue pair of Bermuda shorts with or matching shirt-his famous Pajayma suit or a blue jersey; with sandals and white socks on his feet; a multi-coloured cap on his head? Then you have seen the one and only King Fighter.
Christened Shirland Wilson this well known calypsonian left these shores two months ago to take part in the US Virgin Islands Carnival where his songs met with unlimited success.
There were two competitions one at Christianstead and the other at Frederickstead. At both of them he sang the already popular, “Pajayma suit”. He was first at Christianstead, second at the later, being ousted by Sparrow. That was his fourth consecutive victory at Christianstead. Together with Sparrow he appeared at several night clubs- and open air parks.

CARNIVAL
After six weeks he left for Trinidad, and Carnival. Fighter shared a tent with Sparrow and again thrilled large audiences, Guyanese among them, with his calypsos-
“Guyanese must come back home”, “Lovely Trinidad”, “Birth Control, B.G Independence and the hit. “Pajayma suit” which was one of the Road Marches. Fighter will be appearing in shows with Sparrow who is expected here shortly. Guyanese will be thrilled with his new hit which has a bouncy tune, “B.G Independence”, composed in Trinidad. Al Seales of Gem Record Store has bought about 500 copies of this RCA recording. Following are the words-

British Guiana, Congratulations
King Fighter is sending to every one
We will have to pray
And hope for the best
That this Independence glory
Be a success

Chorus
We go eat
We go drink up together
Just like a one sister and brother
And this is what we will sing
Whilst jumping in the band
We are one Independent nation.

Ah was in Trinidad
When ah hear the news
De way how ah jump up
Ah even lost me shoes
Big big traffic jam
People flock the street
To see how as jumping
Without nothing on me feet

Let us all rejoice
And lift up our hands
Fuh our noble leader
Mr. Forbes Burnham
Compliments to him
And to Mr. Peter D’Aguiar
To save our lovely country
From the evil civil war.

The Calypsonian will be off on his travels again next month. He will visit New York and it is expected that he will go to Canada and return with another Sukhi.
Source:-The Guyana Star Monday, March 7, 1966: page 5.

Upper-Lower Corentyne vie for Cricket Supremacy

2008-03-26T08:07:00.000-07:00

Upper-Lower Corentyne vie for Cricket Supremacy
Two strong teams from Upper and Lower Corentyne will be vying for the Jagan-Sawh Cricket Trophy this weekend.
The sides captained by Vic Harnanan of Mental Hospital and Karia Chandrapaul of Skeldon, will begin battle tomorrow and conclude on Sunday, the game being played on the No# 63 ground Corentyne.
The teams will include the majority of players who took part in the Inter-County Final against Demerara, only notable absentee being Les Amsterdam who has informed the selectors that he would be unavailable.
The holders of the trophy are Lower Corentyne, who are strongly favoured to retain it.
The teams will be as follows;
Upper Corentyne: K. Chandrapaul (Captain), S. Jackman, R. Etwaroo, B. Saheed, J. Dullam, L. Bachan, B. Rajkumar, V. Latchman, N. Harripaul, T. Ramnarace, and L. Persaud.
Lower Corentyne: Vic Harnanan(Captain),R. Fredericks, R. Razaac, J. Sookwah, A. Abdul, R. Jagnandan, T. Persaud, C. McPherson, M. Manpowan, A. Alli, W. Khan, L. Omrow and R. Doodnauth.
Source: The Daily Chronicle Friday, October 1, 1965: page 7.

Death of Dr. London

2008-03-24T09:49:00.000-07:00

DEATH OF DR. LONDON
TOUCHING CEREMONY AT MISSION CHAPEL

WARM TRIBUTE TO DECEASED
The funeral of the Reverend John Edward London, MD., which was fully choral (Miss Haynes officiating at the organ) took place on Monday afternoon at 4.30 PM., a service conducted by the Reverend S. W. Edwards, pastor of Providence Church, Georgetown, Assisted by Reverend J. T. Field and Reverend W. B. Osborne, taking place at Mission Chapel – before a large gathering.
Among the other ministers on the rostrum were the Reverend F. Nichols, Reverend R. J. Whyte, Reverend J, A. Serimgeour, Reverend A. E. Dyett, and Reverend J. Brooms, Lay Reader.
Long before the appointed hour for the service the church was crowded with persons of all classes.
The service was commenced with the singing of hymn No. 597., “Now the Labourer’s Task is o’er”, after which Reverend J. T. Field read the Scriptures lesson.
The Reverend Mr. Edwards, in a brief address said that he esteemed it a high privilege to preside over such a large gathering and he desired to bear his testimony to the Christian fortitude which he had witnessed in the late doctor during visits paid to him throughout his prolonged illness.
SKETCH OF DECEASED’S LIFE

The Reverend D. Munroe, pastor of the West Coast Churches, Berbice, gave a brief sketch of the Doctor’s life: he said that the Reverend Dr. London was born at Rising Sun, Sandvoort and was a schoolmaster, after which he became a student of the late Reverend John Dagliesh and was Catechist for the church at Fearn and Germania, Berbice River in 1870. He proceeded for a higher life and was ordained a Minister for which everyone was proud. Subsequently, he went to England and qualified as a doctor with honours. Returning to the colony he practices as the second native of British Guiana to enter the medical Profession. He continued to labour and assisted the churches in preaching and in other ways. He was keenly interested in the training of Native Ministers and subscribed the sum of $1,000 to the training institution of which Reverend A. W. Wilson was tutor. The speaker was one of the students of that institution and he esteemed it a great work done by the departed doctor. To his son who was away, and his sister, Mrs. Hall, he tendered his sympathy.
Messages of Condolence were conveyed by the Reverend F. Nichols, Pastor of Mission Chapel, from the Ministers of various Churches who were absent to the bereaved regretting their absence, especially the Reverend H. Holder and the Reverend Dr. W. S. Holder, after which the favourite hymn of the doctor, No.22, was sung.
The cortege proceeded to the Stanley town Cemetery where the interment was made in a tomb.
The pall-bearers were Dr. J. A. Robertson, the Hon. J. A. Abbensetts, and Messrs. E. V. Abbensetts, T. W. Cooper, P. A. Awer and R. Martin.
The principal mourners were Mr. and Mrs. Hall (brother-in-law and sister), Mr. and Mrs. R. S. La Rose, Miss La Rose, Mr. T. D. Houston, and two sons, James and Percy.
Among the many in attendance were the Reverends F. Nichols, S. W. Edwards, W. B. Osborne, J. T. Field, R. J. Whyte, D. G. Munroe, A. E. Jones, J, A. Serimgeour, A. E. Dyett, and Mr. J. Brooms, the Hon. J. A. Abbensetts, Drs. J. A. Robertson and G. Carto, and Messrs. T. F. Warner, E. V. Abbensetts, P. A. Awer, R. S. La Rose, G. Barrow, G. L. Grandsoult, L. N. Lord, O. Evelyn, R. C. Haynes, T. W. Cooper, G. V. Armstrong, T. W. Harris, R. Hercules, T. Lewis, W. A. Thomas, C. Drainer, E. Gonsalves, G. F. Armstrong, C. H. Jones, C. B. Davies, Andrew Benjamin Brown, R. Martin, P. A. Cummings, L. Rohlehr, J. Britton, W. Mittelholzer, L. O. Davis, H. E. Davis, J. F. Zitman, R. M. Archer, Joseph Eleazer, J. Glasgow, W. P. Castello, J. Hall, J. Z. Peters, W. Kendall, G. Reynolds, E. A. Gilbert, J. N. Harper, Hale, County Inspector Booth, Lieut Edgar Beckett, sub- Inspector Macnie and several policemen.
Floral tributes
Floral tributes were received from Eddie (son, Birmingham, England), Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Benjamin Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Augustus Campbell, and Miss Campbell, Dr. J. Stephen Nedd, British Guiana Congregational Union, Pastor, officers and members of Mission Chapel, Rev. and Mrs. F. Nichol, Reverend and Mrs. J. A. Serimgeour, Miss Davis (nurse), Mr. and Miss Le Blanc, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Mittelholzer, Mrs. B. Duggin, Mr. J. Hutson and family, Dr. and Mrs. Carto, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Jones, and family, Mr. and Mrs. R. S. La Rose, Miss V. Ward, Miss L. Mittelholzer, Mr. and Mrs. FC Glasgow, and family, Mr. and Mrs. J. Van Sertima and family, the Glasgow family and others.

IN MEMORIAM
By the Reverend S. W. Edwards.

Farewell! Thy lingering glasp on life at last has failed.
Thy weighty years at length their heavy toll demand;
As strong they clasp on life; as great thy use of it.
But now the flesh must needs obey death’s stern command.
Regrets are vain, for though our hearts thy lost mourn.
Such rich achievement mark thy life’s long varied way;
That sorrow at thy passing hence swallowed up.
In thankful contemplation of thine honoured day.
O parent hearts that travailed over such a son!
O race that bred a mind so keen a soil so rare!
O distant land, whose skill and learning he embraced!
Thy proud remembrance each has reason to declare.
That life whose earthly ending now we mourn.
A full-paged story marked of many a noble deed;
It was a Christ-like blending of the healing touch.
With earnest sowing of the blessed Gospel seed.
Rejoice, ye people from whose ancient stock he came;
Nor let your pride be empty prompt or vacant speech;
Bring forth more such as he – brave-souled, true-hearted, kind-
To follow such’s worthy type, your children teach!
So shall he, though no longer with us speak.
His deeds in monumental memory hold a place.
And generations yet unborn and influence feel.
That picture life shall fill with truth and stately grace.

Source: “Death of Dr. London”, the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Wednesday, June 14, 1922: Page 5.

Death of Dr. Rohlehr

2008-03-24T09:42:00.000-07:00

DR. ROHLEHR’S VERY SERIOUS CONDITION
Dr. John Monteith Rohlehr’s condition was reported to be very serious last night. His case has had the best medical skill and nursing at the Public Hospital, but there is no hope of his recovering.
DEATH:- ROHLEHR - On Wednesday, February 22, 1922, at the Colonial hospital, Georgetown, Dr. JOHN MONTEITH, beloved husband of Mary Theresa (nee Gomes), and brother of Mr. A. B. Rohlehr, solicitor. Aged 64 years. (Trinidad Papers Please Copy)
Source: The Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 23, 1922: Page 4.

DEATH OF DR. JOHN MONTEITH ROHLEHR
AFTER FORTNIGHT’S ILLNESS
USEFUL CAREER CLOSED
We regret to announce the Death of Dr. John Monteith Rohlehr which occurred in the seaman’s ward at the Public Hospital, Georgetown, shortly after four o’clock yesterday morning. Dr. Rohlehr had been ill only a fortnight. He was seized by paralysis on Tuesday night, 7th instant, at the Demerara Ice House Hotel, where he had taken up residence. He had been subjected to head aches for some considerable time – and about two years ago he made a trip to Grenada and Trinidad from which he returned in December 1920 apparently much benefited in health.
During the recent rainy season, however, he ventured to work waist-deep in water in his rice field in Berbice as the result of which his health was seriously impaired. Dr. Nedd was summoned and was in constant attendance on the deceased. His life was despaired of from the outset. Drs. Johnson, Campbell and Earle who were called in consultation advised his removal to the hospital which was done last Thursday morning. Every care was taken of him at the institution, but death supervened as stated.

A BERBICIAN
Dr. Rohlehr was born in Berbice about 64 years ago, the son of the late Peter F. Rohlehr, an Old Dutch Planter, who was a former Manager of Plantation Albion, in the county of Berbice. He began life as an engineer apprentice in Berbice and like his father took to farming afterwards. He subsequently entered a mercantile business, then developed an ambition to qualify for the medical profession and went to Canada to study.
While engaged on his studies at the University of Montreal, the Medical Ordinance of 1886 was passed in the colony under which only Medical Diplomas obtained in the United Kingdom were recognized and he was not entitled to be registered as a practitioner on his return to the colony in 1889. Having obtained the degrees of Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery from the Montréal University, Dr. Rohlehr on his return to the colony proceeded to England and approached the secretary of State.
His case was favourably considered and on his return to the colony in the 1890 a special ordinance (No. 7 of 1890) was passed through the local legislature to enable him to be registered as a Medical Practitioner in the colony it being felt that as he begun to study before the ordinance was passed it was not fair to debar him.
He began to practice his profession in Berbice and in April, 1899, he was appointed to act as a Government Medical Officer in the Mara District until April, 1900. From May 1907 to July 1908 he again acted as Government Medical Officer in the Wakenaam District. Dr. Rohlehr supported the Government’s recent proposal to permit Dr. A. M. Walcott of the Bauxite Company who holds an American Degree to practice in the colony. He went further and advocated that the Government should amend the Medical Ordinance so as to permit of Medical men trained at any university recognized by the British being registered to practice in the colony if they so desired. The time had come, he said in the course of an interview, when the field should be open to all good men whether the United Kingdom, the Colonies or the recognized Canadian and American Universities. Dr. Rohlehr was himself a skillful surgeon and a good Physician. Many remarkable successful surgical operations have been performed by him in the colony. He was known to take a very sympathetic interest in the care of his patients; to have seen him was a great part of the cure. He also opened a private hospital of his own a few years ago in Camp Street known as St. Luke’s Hospital, but the venture did not prove self-supporting.

INTEREST IN POLITICS
Dr. Rohlehr took a very keen interest in politics. He also took an active part in political life, an in March 1911, he was returned unopposed as Financial Representative for Berbice as a by-election to fill the seat of Mr. Samuel Edgar Wills which had been declared vacant by reason of the member’s absence from six consecutive meetings in the Combined Court.
Dr. Rohlehr was confronted with a general election in October of the same year and was opposed by the late Mr. E. A. V. Abraham whom he defeated. He served throughout the term, but did not seek reelection at the general election in 1915, the seat being filled by Mr. M. Nascimento who defeated Messrs. Joseph Eleazer and S. A. Robertson.
Dr. Rohlehr was also interested in “The People” newspaper in Berbice. He leaves a widow and a brother, Mr. A. B. Rohlehr, Solicitor.

THE FUNERAL
The funeral took place yesterday afternoon from the hospital, the Reverend Father W. Keary, SJ., performing the rites at the Brickdam Cathedral and the grave-side at La Repentir Cemetery. Among those in attendance were the reverend Dr. D. P. Talbot, Drs. J. S. Nedd, and R. F. Johnson, Messrs. A. B. Rohlehr, E. A. Rohlehr, H. E. Rohlehr, W. A. Fisher, C. O. Andrews, J. A. Bradford, S. A. Robertson, Samuel Edgar Wills, F. E. Pollard, J. G. Applewaithe, C. Forrester, T. B. Reed, G. F. McPherson, M. Gonsalves, G. F. de Sabastiani, L. A. Thompson, R. and J. Cendrecourt, E. Van Tull, H. Ledeaux, R. P. Martin, C. B. Davis, T. Houston, H. L. Frank, V. Gomes, S. M. Loquan, J. Chin, and S. T. Conway.
The bearers were Messrs. Gonsalves, Conway, Van Tull, Sabastiani, Martin and Pollard.

Source: “Death of Dr. J. M. Rohlehr”, the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Thursday, February 23, 1922: Page 5.

Objects Outlined

2008-03-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Executive Committee Meeting- Objects Outlined -Negro Progress Convention

A meeting of the Executive Committee of the Negro Progress Convention was held at Mr. E. P. Bruynings’s chambers America Street on Friday last when it was decided that the objects of the Convention should be to perpetuate Negro Solidarity and independence:, to instill in Negroes the burning need for self- help and self-respect to settle by its Executive wisdom and experience into racial disputes and to do any and all lawful things that tend to advance the Negro people of Guiana. It was also decided that each person becoming a member should make the following declaration:-
I am a Negro or am honestly interested in the advancement of Negroes materially and culturally
I believe in the existence of a body calculated to
a)perpetuate Negro Solidarity and independence;
b)instill in Negroes the need for self- help and self-respect;
c)to settle by its wisdom and experience inter-racial disputes and further racial progress and therefore I enroll as a member-supporter of the Negro Progress Convention.

The Committee agreed that during the months of January and February of each year the society should do active propaganda work for the dissemination of its principles
Source: “Executive Committee Meeting- Objects Outlined - Negro Progress Convention”, the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, Demerara, Sunday, December 17, 1922: Page4.

OBITUARY: MRS. MEHITABEL FOX

2008-02-26T09:48:00.000-08:00

OBITUARY: MRS. MEHITABEL FOX
After an illness of three and a half months, Mehitabel Fox passed away, quietly on Friday, December 31, 1948, at 354 East Street at the age of 77.
Of a quiet and cheerful disposition, her one interest seemed to be the welfare of her children and grandchildren.
She leaves to mourn her loss, John (husband), Gertie, Jane (of New York), Dorothy, Nora (Mrs. J. L. Sam) and Edna (Mrs. Payne). Children, and Eric, Nathalie, Walter, Hugh and Trevor, grandchildren.
The funeral which was largely attended took place on Saturday, January 1, 1949. A short service was held at the house by her nephew, the Reverend O. Lupe. At the Cathedral, the Reverend N. H. Lalljie conducted the service, during which her favourite hymns, “Rock of Ages”, and “Jesus Lover of my Soul” were sung. After the “Dead March in Saul” was played, the cortege left the church to the strains of Chopin’s funeral march. At the graveside the last rites were performed by the very Reverend J. K. Young, Dean of St. George’s Cathedral.
Among those present were J. L. Sam (son-in-law), Eric Sam, Hugh Sam and Walter Sam (grandsons), Reverend O. Lupe (nephew), G. F. Messervy, R. J. Bowling, A. M. Leo, D. C. S. Moses, L Bone, A. Morgan, S. D. Morrison , E. Morrison, B. Mungal, E. Paul, W. A. Cameron, A. E. Luck, E. A. Singh, J. Chung-a-Shack, B. Chin, Terry Holder, Ben Ho, V. D. F. Charran, S. R. R. Alsopp, Betancourt, E. A. Gillis, F. Narain, O. Belgrave, P. Narain, C. E. Sears, I. Jordan, C. Rowland, R. Stewart, G. Hacket and O. Duke.
Pall-bearers: at the house - J. L. Sam, Eric Sam, Walter Chin, R. J. Bowling, E. A. Singh, and J. Chung-a-Shack. At and from the church - J. L. Sam, Eric Sam, Hugh Sam, Walter Chin, R. J. Bowling, L. Bone , P. Narain, and J. Chung-a-Shack. At the ground - R. J. Bowling, F. Narain, P. Narain, L. Bone, Terry Holder, and E. Morrison.
Many floral tributes were received.
Source: Obituary: Mrs. Mehitabel Fox - The Daily Chronicle - Thursday, January 6, 1949: page 4.

First Woman Village Chairman in British Guiana

2008-01-09T07:45:00.000-08:00

First Woman Village Chairman in British Guiana: Miss Eleanor Sewdin Elected at Rose Hall
Rose Hall, Corentyne, Friday, January 2, 1942
Miss Eleanor Sewdin, Business woman of Rose Hall Village and Plantation Port Mourant was elected Chairman of Rose Hall Village District on Tuesday, December 23, 1942.
Miss Sewdin has been a Councilor of the Rose Hall Village District for the past six years, and her service to the community has been greatly appreciated.
Miss Sewdin is also Vice-President, Treasurer, and District Secretary of the British Guiana Man-Power Citizens’ Association. -
Source: J. N. D “First Woman Village Chairman in British Guiana”, The Daily Chronicle – Georgetown, British Guiana - Friday, January 2, 1942: Page 1

Death of Felix McLaren Stephenson

2008-01-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

DEATH OF MR. F. MCLAREN STEPHENSON – PROMISING TEACHER GONE – LARGELY ATTENDED FUNERAL

As briefly stated in yesterday's "Argosy" the death took place on Sunday afternoon last at the public hospital, Georgetown of Felix McLaren Stephenson, head teacher of At. Augustine's Anglican School, Friendship, East Coast Demerara. The deceased was an ardent and devout church worker and took a keen and intelligent interest in Village Administration and progress generally. By his death the teaching profession has lost a very valuable member. His school was his first care and all who visited left impressed with the general order and fitness of things.
The deceased has left a widow and five children.
The funeral took place at Buxton on Monday Afternoon and was largely attended.
The principal mourners were Mrs. Lydia Stephenson and children, Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Stephenson (father and mother), Mr. and Mrs. Reuben R. Baird (brother-in-law and sister), Messrs. Samuel Josephus Holder and W. W. Holder and Corporal and Mrs. Forde.
The cortege proceeded to the church where the rites were performed by the Reverend James Persaud and Forestrie rites were accorded the deceased. Chief – Ranger Talbott of Court Georgetown Diamond officiating.
Among those present were the Reverend W. E. Giddings and J. B. Broomes, Messrs. Edmund Fitzgerald Fredericks, S. Wood Ogle, H. A. Britton, Jacob Dodson Young, John Wills, J. J. Baird, C. A. Nestor, S. Talbott, R. Talbott, F. H. Pollard, John E. Griffith, Daniel Johannes Richmond, E. A. Glasgow, Cyril Robert Gladstone Potter, E. F. Chance, E. F. Boston, A. Devonish, J. Owen, Edward Mitchinson Storey, William Nicholas Arno, James Alfred Trotman, Donald Ashley Bevel Trotman, George H. H. Morrison, Aaron Victor Lawrence, Jno. Sam, J. J. Adams, Clement Rodney, Phillip Calder, Joseph Alfred Parkinson, Stanley A. Thierens, W. Philadelphia, J. W. Cox, J. Ogle, B. Profitt, E. Trotman, P. Lambert, H. Eastman, W. B. David, Charles Biscop Benjamin, William Theophilus Benjamin, N. A. Sparman, E. A. Borman, J. B. Major, Jno. Gomes, Oscar McGarrel, J. St. Anbyo, F. E. Pollard, C. Williams, P. Saunders and Robert Roger Carter.
Floral tributes were received from the following: -Samuel Josephus Holder and family, Mr. W. W. Holder, Mr. H. A. Britton, Mr. W. Seaforth, Mr. and Mrs. Reuben R. Baird, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mitchinson Storey, Mr. and Mrs. Ward, Mrs. Herod and family, Beterverwagting Congregational School, Mrs. Cedric Smith, Miss I. Paul, Mr. L.B. Hope, Mr. S. A. Young, Mr. and Mrs. France, the Upper East Coast Branch of the British Guiana Teachers’ Association, the Lower East Coast Branch of the British Guiana Teachers’ Association, Beterverwagting Episcopal School, Friendship Wesleyan School, Lusignan Episcopal School, Friendship Roman Catholic School, Friendship Episcopal School, Mr. A. Fung, Mr. S. Wood Ogle and family, Misses J. and L. Sharples.
Source: the Daily Argosy, Georgetown, British Guiana - Friday, March 28, 1924: page 4.

Please Note:
I would love to be made aware of the names of the individuals mentioned in the article above. Thereby I could edit the article by replacing the initials with the legal names of the people mentioned herein. I am of the opinion that is the proper thing to do… It is the political correct thing – and more over researcher family historians will be able to identify their folks…what’s not to like about that?
I believe the article above is a microcosm of the academic gifts the people of the community of Buxton and Friendship contributed to the nation building process before most regrettably this process was retarded by impotent forces and their program of self the effect of which can clearly be seen from the so-called Education reform in 1976. Today, the community is under siege by reckless law enforcement officers and petty criminal minded persons – while the real criminals – the beneficiaries reside life fat cats – vampires of the sufferings of the labouring class people. Again in this era Buxton and Friendship is a far cry from the latter half of the nineteenth and the first half of the twentieth centuries. I believe you can and will appreciate truth whatever it is – wherever it is – truth stands the test of time…the struggle continues…hetep.

Jaiwantie Bacchus (April 25, 1954 - March 17, 2007)

2007-12-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

Obituary:- Jaiwantie Bacchus, April 25, 1954 - March 17, 2007
Sunday, April 8th 2007

Jaiwantie Bacchus, nee Narine, proprietress of Medi-Care Pharmacy and former President of the Guyana Pharmacists Association, died on March 17, aged 52.

Jaiwantie Bacchus was a compassionate and charitable person who seemed more suited to the tender ministrations of health care than to the hard-nosed world of commerce. That she was able to combine the charm of a solicitous nurse with the grit of a successful manager of one of the largest pharmacies in the country was a measure of her mettle.

As the persuasive President of the Guyana Pharmacists Association, moreover, it was a triumph of will to win acceptance for Guyana's bid to host the 25th Conference of the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists in Georgetown in August 2005, ahead of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands.

Although already stricken by cancer which would eventually shorten her life, Jaiwantie Bacchus saw the conference as the cynosure of her career not as her swan song. She knew that Guyanese pharmacists only rarely attended these critical conferences largely because of the high cost of travel. Her ambition was to bring the conference to Georgetown not out of personal pride but simply to seize the opportunity to expose local pharmacists to international dialogue which would bring them abreast with modern changes and deepen their professionalism.

It was more than the highlight of her presidency. Hosted by the Guyana Pharmacists Association and sponsored by the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists and the Commonwealth Pharmacists Association, the conference assembled more than 100 delegates from 20 countries. The conference theme, 'Building Bridges of Cooperation for Superior Health and Human Services,' expressed her own philosophy perfectly.

Jaiwantie Bacchus's core belief was that the quality of health care depended not on an Ã©lite corps of a few highly-qualified experts but on the existence of a larger health-care team of which pharmacists were integral members. They were part of an evolving profession, involved not merely in dispensing drugs but in playing a role in diagnosing, treating and caring for patients. She was convinced of the need for pharmacists to be more than shopkeepers; she strove to help others to better health.

It was this vision of her profession that propelled Jaiwantie Bacchus to play a pivotal role in the resuscitation of the Guyana Pharmacists Association and in participation in the activities and conferences of the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists. This led her to join the original committee that published the association's first journal, Omni die, in June 1996. Her love of pharmacy, combined with her penchant for public service, prompted her alongside her husband to produce and sponsor the live television programme 'Consumers Health Watch' on NCN. Towards the end of her life, she was to become something of a TV personality with the screening of those educational health care programmes.

Her commercial success, also, was as much the result of her reputation for sincerity built up over the nearly three decades during which she practised her profession, as of her business acumen. As a pharmacist in the 1980s, Jaiwantie Bacchus was employed to manage the state-owned Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation's pharmacy in Alexander Street, Kitty. But those were days of economic depression when most essential goods, including imported foodstuff and pharmaceuticals, were insufficient or unavailable. Her branch became an oasis of supply amidst the desert of scarcity as she struggled to share few goods among many customers.

Her move from public corporation to private enterprise brought along a loyal clientele which did not forget her goodness or forsake her business. Her reputation for charity had become legendary and, not surprisingly, the beneficiaries of her bounty in her new business were to become legion.

It would be easier to count the charities that never asked for her assistance than those that received it. The Help and Shelter organisation; Lifeline Counselling Services; National AIDS Programme Secretariat; Guyana Red Cross Society and various Miss Guyana contestants all received financial or material assistance at one time or another. That was not all; her Medi-Care Pharmacy seemed not to tire of sponsoring floats for the Mashramani festival; patronizing races in the Kennard's Memorial Turf Club's horse race programmes; participating in the US Embassy's Family Health Fairs; and presenting medical supplies to the Venezuelan Embassy to help flood and mudslide victims in that country, and more.

With her husband Carl Bacchus's Pharmagen Enterprises, Jaiwantie Bacchus's Medi-Care Pharmacy became the first private sector agencies to enlist in the war on bad manners campaign run by the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Tourism, conducting customer care sessions for various categories of their staff.

Jaiwantie Bacchus was born in Vergenoegen village, East Bank Essequibo, on April 25, 1954, the second of nine children. She attended the nearby Philadelphia Church of Scotland School and the Zeeburg Secondary School, six kilometres away, where she wrote her O levels.

Unable to pursue her childhood ambition of studying medicine because of her parents' poverty, she started to teach at the Vergenoegen Government School. But her heart was not in pedagogy. She quit after two years to study for the diploma in pharmacy at the University of Guyana and that changed her life. She not only entered a profession that she cherished, but married her campus classmate. As managing director of Pharmagen Enterprises, her future husband would become her business partner as well.

After graduation, she spent nine years at the Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation. She left to establish what was little more than a booth called Medi-Care Pharmacy in the Fogarty's Department Store building in Water Street and soon was able to rent Mohan Persaud's building a block away in Robbstown. Today, Medi-Care Pharmacy in Hincks Street has become one of the biggest and busiest in the country with branches blooming in New Market Street, Cummingsburg and Henrietta, Essequibo.

Her Alexander Street customers, many of them women, formed the loyal core of the clientele there. That, undoubtedly, was part of the secret of her success. For her, service was less about the right price than about correct advice; less about profit than about professional responsibility and the chemistry between pharmacist and customer.

But although Jaiwantie Bacchus's achievements helped to break down barriers to the advancement of women in the fields of business and pharmacy, she was no firebrand feminist. Whatever resistance she might have faced from elements who were hostile to her concept of the role of pharmacists, she met the challenges with energy and courage.

A devout Christian and an active member of the Methodist Church, Jaiwantie Bacchus is remembered by the clergy and congregation with affection and respect. The church's touching tribute: "Her clarity of vision, her firmness of resolve, and her willingness to live with the consequences of a principled position continue to represent a model of integrity in her business," speaks for itself.

George Clarence Fung-On (October 24, 1921 - February 16, 2007)

2007-12-26T14:17:00.000-08:00

Obituary:-George Fung-On, October 24, 1921 - February 16, 2007
Sunday, February 25th 2007

George Clarence Fung-On, former Minister of the Public Service and Chairman of the Public Service Commission, died on February 16, aged 85.

The British Guiana Civil Service that George Fung-On joined as a clerk sixty-five years ago was very different from the Public Service over which he presided as chairman of the Public Service Commission up to six weeks before his death.

In the 1940s, the Chief Secretary's Office was the centre of the entire administrative system since nearly all matters of importance had to be channelled through it for the governor's deliberation. Invariably an English civil servant, the chief secretary was primus inter pares in the triumvirate that included the financial secretary and the attorney general in charge of the colony's affairs under the governor. Beneath them were heads of departments and other senior civil servants, also English, who constituted a cloistral caste of mandarins.

The Chief Secretary's Office - commonly known as CSO - located imposingly in the upper storey of the Public Buildings (now Parliament Building), was the sanctum sanctorum at the vortex of the hierarchy of the bureaucracy, and only slowly were a few low-level locals admitted thereto. Not only was George Fung-On one of those few, but he was destined to spend almost his entire career during the colonial era immured in the CSO, accumulating experience, becoming indispensable and rising effortlessly with the effluxion of time.

Largely because he never served long enough in a line ministry, appointment to the rank of permanent secretary eluded him. His combined service in the CSO and later the PSC, apart from making him a master of the minutiae needed to administer a complex bureaucracy, however, earned him the secretaryship to the PSC, a tad lower than the position of PS. It was in the Public Service Commission that the constitution invested supreme control of personnel in the state bureaucracy. Becoming chairman at age 82, therefore, was an exciting climax to George Fung-On's life-long love affair with the civil service.

Despite the service's low rate of pay and slow rate of promotion, the notion of belonging to an Ã©lite and sharing in power over the hoi polloi was an exhilarating experience which imparted inexplicably high prestige to officials. But the quotidian duties inside the CSO were repetitive and unimaginative. They consisted largely of hoisting huge piles of files from one desk in the registry to form piles on the desks of higher officials for decisions to be made by the mighty chief secretary. Zealous juniors would think nothing of working on Saturday afternoons, Sunday mornings and holidays to impress the chief.

Sanctimonious, serious and disinclined to smile at subordinates, the little tribe of troglodytes who held sway there inculcated the most stultifying customs of careerism: obsession with picayune increments of pay; jealous protection of pension rights; meticulous calculations of seniority and service; catching the eye of superiors to gain accelerated promotion; and, most of all, blocking competitors for these sacred and precious prizes.

Junior civil servants in the CSO were not meant to think; their duties were to master regulations and memorise precedents in order to apply them to every new situation. Investigations were excruciatingly granular, responses were gradual and innovativeness was discountenanced. Here were the origins of the organisational ossification that afflicts the civil service up to the present day. It was dangerous to drink too deeply at the wellsprings of such mores or to linger too long within the walls of the CSO!

The British Guiana Civil Service Association (CSA) in the 1940s started to struggle against the CSO's administrative tyranny. Since then, conflict between the CSO and the CSA seemed to have been transmuted into combat between the present day Public Service Ministry (PSM) on the one hand, and the Guyana Public Service Union (GPSU), on the other.

It must have been an accident of history that the path that led George Fung-On from his quondam lowly position of a Class Six Clerk in the CSO to the lofty ranks of Minister of the PSM and Chairman of the PSC would also bring him into collision with the present-day GPSU. Describing the Minister as the administration's "firewall on public servants' salaries," the PSU blamed his blunt speech and obstinate style for the collapse of negotiations and the precipitation of the eight-week public service strike in 1999.

So intense was the antipathy between the two sides that a band of protesters marching past Mr Fung-On's New Garden Street home at the height of the 1999 strike threw a lit candle and rag into his yard, tossed a bottle at the gate, and hurled invectives, shouting that the minister "must go." Unfazed, he unflinchingly stood his ground and continued to inveigh against the PSU and deride their annual demands for higher pay.

As recently as December 2005 when the administration decided to pay a seven per cent increase in salaries to public servants, George Fung-on, even as PSC chairman, lauded the increase, declaring it as an example of "overreach," and stating:

"The Government is giving more than what the Private Sector is giving. We are hearing of offers being made of two and three per cent increases by some companies. So, Government in that sense has overreached itself by giving an increase which is not consistent with what is being offered by Private Sector agencies."

George Clarence Fung-On was born on October 24, 1921 in Kitty, Georgetown, the son of a baker and the second of thirteen children. He grew up in Plaisance Village on the East Coast Demerara, worshipped at St Paul's Anglican Church and attended the primary school there. He never went to secondary school, studying for examinations privately through correspondence courses and so obtaining his junior and senior Cambridge certificates. He also passed the inter LLB (Lond) as an external student, earned a diploma in economics and public administration from Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada, and attended a seminar at the Institute for Organisation Management in the USA.

He started work as a primary school teacher in St Aidan's Anglican School at Wismar. Accepted into the civil service in 1942, he served mainly in the Chief Secretary's Office and the Public Service Ministry whence he attained the appointment of secretary to PSC in 1972, until retirement in 1976.

He then spent several years as executive officer of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry before being appointed by President Cheddi Jagan as Minister of the Public Service in the People's Progressive Party/Civic cabinet in 1992. A member of the National Assembly, he embraced the ministry with messianic zeal, ever mindful of the models with which he was familiar and remained at his post for nearly nine years until the elections of 2001.

After demitting the ministry, he served briefly as a member of the Public Service Appellate Tribunal before being appointed Chairman of the Public Service Commission in January 2004. Questioned about his ability to discharge his duties impartially in light of his having been a political minister, George Fung-On smilingly asserted that his "wealth of experience" could only benefit the commission. By virtue of that new position, he was able also to extend that wealth of experience to the Police Service Commission, the Guyana Defence Force Commissions Board and the Judicial Service Commission, of which he also became a concurrent member.

In the end, George Fung-On, the inveterate bureaucrat, came to admit that the PSC's dominant role in the service was anachronistic. While still Chairman only a year ago in March 2006, he suggested that the service would function more effectively and efficiently if permanent secretaries were given the opportunity to make more decisions in their respective ministries. For too long, he felt, the "remote control" exercised by the PSC determined who should be employed, disciplined and dismissed while the permanent secretaries - the responsible heads - had no say in these matters. Colonial practice, Fung-On said, should now be abandoned. He explained:

"Although I am Chairman, I still don't think that the Commission should have that much authority over the Ministries. The Permanent Secretaries should be able to say who is best suited for the various posts and therefore should be the hiring and firing authorityâ€¦That is why the private sector is always said to be more efficient than the public sector because even a junior manager can fire an employee if it is warranted."

Having worked briefly after retirement as CEO of the GCCI, George Fung-On was well aware of the vast gulf between the practices of the public sector vis-Ã -vis the private sector. But administration and management were always more than merely hiring and firing, although these were the means by which colonials controlled the old civil service.

A modest, unpretentious man, he was a devout Anglican throughout his life, serving as a regular and respected Lay Reader, officiating at the eucharist and often delivering homilies to the congregation at Christ Church. He was also a member of the vestry committee, chairman of the Diocesan Council's Finance Committee and a synodal delegate. As a member of the Chinese (later renamed Cosmos) Sports Club, he played cricket as a reliable wicket keeper-batsman up to the (Northcote Cup) first division level.

Despite admitting the need for change, he remained a stickler for the standards that he inculcated decades ago in the CSO. George Fung-On may well have considered himself Guyana's last mandarin.

Ivan Theophilus Crandon (13 May 1927 - 27 September 2007)

2007-12-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

Obituary: Ivan Crandon, DSM, 13 May 1927 - 27 September 2007
Sunday, October 21st 2007

Ivan Crandon, former chairman of the Police Service Commission, president of the Guyana Legion and a military veteran of World War II, died on 27 September, aged 80.

Ivan Theophilus Crandon spent nearly half of his long life clothed in either a soldier's khaki or a policeman's navy blue uniform. Even after retirement, his public service continued in the Guyana Legion and as a member of the Police Service Commission.

Ivan Crandon's attraction to uniformed service began when, just 16 years and nine months old, he enlisted as an infantryman in the British Guiana Garrison on 27 January 1943. Nevertheless, he was good enough to be adjudged the best recruit on his initial infantry training course. He served briefly at Mackenzie in upper Demerara where his unit provided security for boats which were transporting bauxite, then a strategic mineral in the allied war effort, to Trinidad.

As the war worsened for the allies, the United Kingdom cobbled together military units from its far-flung empire. With other Guianese volunteers, Ivan Crandon then travelled to Trinidad where the South Caribbean Force was being assembled and then to Jamaica to join the North Caribbean Force where the two combined to form the 1st Battalion of the Caribbean Regiment. Then it was on to Virginia, USA, for further battlefield training and equipping before travelling in a trans-Atlantic convoy to Italy.

Ivan Crandon served in Italy and North Africa as a corporal in the regiment's intelligence unit (1944 -1946). At the end of the war, he returned home, serving briefly in the British Guiana Garrison before being demobilised in April 1946. After a brief spell of civilian employment, he was drawn again to uniformed service and joined the British Guiana Police Force as a constable on 15 September 1949.

As a policeman, he first worked in the commissioner's Office as a clerical assis-tant and also as secretary to commander, Joint Forces, in Berbice, during the 1953 state of emergency. He improved his clerical qualifications by attending courses in accountancy, shorthand and typing but quickly discovered that these, together with his military service in the intelligence unit, contributed to stereotyping him as an office worker. He had reached the rank of corporal in 1954 but he sensed that his career was in danger of stagnating.

He broke the mould with his appointment as station sergeant at Mahaicony police station. In a comical but typical incident, he tried to overcome his unfamiliarity with rural police procedure by appearing on the premises in plain clothes without disclosing his identity to the subordinate officer on duty. He simply sat and observed how the station was being run.

This attitude helped to accelerate his career. A sergeant in 1956, he became an inspector in 1960 and was 'gazetted' as assistant superintendent 1966. After independence, he continued to rise through the ranks of superintendent, assistant commissioner and, eventually, deputy commissioner. During his service, he held several appointments including commander of the Tactical Service Unit and several rural divisions, until he retired as deputy commissioner responsible for operations in 1982.

In his twenty-five years of retirement, Ivan Crandon continued to be active in both private enterprise and public service. He acquired a small farm at Perseverance in the Mahaica-Berbice Region which helped to finance his children's professional education overseas. He also found time to serve as president of the Guyana Legion and chairman of the Public Service Commission.

Born on 13 May 1927, Ivan Crandon attended St Phillip's Primary School and Enterprise and Washington High Schools in Georgetown. His professional training was completed at the Scottish Police College, in the UK. He also attended a Senior Police Administration and Com-mand Training Course on which he received specialised instruction in riot control and counter-insurgency operations, in the USA.

For his military service, he was awarded the 1939-45 War Medal, Defence Medal and Star of Italy medal. For his police service, he was awarded the Colonial Police Medal for Meritorious Service; Guyana Independence Medal and the Disciplined Services Medal. He also received awards from the Canadian Legion for service to the Royal Commonwealth Ex-Services League and from the Guyana Legion on the occasion of their 75 Anniversary.

A man of unquestioned patriotism and professionalism, Ivan Theophilus Crandon set standards of performance which present day policemen would do well to emulate.

Mayor on street naming exercise

2007-12-26T11:51:00.000-08:00

Mayor on street naming exercise
Sunday, December 7th 2003
A number of city streets, playgrounds and places of interest will be given names early next year by the Mayor and City Council (M&CC).

The council has already advertised for members of the public to submit their proposals for an exercise Mayor Hamilton Green says is intended to create a better appreciation among Guya-nese for their history and heroes.

In an advertisement published in this newspaper, the M&CC noted that it was not proposed to change the name of any street or ground that has historical significance before or after independence. The M&CC said all of the country's history must be retained but should be explained to the youths.

According to the council, only streets, grounds or places with names that bear no historical significance will be considered for renaming.

The M&CC observed that there was a number of streets, grounds and places that carried no official name, noting that the exercise would be concentrated on those areas. A map with those locations is available in the Mayor's office for the public to look at.

Persons wishing to be a part of the process are asked to submit their proposals to the City Council no later than December 12.

Speaking about the initiative with Stabroek News last week, Green observed that there were too many streets with names such as First Street and Second Street.

According to Green, in Alberttown alone there were about five streets with no names and about an equal number in South Ruimveldt and other parts of the city.

Speaking about unnamed playgrounds, Green said in other parts of the world, these were named after someone who would have contributed to a particular sport. According to him, there are several play fields in the city that have no names and are located in the area where well respected people once lived. He added that a number of the city's roundabouts, canals and bridges would also be named.

Green said he would like to see more monuments to heroes put up, adding that Roy Fredericks, Lance Gibbs, Clive Lloyd and Rohan Kanhai were still to be honoured. The Mayor said that apart from the 1763 Monu-ment there was no other monument in the city which this generation could relate to.

Green argued that the airport should be decorated with photographs of all the former presidents, but according to him this was not done because of political reasons and as a result only Cheddi Jagan, whom the airport was named after, was featured.
Source: http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=1227167

Dr. Festus L. Brotherson, Jr. passes away

2007-12-26T11:45:00.000-08:00

Announcements: Dr. Festus L. Brotherson, Jr. passes away

Dr. Festus L. Brotherson Jr. Professor of Political Science & Senior Research Associate 58 died on October 24, 2006 from a catastrophic stroke. Dr Brotherson was a research associate at the University of Miami, Florida, and tenured professor at Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio. He also worked at the University of Guyana and other academic institutions. He was a graduate of Tutorial High School in Guyana.

He was a broadcaster in his native country of Guyana moderating the Action Line, Music of Struggle and Night Ride programs. Dr Brotherson was the editor of the New Nation newspaper and a senior member of the ruling political party.

Listed are some of the main accomplishments of his short life.

B.A. summa cum laude in political science & communication arts; M.A. political science with emphasis on theory.

Ph. D. in political science in comparative politics, political theory and psychohistory

Tenured political science professor; book chapters, book reviews and articles in many refereed and non-refereed scholarly journals

Research associate, North/

South center, University of Miami, Florida

Organized, and led and presented scholarly papers at more than twenty-five academic conferences; discussant at many, many others – all in a rather brief formal academic role from 1989-1999

Multiple study-abroad programs to the Caribbean with American students

Senior political analyst, Consulate of Guyana, Los Angeles, State of California

Hon. Consul, Consulate of Guyana, State of Ohio

Founder editor of Ujaama, undergraduate special interest newspaper for black students; university president’s award as the outstanding graduating undergraduate student

Editor of New Nation, Guyana

Founder Editor, Winds of Change, faculty newspaper, Miami-Dade Community College

Founder editor, Guyana & the Caribbean, monthly newsletter of Consulate of Guyana, Ohio

Associate Editor, Caribbean Studies Association (CSA) News-letter, for many years

Radio broadcaster and producer of varied public interest and fun programs

Founder of Festus Brotherson Asthma Trust Foundation in Guyana that served hundreds of mainly children and some adults free of cost for many years
Columnist and feature writer for several international newspapers and magazines on topics whose variety showcased politics, mythology, music, culture, etc.
Festus is survived by his wife Lurlene, son Leonard, brother George, sister Felicity and mother Doris.

EUSTACE STANISLAUS CALLENDER PASSES ON

April 26, 1921 – October 21, 2006

Eustace Stanislaus Callender, born in Albouystown, Guyana, known as ‘Duke’ to some and ‘Calli’ to others, died on October 21, 2006.

A Homegoing service officiated by the Rev, Ingram Hodge of the Church Of Primise In Christ was held at Frank R, Bell Funeral on Sterling Street in Brooklyn on Wednesday, October 25, and was buried on Thursday, October 26, 2006 at Rosedale Memorial Park in .Linden, New Jersey.

Eastace leaves to mourn his wife Eileen, his children: Ranny, Sharon, Jauna, Vanessa, Elrico and Tessalee; his siblings Eric, Evril, Gloria (“Bybe”) and Yvette; and many relatives and friends.

He will be lovingly remembered by all his relatives and friends.
source: www.caribimpact.net/v3_47_caribbean_affairs.html

Marjorie King (March 19, 1931 - August 13, 2006)

2007-12-26T11:39:00.001-08:00

Obituary:- Marjorie King, March 19, 1931 - August 13, 2006
Sunday, August 20th 2006

Marjorie Ianthe King

Marjorie Ianthe King, a former principal of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) and Deputy Principal of the Lilian Dewar College of Education, died on August 13, aged 75.

Instructed at home by their father Samuel Augustus King, a certified school teacher, sick nurse, first-class dispenser and steward of the Public Hospital at Suddie, and at school by their uncle, William Alexander King, headmaster of the Anna Regina Government School, the three King sisters - Cicely, Irma and Marjorie - seemed predestined to be educators. Now, all three have died: Cicely on June 30, 2001; Irma, on September 30, 2005, and Marjorie on August 13 last.

Their contemporaries still speak admiringly of their stellar scholastic record which started at the Bishops' High school (BHS) in the 1940s. The eldest, Cicely, won an open scholarship from BHS to the University College of the West Indies (UCWI) where she gained her Bachelor of Arts (BA) and, later, Master of Arts (MA) degrees from the Universities of California and Michigan, respectively, eventually to become Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Guyana (UG). Irma, who also earned her BA at UCWI, read for her Master of Education (MEd) and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degrees from the University of Toronto and served as Lecturer at UWI's Faculty of Education (St Augustine) and at UG's Faculty of Education for fifteen years.

Marjorie King's work was to have its greatest impact in the teaching of teachers. Her career in education started less spectacularly than her sisters; she began teaching at various Methodist primary schools - San Souci, Wakenaam; Agricola and Plaisance, after gaining her Cambridge School Certificate (1947) and her London Higher Schools Certificate (1949) at Bishops. She earned the Primary School Teacher's Certificate (1952) and attended the Government Training College (GTC) for Teachers (1953-55), where she graduated as a Trained Teacher (Class 1).

Like her sisters, though, her vocation took her to UCWI, Mona, from which she graduated with the BA in Economics, French and History in 1960. She also earned the MA degree from the University of Sussex in 1967.

With her new ideas about education, Marjorie King introduced the study of Economics to BHS in 1960 where she taught after returning from Mona. Soon after returning from Sussex, she was caught up in the post-Independence surge to reform the education system, a task for which she seemed ideally suited. She thus became one of the pioneer lecturers on the first major education reform project of the period - the Multilateral Teachers Training Programme - intended to staff the six new schools that were established around the country. At that time, it was thought that these schools would make the education system more relevant to the needs of the national economy and local communities and meet specific human resource requirements in priority sectors of the economy.

She remained on that programme until 1980, serving also as Senior Lecturer and Deputy Principal of the Lilian Dewar College of Education before being appointed Deputy Principal, then Principal, of the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) (1980-86).

Unmarried, Marjorie King committed herself unreservedly to the education service throughout her working life. During her long, quiet retirement of twenty years, she laboured with similar zeal as Vice-Chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is of Georgetown and of the National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is of Guyana. Born on March 19, 1931 at Suddie, Essequibo, she passed away on August 13 in Georgetown.

Dr Festus Lysius Brotherson

2007-12-26T11:34:00.000-08:00

Dr Festus Lysius Brotherson (Jnr), Honorary Consul in Cleveland, Ohio, professor of Political Science, and former editor of the New Nation, died on 24 October, aged 57.
Obituary:- Festus L Brotherson Jnr
Sunday, November 5th 2006
When he died last week, Dr Festus Lysius Brotherson was eulogised by President Bharrat Jagdeo, head of the People's Progressive Party-Civic (PPP/C) administration, as a "cherished son¦ a worthy friend and a good leader¦ one who has always been held in special affection by the Guyanese people one of the nation's few treasures¦" On the other hand, no florid encomiums emanated from the People's National Congress (PNC) which Dr Brotherson joined 40 years ago and through which he became a household name and something of a media celebrity in the 1970s. The party gracefully and simply acknowledged "his academic prowess, his sincerity and his love for his country."

Over the last 20 years, Festus Brotherson became the nemesis of the late PNC leader Desmond Hoyte, excoriating the former president as an "ex-dictator," and the PNC as "a principal contributor to the strife-torn, bankrupt, authoritarian society which is today's Guyana." How did one of the PNC's most persuasive protagonists become one of its most avid antagonists?

Born into a professional family in Georgetown on 20 May 1949, Festus Brotherson attended the Tutorial High School up to 1966 when he joined the PNC and started working in the Guyana Public Service. He received a Government of Guyana scholarship to study first for the Diploma in Communications from the Don Martin School of Communications in California in 1973 and, the next year, to study Political Science and Communication Arts at the Loyola Marymount University in California. Graduating with the BA degree, he returned to Guyana in 1977.

Astonishing ordinary party members and raising eyebrows, Festus Brotherson's political career as an apparatchik took off. He slid effortlessly into an exalted seat on the PNC's Central Executive Committee and was appointed an Executive Secretary in the quasi-ministerial Office of the General Secretary of the People's National Congress and Ministry of National Development (OGSPNC&MND) under the powerful general-secretary Dr Ptolemy Reid. All this happened in the heyday of cooperative socialism and PNC party paramountcy.

He was also handed the influential positions of lecturer at the party's Cuffy Ideological Institute; head of the party's Division of Propaganda; editor of the party's New Nation newspaper; and producer at the state-owned Guyana Broadcasting Corporation, moderating the influential Action Line and Night Ride programmes.

It soon became apparent that Brotherson was the protégé of none other than Dr Reid himself. His amazing progress was being propelled not only by his own tenacity but also by the general secretary's capacity to remove obstacles in his path.

In a whirlwind two-and-half-year tour from June 1977 to December 1979 which included campaigning vigorously for the 1978 national referendum on a new Guyana Constitution, Brotherson's career was on a roll. More was to come. A lifelong asthma case, the convenient fact that he was due for medical treatment abroad facilitated what he called a 'non-controversial exit' from Guyana in 1979. He received a cushy job, described officially as "senior political analyst" in the Consulate of Guyana in Los Angeles.

Lucky man. He stayed there for five years during the depressing 1980s on a Government of Guyana stipend, toiling in academia as a research associate and teaching fellow, finally earning both his MA and PhD degrees in political science at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Indeed, in the entire thirteen-year period from 1972 to 1985, all except about three years were spent overseas pursuing advanced studies. Soon after receiving his doctorate from UCLA in 1985, however, Dr Brotherson started to find that the PNC's socialist policies which he had embraced all along had become all too jaded and jejune.

Many other things were changing at the PNC's headquarters at Congress Place that year. Dr Brotherson's patron, Dr Reid, had resigned as Prime Minister; party leader and President Forbes Burnham died; Desmond Hoyte was installed as both party leader and President of the Republic, and the PNC, like the country, was nearly bankrupt. Anxious to recoup his unpaid overseas emoluments but apprehensive about returning to his old role with the mass media, Brotherson wrote himself a project to produce an elaborate official biography of the late Forbes Burnham.

This set the stone rolling. Mr. Hoyte at first expressed support for the project even though its long duration, high cost, large staff and abundant equipment were clearly extravagant by the impecunious circumstances of the mid-1980s. Brotherson also realised, however, that although he was successful in collecting some of the monies personally due to him and arrangements for his return in 1986 were expedited, the project was going nowhere. In less than a year, Mr. Hoyte changed from advocate to adversary of the Burnham biography project. It was dead in the water.

Festus Brotherson changed quickly also. Turning full circle, he repudiated socialism; expressed regret for much that he had done willingly as the PNC's propaganda czar; for his role in having the Caribbean News Agency (CANA) banned from Guyana; for his support for the national referendum campaign of 1978; for his role as moderator of the Action Line radio programme which he used to energetically defend the PNC administration and to ignore the views of its opponents; and for supporting Guyana's uncompromising non-aligned foreign policy. In all this, he admitted to contributing to "creating the authoritarian monster state."

Dr Brotherson's conversion from PNC canvasser to critic was complete by 1992 when the PPP/C entered office. He wrote a series of articles lionising Dr Cheddi Jagan and praising his sincerity and sagacity. At every turn, he attacked Desmond Hoyte with a ferocity and hostility that went beyond the bounds of scholarship and reasonable academic criticism. The PPP loved it. He was soon appointed Honorary Consul in the Consulate of Guyana in the State of Ohio.

In a short academic career, Dr Brotherson became a tenured political science professor at Baldwin-Wallace College in Ohio and a research associate at the University of Miami, Florida. He wrote several articles, chapters in books and book reviews; presented scholarly papers at academic conferences, and put his old communications skills to work by editing undergraduate, special interest, and faculty newspapers and newsletters. That was the life he loved.

Dr Festus Brotherson might have been revered by the PPP for a variety of reasons but he never reconciled with the PNC. Chiefly, though, Guyanese will remember him less as a media personality of the 1970s than as a scholar and student of this country's fractured politics in the 1990s.
Source:http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=56507298

Sir Harold Brodie Smith Bollers (February 5, 1915 - December 26, 2006)

2007-12-26T11:30:00.000-08:00

Obituary:-Sir Harold Bollers, February 5, 1915 - December 26, 2006
Sunday, December 31st 2006

Sir Harold Brodie Smith Bollers, Kt Bach, OR, CCH, former Chief Justice, Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission and President of the Guyana Red Cross Society, died on December 26, aged 91.

By the social standards of colonial British Guiana, Harold 'Harry' Bollers belonged to the crÃ¨me de la crÃ¨me. Born into the business Ã©lite, he had the best start in education, occupation and status that society could offer.

Well connected, conscientious and capable, Harry Bollers climbed the ladder of success as the colony moved towards independence, attaining the high office of chief justice, achieving the honour of knighthood and earning the esteem of his peers and the public. His quiescent retirement, lingering illness and spare means contrasted sharply with his active adolescence and conspicuous career in the courts of this country.

Harold Bollers's father, John (1869-1941), was Chairman of Brodie and Rainer Ltd of Water Street at a time when it was the country's largest drugstore. It is not unlikely that he named his son after that firm. An Incorporated Accountant and Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, John Bollers was also secretary of the British Guiana & Trinidad Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Director of G. Bettencourt & Company Ltd, member of the Georgetown Town Council and founder of Humphrey & Company, of which Harold would become a director in 1942. Business seemed to beckon the four Bollers boys - Harold and his three brothers.

Harold Brodie Smith Bollers, one of seven children, was born on February 5, 1915 in Georgetown and started his schooling at exclusive private schools - first Woodbine then Kirkpatrick's. He entered Queen's College at age 10, breezing through the next eight years, taking colours in football, and becoming captain of Raleigh House and a prefect by 1933.

After Queen's, he went up to King's College at the University of London to read law. By the age of 21, Harold Bollers had become a barrister-at-law of the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple in London and was called to the bar in Guyana in January 1938. He left for Barbados where he was admitted to the bar and practised there between April and December 1939, but returned to Guyana in 1940 and remained in private practice from January 1940 to 1945.

Surprisingly, at the threshold of his profession, he turned his back on both business and private practice, preferring to enter the prestigious but ponderous and penurious magistracy in September 1945. Thereafter, he inched along through the positions of acting Magistrate, Magistrate, Senior Magistrate and, finally, Chief Magistrate in 1959.

During this time, he also acted briefly as Registrar of the Supreme Court and High Court Judge but it was not until 1960 that he was finally appointed a Puisne Judge. With the country becoming an independent state and consequent changes in the judiciary, he was elevated to the position of Chief Justice in 1966. He retired in 1980 at the age of 65 years.

After only a brief break, however, he was appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission in October of the same year, plunging deep into Guyana's acrimonious and tempestuous electoral politics. Excoriated by opposition political parties over the conduct of two elections in 1980 and 1985, and on the approach of a third which fell due in 1990 but eventually was held in 1992, he resigned under pressure in 1991.

Even as Chief Justice during the combustible 1970s and 1980s, Sir Harold Bollers had become the target of unrelenting attacks by opposition parties. For example, in a civil action brought in June 1973 by Seecomar Singh and Donald Ramlakhan against Reginald Butler, the Chief Election Officer, in an attempt to prevent the holding of general elections on July 16 that year, Chief Justice Bollers declined jurisdiction, refused the action and recommended that the plaintiffs seek their remedy in an election petition. The opposition was incensed at his unfavourable judgement.

Next, in what could be regarded as a tragic sequel to the 1973 elections in which two young People's Progressive Party (PPP) supporters were shot dead on the Corentyne, Police Constable James Henry was shot dead on July 18, 1974 close to the time of the first anniversary of the elections, and at the No 62 Village toll station, close to the scene of the 1973 shooting.

Two days later, the police arrested Arnold Rampersaud, a PPP activist, who was to undergo three highly-publicised and politicised trials during the course of which they became a cause cÃ©lÃ¨bre. Chief Justice Bollers presided over the second trial and, after the jury could not agree on a verdict, ordered a third trial, again incurring the wrath of the opposition.

Appointed Chairman of the Guyana Elections Commission after leaving the bench and in the run up to the December 15, 1980 general elections, Harold Bollers was again the centre of attention. As chairman, he rejected the requests of PPP commissioners to issue directions permitting polling agents of the ruling and opposition parties to accompany the ballot boxes in the vehicles transporting the boxes to the counting centres. He ruled that such matters were for the district returning officers to determine. Again, the opposition was enraged.

After Harold Bollers retired from the commission in 1991, it was recognised that it was not the chairman who needed changing but the commission itself which needed mending. A new style commission, based on the so-called Carter-Price formula, was introduced. Even now, 15 years after Bollers's departure, problems persist and recommendations are still being made to fix the faulty commission.

A gentleman of the old school, Sir Harold Bollers was part of a cadre of jurists who transmitted the tenets, timbre and precepts of the colonial past into the post-independence period. And what times they were! Uncorrupted by graft, he served his country as best he could through his long public career. His life after leaving the commission was uneventful but his legacy was intact.

Sir Harold Bollers was a staunch Presbyterian. As the first President of the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS) when it was separated from the British Red Cross Society after independence, he piloted the society's programme for thirty years. For his distinguished service in the field of law, he was invested with the honour of Knight Bachelor (Kt Bach) in 1969; the Cacique's Crown of Honour (CCH) in 1982; and the Order of Roraima (OR) in 1991.

As former Chancellor Desiree Bernard was moved to remark, Sir Harold Bollers belonged to "the golden years when the Judiciary was held in high esteem and treated with respect befitting the office."
Source:http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=56510801

Winifred Hunter, nee Wishart (August 5, 1915 - September 26, 2007)

2007-12-26T11:20:00.000-08:00

Obituary:-Winifred Hunter, nee Wishart, MS, August 5, 1915 - September 26, 2007

Sunday, December 2nd 2007

Winifred Wishart with her father Dr William Wishart

By any measure, William de Weever Wishart (1873-1955) was one of this country's most outstanding citizens. Winning the British Guiana Scholarship from Queen's College in 1890, he earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Master of Surgery degrees at Edinburgh in 1895 and the Diploma in Public Health from Dublin in 1910.

As a private medical practitioner, Dr Wishart's specialities were child welfare and child mortality. As Georgetown's first Municipal Health Officer, he fought relentlessly for better sanitation, initiating many of the public health measures still in force today.

He lived to see his only daughter transform his medical clinic on the ground floor of his rambling, three-storeyed wooden house at 236 Camp Street in Cummingsburg into one of the most innovative institutions for children's education of the day. The house that Dr Wishart built was not only commodious. It also possessed a copious supply of good books and music and was managed by good, generous and genteel parents.

This was the environment into which Winifred Margaret Wishart was born on August 5, 1915. This was the cradle in which her love of learning was nurtured during her happy and comfortable childhood. Taught to read by her mother even before she went to school and searching among her father's books for information, she was eager to learn.

She attended the sedate St Rose's High School run by the Ursuline nuns at the corner of Camp and Church Streets, just a block away from her family home. It was while in the sixth form that Winifred Wishart's world view was immutably moulded and her destiny was determined for good. She had dropped out of the Latin class and occupied herself during this spare time by supervising the recently-established Montessori class at what was then the St Agnes' Infant School. Watching four and five-year-olds at play and arranging materials of various shapes and colours, Winifred Wishart discovered her vocation. There and then, she decided to work with young children.

She went up to St Margaret's College in Edinburgh, Scotland, in August 1933 to be trained as a kindergarten teacher in the Froebel method, because Montessori training was not available. She had already been influenced by Dr Maria Montessori's scientific method of creating environments which foster the fulfilment of children's potential and of teaching in a way which emphasised social interaction, the education of the whole personality and respecting children's individual differences. Friedrich Froebel's method of teaching, by comparison, was rooted in the premise that children are essentially active and creative, rather than merely receptive; it emphasised self-activity and play in child education. Winifred's philosophy was influenced by both the Montessori and Froebel methods.

Back home, and even before attaining the age of twenty years, Winifred Margaret Wishart established St Margaret's school - named after the college she had attended, not after herself as some thought - in January 1935. Through her parents' generosity she received furniture, financial support, classroom space and lots of encouragement. Located at her parents' home in Camp Street where the school still stands today, and starting as a kindergarten of seven pupils, her greatest challenge was the scepticism of a citizenry schooled in the staid Victorian pedagogy of benches, blackboards and slates.

She met these challenges with exceptional energy and a passionate devotion to the education of children, according to her lights. Her vision never dimmed.

Her marriage to Robert Buchanan Hunter, a sugar planter, obliged her to leave the city to live on the Corentyne Coast with him. St Margaret's closed in July 1943. A few years later, though, her husband contracted a chronic illness and the family returned to Georgetown. Winifred taught at the newly-opened Anglican St Gabriel's School in Queenstown in 1951 but, in response to the requests of several parents, she was persuaded to reopen St Margaret's in 1954.

Attendance was augmented unexpectedly by the Ministry of Education's decision to abolish the preparatory forms in the government-owned Bishops' High School and Queen's College. This meant that admission would be based on the competitive Common Entrance examinations which private students would have to write as well. St Margaret's had to keep abreast of the times and, from 1962, pupils were taught for those examinations. In the same year, also, pupils were prepared to participate in the British Guiana Music Festival, triggering anxieties among apprehensive parents that cultural activities would impair their children's studies.

Their fears were unfounded. Students did well while the music festivals lasted up to the early 1970s and yet performed creditably at the secondary schools entrance examinations, usually taken as the yardstick of primary school performance in this country. This vindicated Winifred Hunter's firm belief that cultural activities and academic studies should not be separated. In her words, "These were the happy days when children sang songs, painted pictures and danced their way through school while managing to learn to read and write, to add and subtract, and to spell correctly at the same time. Most importantly, they were encouraged to think."

Supportive of her staff and students, Winifred Hunter nevertheless ensured that her personal high standards were met. As times changed, she took a term off to visit England to gather fresh ideas and learn new teaching techniques. When she returned home, she held workshops for staff members to improve their pedagogic practice.

Apolitical by disposition, Winifred made a strategic decision to avoid party entanglements but was always supportive of national policies. At one time or another during the combustible 1960s and 1970s, leaders of all the major political parties - People's Progressive Party, People's National Congress, and United Force - confidently sent their daughters to be educated at St Margaret's.

For her inestimable service to education, Winifred Hunter received the national award of the Medal of Service in 1975. This was a high point of her career and for the school which also celebrated its 40th anniversary that year.

Ironically, the educational edifice into which she poured so much effort throughout her life was shaken the next year with the passage of the Constitution (Amendment) Bill in September 1976. As a consequence of this legislation, the government was enabled to take over hundreds of preparatory, primary and secondary schools. With the vote in the National Assembly and the stroke of the President's pen, the state assumed control of education, as the slogan boasted, 'from nursery to university.' As with all other private schools, St Margaret's fell under the government and staff had to be appointed and paid by the Ministry of Education.

By this time, of course, Winifred Hunter was 61 years old and, under government regulations, slated for retirement. The ministerial bureaucracy did not immediately offer her a contract although she continued teaching conscientiously. In fact, she worked for over a year without being paid! She suffered in silence, receiving her overdue emoluments only after the intervention of Mr Desmond Hoyte, then a minister in the PNC administration, whose daughters happened to be St Margaret's students. Disappointed, but not angry, Winifred Hunter retired in 1978 and eventually migrated. She died on September 26 in Jamaica.

Winifred Hunter's philosophy of life was founded on the firm belief that early education should bring forth the best in young human beings. She was a kind and caring person, often permitting students who were delinquent in paying their fees to continue attending classes. As might be expected, her favourite charity was the Children's Dorcas Club, once headed by her friend Ms Mildred Mansfield. A devout but not dogmatic Christian, she worshipped at the St Andrew's Kirk.

Winfred Hunter was cultivated and charming with an infectious enthusiasm for education. She ensured that her school was not a place of dread for children but an exciting experience. Everyone who worked with her regarded her with affection and respect.

http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article?id=56534335

Oliver Judaman Seecoomar (July 15, 1932 - March 26, 2006)

2007-12-26T11:16:00.000-08:00

Obituary:- Oliver Judaman Seecoomar, July 15, 1932 - March 26, 2006
Sunday, June 18th 2006

Oliver Judaman Seecoomar died of cancer on March 26, 2006 at the Pembridge Palliative Care Unit, England.

Judaman, as he was more familiarly known, was born to Augustus and Agnes Seecoomar on July 15, 1932 at Lusignan Plantation, British Guiana. Beginning with his father's death when he was three years old, his early years were marked with adversity, poverty and hardship. Prevented from continuing school after the age of twelve, he studied on his own and qualified as a pupil teacher.

What was to become a long and distinguished teaching career began at Canal Elementary School on the West Bank, Demerara in 1948. In 1955 he graduated from the Government Teachers' Training College, going on later to teach at Ogle Government School. He was subsequently transferred to Essequibo, where he continued teaching from 1956 to 1958, followed by two years at the Enmore Government School. He added diversity to his teaching career from 1960 to 1962, during which time he taught at the Government Technical Institute.

Like many others affected by the growing racial violence in Guyana, Judaman emigrated to England in 1962. After thirteen years of marriage, he was separated in 1969 from his wife, Dorothy, with whom he had four children - Rohan, Agnes, Nadira and Nirmala. In 1962 he got his first teaching position at the Percy School, later renamed South Kilburn Community School, in North West London.

In his quest for higher learning, he gained his BA in International Relations in 1973, and his MA in Urban Education seven years later. While at Kilburn, he pioneered the implementation of Access courses, which enabled adults without formal education to benefit from higher learning. He served as deputy head for two years, remembered for his dignity and quiet and unassuming authority.

After sixteen years of selfless service at South Kilburn and forty years in the teaching profession, he retired in 1988 after the premature death of his son, Rohan.

In 1974 he married Judith, who had taught with him at South Kilburn. Judith later became head of English at Copland Community School in Wembley, Middlesex, and he himself taught there part-time until Judith's untimely death in 1991.

Undeterred by these tragedies, he defied convention by undertaking research for his PhD. In 2002, at the age of 70, he received his doctorate from the University of London for his work, Contributions Towards the Resolution of Conflict in Guyana. His passion for social justice and the anguish he felt over the racial divide in Guyana drove him to produce a second book, Democratic Advance and Conflict Resolution in Post-Colonial Guyana, which was completed in hospital.

Judaman was once a member of the Labour Party in the UK. He was also a member of the Commonwealth Club in London, and a Visiting Fellow of the University of London School of Advanced Study.

Education apart, his lifelong passion was cricket. He was a fast bowler and batsman of some merit and played regularly for Ogle and Essequibo. While at South Kilburn, he coached the school team for many years. He was an avid supporter of the West Indies team, to the extent of following them on a tour of India.

Totally committed to Guyana, his love for his homeland was demonstrated as a volunteer on several teacher training projects there. A gentle man and a gentleman, he was staunch friend, much loved father, and patriot to the end.

His cremation took place on April 3, 2006, at Golders Green Crematorium in North London. His ashes will be scattered on the Essequibo River at a time to be decided later. He is survived by his daughters Agnes, Nadira and Nirmala.

Satyadeow Sawh (June 13, 1955 - April 22, 2006)

2007-12-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Obituary:-Satyadeow Sawh, June 13, 1955 - April 22, 2006.
Sunday, May 7th 2006

Satyadeow Sawh, Minister of Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock and Acting Minister of Agriculture, was murdered on April 22, aged 50.

Although the majority of Hindus in Guyana are affiliated to the Guyana Hindu Dharmic Sabha of which the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Pandit Reepu Daman Persaud is President, the Guyana Central Arya Samaj has always played an influential role in Guyana's religious and political affairs.

As a reformist movement, the Arya Samaj aims not only at changing wrong practices and beliefs that crept into the Hindu religion over the centuries, but is concerned also with correcting social and political ills in the wider community. Prominent personalities such as Minister of Legal Affairs Doodnauth Singh and Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission Justice Prembishaul Persaud are Samajists. So was the murdered Minister of Fisheries, Other Crops and Livestock and acting Minister of Agriculture Satyadeow Sawh.

Satyadeow Sawh served as Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 50th Anniversary Celebrations of Annual Youth Camps in Guyana and his wife Satti is the Senior Vice-President of the Guyana Central Arya Samaj. When news of the assassination broke, the United Arya Samaj Mandirs in the New York area described Sawh as "a great soul," an exalted tribute traditionally ascribed to Mahatma Gandhi.

In Guyana, the Arya Samaj community declared that he "has always been known to carry the banner of Arya Samaj proudly and promoted the values of Vaidik Satya Sanatan Dharma." Highly esteemed, he was a well-placed Samajist in the administration.

Affable, jovial, good- natured and unassuming, Satyadeow Sawh was also quite popular among certain sections of the populace in the countryside and in his party - the People's Progres-sive Party (PPP) - where, only last year at the 28th Congress, he was elected to the Central Committee with 461 votes, just behind veterans such as Reepu Daman Persaud and Ralph Ramkarran.

His gruesome assassination, together with the murders of his brother Rajpat Rai Sawh, sister Phulmattie Persaud and his security guard, Curtis Robertson during an attack at his home in La Bonne Intention, East Coast Demerara, on April 22, therefore, was as inexplicable as it was inexpiable.

Although he was no ambitious arriviste, Satyadeow Sawh's surprising entry into the cabinet at the age of 41 years in October 1996, a mere five months before President Cheddi Jagan died in March 1997, necessitated some eyebrow-raising adjustments. The Ministry of Agriculture had to be split to accommodate him, suggesting that he was, perhaps, a cadet being groomed for greater things in the government. Compared with the thirteen-year tours of others such as Karshanjee Arjun in Paramaribo and Laleshwar Singh in London, Sawh's three-and-a-half-year stint as Ambassador in Caracas was quite short by this administration's standards.

As a junior minister in the Ministry of Agriculture under Reepu Daman Persaud, though, his career seemed to stall after Cheddi Jagan's death. He was not promoted in President Janet Jagan's cabinet of 1998 or in President Bharrat Jagdeo's cabinet of 2001 when Reepu Daman Persaud was transferred from the ministry and Navindranauth Chandarpal was appointed in his stead. Even with Chandarpal's resignation in 2003 after only two years, Sawh was appointed only to act as minister. Thus, after 10 years in the Cabinet and, up the time of his death, Sawh was the only minister holding an acting appointment.

But he bore his broad, burdensome portfolio bravely. He was responsible not only for Fisheries, Other Crops, Livestock and Forestry, but was also kept busy supervising a raft of agencies, activities, programmes and projects such as the Agricultural Support Services Programme (ASSP); Poor Rural Communities Support Services Programme (PRCSSP); National Dairy Development Programme; National Drainage and Irrigation Authority; National Agricultural Research Institute; National Cane Farmers Committee; Mahaica-Mahaicony-Abary Agricultural Development Authority; Intermediate Savannahs Project; and various projects funded by the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO).

Despite his not being moved upwards, Sawh moved himself outwards, and was frequently to be found among farming, fishing and forestry communities and prospective investors, never far from the news media. Over the past three years, he became one of the administration's most televised and photographed ministers as he visited various sites throughout the regions.

But there were troubles. The recent controversy brought to light by the allegation in the US Department of State's International Narcotics Control Strategy Report for 2005 that the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) had granted a State Forest Exploratory Permit (SFEP) to a company described as a "front" for a known narco-trafficker, was only the latest of a long list of scandals that followed the reports, over the years, of substantial quantities of cocaine in fish, rice, timber and other agricultural commodities exported from Guyana. Unfazed by these and other problems plaguing production in the country, Sawh continued to encourage entrepreneurs to feel good about growing more food and commodities for export.

Irrepressibly optimistic, he was occasionally inclined to hyberbolise, such as his boast in 2000 that "very soon, milk from Region 5 will be distributed in every home, every school, throughout the 83,000 square miles of Guyana." But usually, he was more down-to-earth about the challenges facing agriculture, especially during the years when he was obliged to respond repeatedly to seasonal flooding in the Mahaica-Mahaicony area and to provide post-flood relief to hundreds of rice, cattle and cash-crop farmers in the wake of the catastrophic floods of January 2005 and 2006.

Satyadeow Sajeewan Sankar Sawh was born on June 13, 1955 in Central Mahaicony in the Mahaica-Berbice Region, the last of nine children of poor farming parents who sold produce in a stall at the Stabroek Market in Georgetown. He attended the Indian Education Trust College for four years where he wrote his GCE examination then migrated in 1975 to Canada at the age of 19. There, he gained the Certificate in Accounting and Business from the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute in 1978 and his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics and Business from York Univer-sity, Toronto, in 1982.

From the time of his arrival in Canada in 1975 up to 1992, Sawh served as a member and president of the PPP's Association of Con-cerned Guyanese (ACG). He was effectively the party's chief political representative in Canada and was also editor-in-chief of the Guyana Current newspaper, the ACG's organ in Toronto. As he complained in an interview, "My entire spare time was spent with the Association of Concerned Guyanese of which I was President for about a decade. When you think of it, regrettably, I don't have a personal friend, I don't have a sport, I don't have any kind of music... Besides a job earning a living with a family, all the spare time I had was, in one way or the other, spent on the Association."

Sawh sacrificed much, agitating for the Canadian government to suspend financial assistance to the Guyana government and protesting against Guyanese officials during the PNC administration. And it was as a political agitator, while an undergraduate in Toronto, that Sawh became a habitue of student haunts and a member of the large emigre Guyanese community which included Jerome Khan, Gail Teixeira, Paul Tennassee, Geoffrey da Silva and other political personalities.

With Sawh's death, the Arya Samaj has lost an ardent apostle; the People's Progressive Party, a sedulous supporter; and farmers, fisherfolk and timber merchants a loyal advocate. With so much goodwill and so many friends all around, who would want to kill such a man?
Source:http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=54689815

Dennis Patterson (September 21, 1929 - April 4, 2004)

2007-12-26T11:10:00.000-08:00

Obituary:-Dennis Patterson, AA, September 21, 1929 - April 4, 2006
Sunday, April 16th 2006

Dennis Alexander Milton Patterson, AA, former Chief Valuation Officer, died on April 4, aged 76.

Civil servants are often unfairly criticised for their addiction to regulations and preoccupation with procedure. But it is precisely because educated and efficient civil servants enforce laws that states become successful. Dennis Patterson, who died on April 4, was one of the vanishing class of professionals who brought efficiency and integrity to the government.

When Dennis Patterson first joined the civil service, order and legality were commonplace and the government could boast of a corps of district commissioners, magistrates, medical officers, police officers, school inspectors, superintendents, clerks and other professional civil servants most of whom were regarded with respect throughout the country. Patterson was among them.

He was instinctively professional and, conscious of the consequences of incompetence, he was correctly concerned with regularity in his line of work. The basis of that professionalism was knowledge that was certified by his education and which defined his competence.

Dennis Alexander Milton Patterson was born on Sep-tember 21, 1929 on the West Coast of Berbice, but received his primary and secondary education in George-town at St Stephen's Scots School and Central High School, respectively.

He then attended the Government Technical Insti-tute where he qualified as a sworn land surveyor. In the United Kingdom, he studied at the University of London, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Estate Management.

Without a trace of immodesty, he was proud of his professional affiliations and qualifications - Sworn Land Surveyor (SLS); Bachelor of Science (BSc); Associate Member of the Royal Insti-tution of Chartered Surveyors (ARICS); Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (FRICS); Member of the Royal Society of Health (MRSH); and, Fellow of the Rating and Valuation Association (FRVA) - titles with which he was fond of embroidering his calling cards.

He preserved his professional affiliations, serving as an executive member of the Commonwealth Association of Surveying and Land Economy and as secretary of the Guyana Association of Surveyors and of the Guyana Society - an umbrella organisation that was meant to take the place of the pre-Independence Royal Agricultural and Commercial Society and which embraced all professional associations.

He started his working life with the government as a land surveyor on the Black Bush and Boeraserie land development schemes. After earning his degree in 1963, he worked briefly as a senior estates officer with the London Borough of Hammersmith before returning to Guyana to join the Ministry of Local Government as a Valuation Officer in 1965. He rose to the position of Chief Valuation Officer in 1974, a position he held until the time of his death. His long occupancy of that position might have been partly the result of the obscurity of his field but, to a greater extent, it was the result of his trustworthiness and knowledge. Patterson was deemed an expert in the law courts and his testimony was accepted as almost incontrovertible. For his public service, he was awarded the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA) in 1985.

Dennis Patterson brought an orderly mind and a methodical manner to his every task, properties he imported into the field of sports. He flirted with cricket but, although he retained a lifelong love of the game as a supporter of the capricious West Indies team, his energy was expended more gratifyingly on table tennis.

He started out as a table tennis player, by representing his school, Central High; London University and, eventually, his country, Guyana. From the time that he joined the Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) in 1964, however, he established himself more as an administrator at both the national and international levels, than as a player. He served as GTTA general secretary almost continuously for over three decades earning a reputation for maintaining a lively programme by promptly presenting the executive with his annual schedule of activities at the beginning of the year and, during the difficulties of the depression in the 1980s, by pushing to implement it fully. He was also a member of the National Sports Development Council and the Guyana Olympic Association which he employed as platforms to promote table tennis.

The GTTA was more fortunate than several other struggling sports organisations in having one of the country's chief civil servants as its chief executive for so long; it was no coincidence that table tennis reached its acme in Guyana in the 1960s and '70s.

Partly as a result of Patterson's exceptional local and international organising skills, promising players received the coaching and competitive experience that they needed to become champions. The queens of that era - Doreen Chow Wah, Carol Davidson, Hodiah Davidson and Barbara Jekir - became not only tennis champions but were often elected sportswomen of the year on the basis of their performance. Several male players - Mike Baptiste, Gordon Braithwaite and Sydney Christophe - similarly excelled, a sure sign of a vigorous, competitive environment and a vibrant tennis association that Patterson helped to mould.

It is no wonder that he was fondly described as the 'godfather' of table tennis, not only in Georgetown but also in Berbice and Essequibo where he promoted the development of GTTA sub-associations. In his drive for the development of table tennis, he spent hours coaching and organising at all levels and, on most of the occasions when the national teams travelled abroad, he would be with them.

Patterson displayed his administrative ability not only in Guyana but also in the region where he served as secretary, vice-president, treasurer and tournament co-ordinator of the Caribbean Table Tennis Association and as a member of the Latin American Table Tennis Union and the International Table Tennis Federation.

He was a natural administrator, over the years organising or collaborating with other Caribbean countries to help them run the annual Caribbean Table Tennis Championships.

A rarity, Dennis Patterson combined all the virtues of a good civil servant - courtesy, honesty, industry and generosity - without the vices of venality and sloth.

Lloyd Aloysius Searwar (July 28, 1925 - April 2, 2006)

2007-12-26T11:05:00.000-08:00

Obituary:- Lloyd Searwar, AA, July 28, 1925 - April 2, 2006
Sunday, April 9th 2006

Lloyd Searwar

In a long life that lasted decades through the colonial, independence and republican periods of Guyana's evolution as a nation state, Lloyd Searwar progressed from a position of insignificance to one of prominence. His career in the colonial civil service started as a pen-pushing Class II Clerk and could have languished like that of any other. But he was different. Inspired by an intellectual heterodoxy which enabled him to work comfortably with an administration of any hue, even in the polarised ideological conditions of the Cold War, Lloyd Searwar flourished.

Intellectual man

It was not surprising to see Searwar as a supremely self-confident civil servant standing at the right hand of the Governor Sir Ralph Grey in one year, whispering into the ear of Premier Dr Cheddi Jagan the next, or preparing position papers for Prime Minister Forbes Burnham at an international conference a few years later. He eventually established himself as a valued counsellor to premiers, presidents and other powerful men, seeing himself as a technician whose job it was to seek solutions to problems.

Searwar worked well by himself, not unlike a cloistered monk in his private book-filled study. A Georgetowner, he allowed himself to be employed by politicians without becoming embroiled in their partisan politics. He belonged to institutions but was never bound by their dogmas nor ensnared in the rat race for high office. He achieved the rank of ambassador without running an embassy. He joined many groups but his opinions remained his own. His great strength was an avid reading habit and an early predilection for book-oriented discussion circles where he would test his theories and learn lessons from the experiences of others.

Apart from his natural love of literature and penchant for polemics, Searwar's occupation as a civil servant inculcated in him an abiding belief in the influence of institutions on human life. Indeed, he was to spend much of his life in public institutions. He appreciated the importance of the state in making human life better and understood, more than most, that success in the system came from knowledge and hard work. He shrewdly set out to acquire that knowledge in the old-fashioned way by reading, writing and discussing ideas with others. Indeed, he always calculated on knowing more about any subject than the next man. The combination of obsessive bibliophilism and a large library gave him the edge over his colleagues and competitors.

His cosmopolitan cultural character mirrored his political heterodoxy. An observant Roman Catholic, he was steeped in Western culture and fond of drama, becoming one of the founders of the Theatre Guild. He was often just the right person to deliver the feature address at the launchings of books which ranged widely from Ashton Chase's political Guyana, A Nation In Transit: Burnham's Role, to Arthur Seymour's cultural Collected Poems, 1937-1989 and Ameena Gafoor's Arts Journal.

At the same time, he was proud of his Tamil progenitors, committing himself to preserving Indian cultural heritage by participating in the efforts of the Indian Commemoration Committee to observe the anniversary of the arrival of Indians. His encyclopaedic knowledge of literature made him a valued member of the team that compiled the anthology of Indian-Guyanese prose and poetry that was published under the title, They Came in Ships.

Information man

Lloyd Searwar's civil service career took an upward turn when he was transferred to the Bureau of Public Information (BPI) - the forerunner of the Government Information Service (GIS), and now the Government Information Agency (GINA). He was granted a British Council bursary to attend Oxford University in 1951-52 to read for the Diploma in Politics and Economics. On his return, he plunged into public information, remaining at the GIS long enough to become Chief Information Officer but leaving in 1966 on transfer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (then known as the Ministry of External Affairs).

He never lost his instinct for information, initiating the practice of publishing the most important addresses and documents of Guyana's early foreign relations in organs such as Guytel and Guygram, to keep the overseas missions informed. The Guyana Journal and the texts of speeches by Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and Minister of State for External Affairs Shridath Ramphal constitute a valuable source of information for researchers on Guyana's international relations. Later, it was Searwar's draft policy paper that formed the basis for Guyana's

initiative that led to the indigenisation of regional news disseminated among Caricom states and the establishment of the Caribbean News Agency (CANA). Up to the time of his death, Searwar was still in the information business writing the weekly Wednesday editorial for the Stabroek News.

International man

Searwar's interest in international relations had been stimulated by another UK government scholarship at the University of Sussex (1970-71), where he gained his MA in International Relations. In the Foreign Ministry, holding the rank of ambassador, he travelled as a member of numerous official delegations, participating in several annual meetings of the United Nations General Assembly and other UN agencies, and of international Third World organisations such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the Group of 77 and the Caribbean Community (Caricom) Conferences of Heads of Government.

An important milestone in his career was his election as Secretary-General of the Conference of Non-Aligned Foreign Ministers which Guyana hosted in 1972. His way with words and skill at drafting with an eye for achieving consensus, ensured that the Draft Declaration, which was prepared with the assistance of officials from other non-aligned countries, was used as a basis for arriving at conference conclusions.

After retirement in 1979, he was appointed by the United Nations Department of Technical Cooperation for Development (UNTCD) as Director of the UN-APEC Secretariat which had been established jointly by the United Nations and Non-Aligned Movement to promote economic cooperation among developing countries. He then moved to the Caricom Secretariat in 1980, where he served as Foreign Affairs Adviser and, in 1987, as Diplomat-in-Residence at the First Caricom Training Seminar for Middle-level Diplomats held in Trinidad and Tobago.

Searwar thought critically about the issues of security and statecraft in the international community, having served as a member of the prestigious Commonwealth Group of Experts which published the report, The North-South Dialogue: Making It Work (1982), and of the Commonwealth Consultative Group that published Vulnerability: Small States in the Global Society (1985).

Institutional man

Searwar's grounding in international relations also led him into academia. He was appointed Visiting Fellow on a Ford Foundation Fellowship at the Institute of International Relations (IIR) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) at St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago; Co-ordinator of the Post-Graduate Diploma in International Studies of the University of Guyana (UG); and, later, Director of the Foreign Service Institute of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1998-2001). Although he turned to teaching late in life, he did so with a rich record of practice and service in international relations and, unlike some other lecturers, was able to import into the classroom the knowledge that had been accumulated and perceptions that he had gleaned for over decades in the field.

His diplomatic and governmental experience and his participation in university and academic institutes have been distilled into a long list of publications, in chapters of books and journals largely on subjects such as the security of small states and foreign policy issues in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

The Government of Guyana awarded Lloyd Aloysius Searwar the Golden Arrow of Achievement (AA) for distinguished public service in 1982. His legacy, however, had already been inscribed in the countless articles, drafts, essays, lectures and papers that he had presented and delivered in a remarkably rich and rewarding career.

His death on April 2 marked the partial eclipse of a cadre of civil servants who steered the new ship of state through the treacherous straits from being a colony to becoming a republic.

Lloyd Searwar gave his country, the Caribbean and the Commonwealth his best effort. He realised the importance of intelligence and diligence in the public service to the efficiency of the state. It is a pity that there are so few who would emulate him these days.
Source:http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=51044601

Alice Mathilda Jane Thomas, nee Miller (March 12, 1943-February 26, 2006) Businesswoman

2007-12-26T11:02:00.000-08:00

Obituary: Alice Thomas, March 12, 1943-February 26, 2006 Alice Mathilda Jane Thomas, nee Miller, businesswoman
Sunday, March 12th 2006

Alice Thomas

Suave, stylish and attractive, Alice Thomas always seemed to exude an air of gracious living; of belonging to an idyllic society of good manners; of having been bred in an age of decency and decorum. But such appearances were only one aspect of Alice Thomas's complex character; she was never a complacent elitist, lost in luxury and longing for a life of ease. Rather, she was agitated by the condition of the poor and of victims of oppression and official neglect. She became a passionate revolutionary, struggling to transform the old order and build a new world without the barriers of racist and sexist discrimination.

Alice Thomas possessed all the credentials of the colonial middle class. Her father Sydney Miller was a judge of the High Court who later became the first Judge Advocate of the Guyana Defence Force, and her uncle, Cecil Miller, a distinguished World War II veteran of the Royal Air Force, became Chief Justice of Kenya. Her mother, Kathleen, was a member of the famous Fraser family of Berbice which included high-profile political and cultural personalities such as Valerie Rodway, CCH; Hyacinth Goddett, CCH; and Aubrey Fraser, the first Vice-Chairman of the original People's Progressive Party in 1950.

Born in Georgetown in March 1943, Alice Thomas's upbringing was not uncomfortable. Her life came to reflect the subtle interplay of the conservatism which she inherited from her father, and her mother's modernism which her marriage reinforced.

She did marry early, at 23, to a young economist, Clive Thomas who, by 1963, had already become a leading light in a revolutionary discussion group, the New World Associates (NWA). Although not a political party, NWA played a major role on the political stage by proposing political solutions to the economic, ethnic and social problems of the country through its publications and actions.

Accompanying her academic husband during his lectureships at the University of the West Indies (Jamaica), the University of Dar-es-Salaam (Tanzania), and back home at the University of Guyana (UG), Alice Thomas deepened her commitment to political and social change and broadened her vision of the condition of children, women and the poor in the Third World. Not least, she forged new friendships with other families, such as that of another well-known Guyanese revolutionary, Dr Walter Rodney. The decade of the 1970s was a time of ferment, especially on the university campuses of the newly-independent states where academics and students were frequently at odds with officials and politicians. Guyana and UG were no different and Alice Thomas was there.

By the 1970s, she had plunged deep into revolutionary action when the NWA dissolved and gave rise to new groups such as the Movement Against Oppression (MAO), and eventually, the Working People's Alliance (WPA), organisations which came into conflict with the People's National Congress (PNC) administration of the day. Her political affiliations incurred disapproval within her family and among a few of her more fastidious friends. But she was no hothead; she never sought publicity by pursuing high office or posing as a ringleader. She was content with being a strong supporter of change.

Most recently, although terminally ill, she gave support to the campaign of the Women Against Violence Everywhere (WAVE) which condemned the surge in criminal violence in Guyana.

Alice Thomas was an independent working woman. She ran a speciality shop - Craft and Things - in Quamina Street, Georgetown, selling craft and women's fashion items in the 1980s. For over a dozen years, with the assistance of other fashion designers and models, she selflessly and successfully organised the annual Tea Party and Fashion Show to raise funds for the Guyana Red Cross Society (GRCS). These popular shows not only supported the GRCS's programme of helping the needy but also popularised sensible and comfortable ladies' fashions and gave exposure to the efforts of women and groups such as the Red Thread Women's Organisation.

For Alice Thomas, there was no contradiction between the apparent glamour and luxury of fashion shows and the grim penury of the lives of the women and children which she tried so hard to change. She believed in a better life, not for some but for all and devoted her energy among the richer class to the benefit of the poorer.

It was this same interplay that led her from narrow Guyanese patriotism to the broader love of humanity by being a citizen of Africa, the Americas and the Caribbean. It also led her away from the ritualism of Anglicanism to what she saw as the universalism of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'i community, which she served as Secretary. Her social consciousness was reflected in feminist and other social issues of the day, as well as fashion, which she introduced as the first editor of the women's page of the Stabroek News in 1986. That page was a mirror of her interest in women's welfare.

Alice Thomas moved to Kenya where she had inherited a farm from her uncle, Cecil Miller, taking to commercial agriculture for a while before plunging into public relations as an executive with the largest shopping mall in Nairobi. There, she also became something of a 'Queen Bee' in the hive of Nairobi society, struggling for prison reform, especially for incarcerated mothers who endured the most appalling conditions, and of their newly-born children who were obliged to spend their formative years with them.

Alice Thomas was the same in Guyana and in Kenya. A woman of her times, she was trapped in the transition from traditional to independent society but her Weltanschauung could not be clearer. She did not stand on the sidelines but committed herself to the struggle for a better world, not with rage and rancour but, in her inimitable way, with sincerity, strength and style.

Source:http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=47543008

William Rutherford Alexander Pilgrim (August 27, 1920 - April 17, 2006)

2007-12-26T10:59:00.000-08:00

Obituary :- William 'Bill' Pilgrim, CCH, August 27, 1920 - April 17, 2006
Sunday, April 30th 2006

William 'Bill' Pilgrim

William Rutherford Alexander Pilgrim, musical composer and former Director of Music, died on April 17 aged 85.

"As a schoolboy," Bill Pilgrim once said, "I never dreamed that I could be a pilot, navigator, conductor, broadcaster, musical director of a theatre orchestra, adjudicator, (so-called) authority on religious broadcasting, public relations officer, producer of stage musicals, TV director and on-screen personality - but I have done all these with varying degrees of success."

Bill Pilgrim may not have had such dreams and it is certain that he will not be remembered as a pilot or for many of the other jobs he held from time to time. What he did become was Guyana's greatest musical composer of all time. Even when compared with iconic musical figures such as James Ingram Fox or Valerie Rodway, Bill Pilgrim was in a class by himself, compiling a massive portfolio of over 100 compositions. In variety and volume, he wrote more Guyanese songs and instrumental music than anyone else.

Born in Barbados, Bill Pilgrim grew up and was educated in Georgetown, attending the Trinity Methodist School and Queen's College. He started learning music at the age of only three years as a member of a private singing group, moved on to the violin and took the Grade I examination at the age of six, and was taking piano lessons by thirteen. He was awarded the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music Scholarship to the Royal College of Music at the age of eighteen years and left for England in July 1939.

During World War II, his service in the Royal Air Force (RAF), where he was trained as a pilot and navigator, interrupted his studies at the Royal College of Music. After the war, he was able to return to music which he began teaching at Dulwich College in 1946. He became accompanist to Dulwich Village Choral Society (1949-1958) and was a member of the choir of Christ Church, Lancaster Gate, where he also conducted a performance of Handel's Messiah.

Bill Pilgrim joined the BBC in 1958 and busied himself with writing and producing incidental music for broadcast plays; arranging Guyanese folk songs for the BBC Revue Orchestra; accompanying singers and instrumentalists, including the celebrated Caribbean pianist Winifred Atwell, on broadcasts; and performing occasional piano recitals.

He moved to Jamaica as Supervisor of Music and Religious Broadcasting at the newly-established Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) radio station in 1959. There, he conducted a massed choir in a performance of Hiawatha and, in 1960, was invited to be Musical Director of the Jamaica Amateur Operatic Society (now the Jamaica Musical Theatre) in which he was responsible for musical training and direction of four Gilbert and Sullivan operettas, White Horse Inn, The Desert Song, and South Pacific. He was also appointed an adjudicator for the Jamaica Festival musical sections and served as music coordinator and assistant to the Director of Music for the combined choir which performed for Jamaica's Independence celebrations in 1962.

He returned to Guyana with enormous musical experience to work as Public Relations Officer of the Demerara Bauxite Company (DEMBA) in 1967, and the Guyana Bauxite Company (GUYBAU) after nationalization. Bill Pilgrim was selected to direct the performance of his brother Philip's Legend of Kaieteur, which was presented as part of the cultural activities to celebrate Guyana becoming a Republic. The same work was commissioned for the first Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) in 1972 and, for this occasion, he ingeniously re-arranged the instrumental section for steel-band and two pianos and a 196-member choir.

From the time of his secondment from the bauxite industry to the Government's National History and Arts Council (later, the Department of Culture) in 1973, and official transfer in 1976, Bill Pilgrim was one of the moving forces behind the Guyana National Festival of the Arts (GUYFESTA). Indefatigable and inventive, it was he who wrote A Span of Time for the opening production at the National Cultural Centre in 1976. It was he who was principally and personally responsible for presenting most of the official cultural performances, including eleven for the celebration of President Forbes Burnham's birthdays. Three of them - A Pride of Heroes (1977); The Purchase (1980); The Yard (1981) - were models of musical theatre with scripts based on Guyanese themes and music written by him.

He was totally committed to the Caribbean Festival of Arts (CARIFESTA) and to presentations at the National Cultural Centre. They provided outlets for new compositions and were also means of communicating with others and bringing people together. He was awarded the Cacique's Crown of Honour (CCH) in 1981 for his contribution to national culture.

Although his talents were cast initially in a classical mould, Pilgrim relished having responsibility for the Invaders Steel Orchestra as part of his employment at DEMBA and grasped the opportunity to explore the pans' unfamiliar but fascinating sounds. He started a love affair with steel that lasted the rest of his life. He consistently placed the Invaders among the top three in all local competitions. Even after his official connection with the band ceased when he left the industry, he continued to help the Chronicle Atlantic Symphony, Parkside and Panwave bands as well.

Working at first with his folksy brother Frank, he did much to rehabilitate the popular street dance - masquerade - which was once in danger of petering out. Among his duties at the Department of Culture was that of being coordinator of masquerade bands for the Mashramani celebrations, an experience that helped to keep him in touch with the earthy sounds of the street. More conventionally, he was invited to be musical director of the Woodside Choir, remaining in that position from 1968, with a break from 1970-73, until his death earlier this month.

National, rather than political, in outlook, Bill Pilgrim had no purpose other than pure patriotism in researching, writing and producing musicals such as The Purchase, a stirring drama which portrayed the start of the village movement. Some of his best music theatre, however, performed during the People's National Congress administration and on the occasion of Forbes Burnham's birthday, became a casualty of Guyana's obdurate ethnic polarisation, political prejudice and cultural bigotry and never quite won the hearts of a significant section of the population. Equally, his taste for embracing and enhancing the creole music of the masquerade and steel bands left local culture vultures cold.

Although the Government established the Burrowes School of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the National School of Dance, a national conservatoire to teach music, preserve manuscripts and promote musical presentations was never to be. It will be a tragedy, though, for Pilgrim's enormous corpus of compositions to disappear with his death. His musical works should be preserved so that future generations of Guyanese could better appreciate the depth and diversity of their compatriots' and their country's culture - lessons which their forebears did not care to take the trouble to learn.
Source:http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=53710573

Newton Louis Fitzherbert Profitt (June 9, 1916 - April 8, 2006)

2007-12-26T10:56:00.000-08:00

Obituary :- Newton Profitt, AA, June 9, 1916 - April 8, 2006
Sunday, April 23rd 2006

Newton Profitt

Newton Louis Fitzherbert Profitt, AA, former Executive Director of the Adult Education Association, died on April 8, aged 89.

Newton Profitt liked to tell the story of how the Adult Education Association (AEA), still struggling to survive and busily soliciting support, took the bold step to become an independent non-governmental organisation in 1960.

He recalled that John Gale, the British Council representative; Bishop Lester Guilly of the Roman Catholic Church; Vincent Mc Alman of the British Guiana Trades Union Council; Sir Frank Mc David, Colonial Treasurer; Adolph Thompson, resident tutor of the University College of the West Indies; and himself, then Chairman of the National Co-operative Union, had met at the Georgetown Public Free Library three years earlier to establish the association. Early in 1960, the group consulted the Premier, Dr Cheddi Jagan, about his request that the association should come under the administration's control. The group refused the Premier's offer. The rest is history.

Gradually, as the other founders of the AEA died or departed from the country, it fell to Newton Profitt to carry the torch and keep the adult education idea alive. Now, on the eve of celebrating its 50th anniversary, it is clear that the AEA not only preserved its independent status but also became one of the country's best known and most useful non-governmental organisations. It also lost its longest surviving executive director and founding member, Newton Profitt, who died on April 8, two months short of his 90th birthday.

Newton Profitt saw himself as an agent of change in his church, school and village. As a religionist, he adopted the posture of a champion of the laity, famously fighting Bishop Randolph George and the hierarchy of the Anglican diocese.

As an educationist, he steered the AEA away from its early moorings as a middle-class club to become a more down-to-earth school for working-class adults who simply wanted to improve their income-earning skills. As a cooperativist, also, he found that his ideas fitted in nicely with the government's plans when, in 1970, Guyana declared itself a Cooperative Republic and placed new emphasis on the socialist mode of development.

Although born in Georgetown, Profitt grew up in Plaisance Village, ECD, where his policeman father settled after retirement. A devout Anglican all his life, Profitt attended St Paul's Anglican School and worshipped next door at St Paul's Anglican Church, in Plaisance. After passing the Pupil Teachers Appointment Examination, he started teaching at the age of 15 and entered the Government Teachers Training College from which he graduated as a trained, first-class teacher, eventually reaching the rank of headmaster in 1947. Tethered to the Anglican denominational educational circuit, he was posted to Skeldon, Wismar, Windsor Forest and Georgetown before being drafted into the Department of Education (precursor of the Ministry of Education) as an Inspector of Schools (now Education Officer).

As AEA's executive director, Profitt was able to reach an agreement with Education Minister Shirley Field-Ridley in 1971 for the AEA to be brought closer to the formal education system as a partner by conducting evening classes in return for a statutory budgetary supplement and the employment of a full-time officer-in-charge of the association's day-to-day activities. But the AEA was to discover that governmental support came at a high cost.

The economic depression that set in from the mid-1970s led to decaying buildings, deficiencies of books and materials, delinquency of students, diminishing parental control, migration of teachers, and overcrowding of classrooms, all of which combined to increase functional illiteracy. Profitt himself once lamented that: "Illiteracy has become so popular that the stigma once attached to it is gone... no one is really mindful that he or she is illiterate."

The AEA was obliged to start adult literacy classes in the early 1980s as far afield as the Rupununi and the Corentyne. Sadly, corporate response to requests for financial support for adult education has always been poor and the association had to turn to the administration to increase its subvention to the AEA's annual budget.

Despite becoming increasingly bogged down in local remedial teaching, the AEA did break new ground on the Caribbean scene, thanks to Profitt's drive. It was the first organisation of its kind in the country and the anglophone Caribbean and, as a consequence, it also became a founding member of the International Council for Adult Education (ICAE). The first Caribbean Conference of Adult Educators sponsored by the United Nations was hosted by the AEA in Guyana, giving birth to the Caribbean Regional Council for Adult Education (CARCAE).

Owing to his position in the AEA, Profitt was elected to ICAE, CARCAE, the Guyana National Commission for the United Nations Educational and Social Council (UNESCO), the Council of the University of Guyana, and the Boards of the Kuru-Kuru Cooperative College and the Critchlow Labour College. He was also affiliated to the Guyana Red Cross Society, Guyana Cancer Society, Guyana Association of the Visually Impaired, and the Guyana Music Teachers Association.

As a cooperativist, a predeliction encouraged by his chairmanship of the National Cooperative Union for seven years and his attendance at courses in cooperatives at Loughborough College, England; and the Coady Institute and the Western Co-operative College, in Canada, Profitt tried to encourage small groups of rural and hinterland folk to cooperate when he worked as a community development officer. According to his own lights, he believed that poor people could be organised and trained to become more financially secure through cooperatives.

As a religionist, he was not content to be just another conscientious churchgoer, but boldly battled the bishops of the diocese and strove to reform the church's archaic administrative canons.

A musician, a talent which blended with his religiosity, he played the piano and organ regularly at St Paul's and St Philip's churches.

Apart from being awarded the national honour of Golden Arrow Achievement (AA) for his service to education in 1983, he also received awards on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Cyril Potter College of Education; as a volunteer in the United Nations Volunteer Organisation; as a member of the UNESCO National Commission; and as a member of the United Nations Association of Guyana.

Ambitious, courageous and tenacious, Newton Profitt blindly pursued his dream to make the nation better than the colony into which he was born so long ago. Although his sight was dimmed by the disease of glaucoma, his vision of a better church, community and country remained as clear as ever.

Source: http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=52566399

Dr Dennis Horace Irvine (January 15, 1926 - November 26, 2005)

2007-12-26T10:48:00.000-08:00

Obituary:-Dr Dennis Irvine, CCH, CD, 15 January 1926 - 26 November 2005
Sunday, December 4th 2005

Dennis Horace Irvine

The rise, growth and decline of the University of Guyana as an institution of academic excellence coincide almost exactly with the appointment, tenure and departure of Dr Dennis Horace Irvine as vice-chancellor. Spread over 14 of the university's 42-year history, the 'Irvine Era' is still reverently referred to as the 'Golden Age' of tertiary education in Guyana, an episode not witnessed before or since.

The University of Guyana has always been a battlefield, not so much because of the clash of philosophical ideas or high scientific theories as of personal, political and racial rivalries which degrade academic standards, damage the institution's credibility, and undermine student enrolment. The dangerous boast by an uninformed few that UG was a 'night school', which indeed it was in its early years, did much to besmear the young institution's international and local reputation.

Dennis Irvine knew all this when he was appointed vice-chancellor in July 1969. Nevertheless, he set himself the ambitious target to make UG into a model, modern university, appropriate to this country's modest needs. He almost succeeded.

He undertook five tasks: to gain recognition for UG as an institution of quality; to gain the confidence of the general public for UG as a national institution; to gain the support of the PNC Administration which had inherited UG from the PPP Administration; to dismantle the racial barriers that polarised the campus; and to foster broad-based participation in decision-making in the institution. By the mid-1970s, Irvine was sure that he was well on the way to winning on all five fronts. UG rose to its peak of performance and he received the national award of the Cacique's Crown of Honour (CCH) in recognition of his achievements. But in 1982 he gave up, resigning in frustration. What went wrong?

Dennis Irvine, a Jamaican, was the Island Scholar in 1946. He gained his BSc first-class honours degree in Chemistry from the University of Leeds (1946-50) and was also the University's Scholar and Winner of the Whytlaw Gray prize (1946). He then gained his PhD from the University of Cambridge (1950-54) and established himself at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, as lecturer (1954); professor of Chemistry (1963); dean of the Faculty of Science and member of the council (1966 to 1969).

It was with much confidence that he came from Nigeria to Guyana. His 15 years in Ibadan, Irvine thought, prepared him perfectly for Turkeyen. He had experience in living and working in an ethnically diverse and divided society; he had served at several levels of university administration on a campus with a vast enrolment by Caribbean standards; and, self-assuredly, he had clear ideas about the important role the university could play in a developing country.

At UG in 1969, classes were still conducted in Queen's College's classrooms in the evenings (hence the cognomen 'night school') and it was Irvine's responsibility to occupy the new campus at Turkeyen after it was formally inaugurated by then prime minister Forbes Burnham in February 1970 as part of the nation's republic celebrations. Dr Irvine's earliest victory was to win the prime minister's confidence and persuade him to discontinue plans to integrate UG with UWI. His advocacy brought almost unfailing governmental financial support through the years.

But Irvine's diplomacy could not diminish the political vendettas pursued by a band of radical academics and students who sought every opportunity to attack and abuse the Administra-tion which reciprocated by using every opportunity to deny its opponents a comfortable base of operations on campus. Caught betwixt the antagonists, Irvine constantly tried to broker deals. On one occasion, for example when an almost all-Indian executive was elected in the highly politicised University of Guyana Students' Society (UGSS) and African students established their own rival Students Society in response, Irvine introduced a unique formula of proportional representation to ensure equitable recognition, thereby resolving the controversy.

He also allowed student representation on the academic and faculty boards and on the Board of Governors and built consultative relations with the University of Guyana Staff Association (UGSA) thereby avoiding debilitating strikes.

Through visionary leadership, vigorous management and vigilant attentiveness to the campus community's human conditions, Irvine transformed university life in every possible way. In 1973-74, the campus was placed on a full-time basis, allowing for day students, and shedding the 'night school' image. As a result, enrolment soared from 164 in 1963 to about 2,000 by 1975. New, relevant programmes were started, for example in Dutch and Portuguese, the languages of Guyana's neighbours; many more certificate and diploma courses were introduced in fields such as public communication, social work and personnel management; graduate programmes were launched; and departments and institutes (such as the Institute of Applied Science and Technology; Institute of Development Studies; and Institute of Distance and Continuing Education) were inaugurated.

During the 'Irvine Era', UG's academic vitality and credibility were unquestioned. Its students were accepted in foreign countries; the institution attracted foreign lecturers and researchers; and, most of all, it came to be embraced by the nation. As the economy slid into depression by the late 1970s, however, the writing was on the wall, not only for the university and Irvine's dreams but for the entire country. Irvine held on for a few more years hoping for an improvement but resigned in frustration at the end of 1982. He had given Guyana his best. Dennis Irvine had spent most of his adult working life in tertiary education in Commonwealth countries and, after leaving Guyana, continued on that course.

He was appointed UNESCO's science advisor to the Caribbean; served as education consultant to the Jamaica Government; worked as coordinator of the Commonwealth of Learning's (COL) Programmes in the Caribbean, director of Caribbean Programmes and of Materials Acquisition and Development, and regional adviser to COL's president. He also served on several national and international bodies in the fields of education and science and technology and carried out consultancy assignments for UNESCO, UNDP, UNEP, IDRC, the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) and the Jamaican government. At the time of his death, he was the president of the Caribbean Association of Distance and Open Learning (CARADOL).

For his contribution to higher education, the Joint Committee on Tertiary Education for Jamaica named Dr Irvine the outstanding educator for 1997-98.

In Guyana, his memory has been preserved in the annual 'Dennis Irvine Award' given to the student who has made the greatest contribution to cultural life at the University; the 'Dennis Irvine Hall of Residence' at Goedverwagting, ECD; and, the Institute of Distance and Continuing Education's (IDCE) 'Dennis Irvine Lecture Series'.

In addition to Guyana's national award of the CCH in 1974, Dr Dennis Irvine also received the Jamaica national award of Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD) in 2002. By far the most competent vice-chancellor UG ever had, Dennis Irvine left a rich legacy in Guyana.

It is a pity though, that UG's growth should still be frustrated by the same fierce, fratricidal forces that fetter academic freedom and which he fought against when he came to Guyana 36 years ago.
Source:http://www.stabroeknews.com/index.pl/article_archive?id=37864402