gca – guyana cultural association of ny: january to march ... · january/march editor. ... and...

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Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine


FESTIVALS OF GUYANAMASHRAMANI, PHAGWAH

UNIFYING THENATION

Jan-Mar302018Vol 8Issue 3


IN THIS ISSUEPAGE 3: Three Miles School BarticaPAGE 4-8: Mashramani 2018PAGE 10-12: PhagwahPAGE 16-19:Memorial: Sir Wilson

HarrisPAGE 21-23: The Immigration

DebatePAGE 25-26: Sir Hilary BecklesPAGE 28-30: Centenarian Louisa

GrimmondPAGE 31: Embracing the ArtsPAGE 32-33: Congratulations

EditorDr. Lear Matthews

Cover DesignClaire Goring & Ashton Franklin

Copy Editors-Edgar Henry, Lear Matthews

Layout and Design by Claire A. Goring & Ashton Franklin

Contributors:Dr. Lear Matthews

Gail Nunes Janelle Tomeko Grimmond Melvin Perry DPI Guyana

Parmanand Sukhu J.P.The Guardian

The Guyana Chronicle

Photography:Amanda Richards

Ministry of EducationAva Solomon Melvin Perry

Mwanza Glen Desiree EdgehillEamonn McCabe

GCA Media TeamAve Brewster-Haynes (Chairperson), Juliet Emanuel, Edgar Henry,Lear Matthews, Claire A. Goring,

Ashton Franklin,Margaret Lawrence Gail A. Nunes,

Francis Quamina Farrier.

Please join our Facebook group, Website: www.guyfolkfest.org

GCA Secretariat -1368 E.89 Street,Brooklyn, NY 11236Tel: 800-774-5762


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Easter atHead Start NurserySchool Georgetown.

Annual Easter KiteFlying and Hat Show. Great job teacher

Marcelle Tulloch. andother Head Start teachers.

photograph by Desiree Edghill

Happy Easter to you and your family

EDITORIAL“Goobie Fall Down, Watah Run Out,But De Goobie Nah Bruck”Greetings from the Guyana Cultural Association. We apologize for the gap in providingour readers with the continuous monthly edition of the magazine. However, like thefalling Goobie, please do not discard nor despair. The intent is still whole, edifying anduseful. We are back on track, ensuring the commitment to our mission of preserving,promoting and propagating the culture of our dear land of Guyana. Amidst the undu-lating weather patterns, with the slow waning of the big chill and the anticipation ofspring with its potential radiance, we must persevere. Despite unprecedentedsocial/institutional turmoil and health challenges we steadfastly hold more than a glimmerof hope, not despair, as we soulfully sing, “It is well….”

In this issue, we bring you the scenes and reports from MASHRAMANI and PHAGWAH, two of Guyana’s most popular national and cultural celebrations.

We note with cautious optimism the increasing ethnic group collaboration (in Guyana and the Diaspora) as these and other celebrations unfold. Participation reflects the plurality of the Guyanese society and the effort to peacefully co-exist – another example of extending the

2018 motto, “We Bridgin With Solidarity and Purpose”.

Continuing our goal of showcasing aspects of the culture reflected in the arts, rich and enduring heritage,

and literary discourse, such articles include: A memorial tribute to Sir Wilson Harris, writer

and stalwart in post-colonial literature; report on the presentation of the Neil Chan Prize

for Creativity and Pageantry; Guyana Redux by Melvin Perry who communicates through amazing photography, which accompanies

his writings; a perspective on the immigration debate, focusing on the implications for the Caribbean Diaspora and a clarion call for a

thoughtful government response to the reintegration of the rising number of deportees; a report on the panel discussion featuringSir Hilary Beckles, vice chancellor of the University of the West Indies, whose theme,Reparatory Justice and Economic Development: Critical support for the social growthparadigm in the Caribbean was well received by a packed audience; Announcement of

the passing of Dr. Harold Drayton, former pioneerof the University of Guyana and biology

professor and Compton Younge, former mayor ofGeorgetown. In honoring the centenarians among

us, Louisa Grimmon, a sharp-witted matriarch is featured as she celebrates her 100thbirthday. A view of embracing and protecting the survival of our heritage in Guyanarepresents a timely and significant contribution. We hope that you will enjoy reading

this edition as we continue our efforts to engage, educate, entertain and inform through cultural connections.

Let us replenish the Goobie with fresh Creek Watah flowing from the foothills of Mt. Roraima and cradled by the mighty Kaieteur.

Dr. Lear Matthews,January/March Editor.

Photograph by Amanda Richards

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line MagazineGuyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

4 Mashramani 2018A RESOUNDING SUCCESS

Guyana Chronicle

Winners in the Mash 2018 competitionsproudly display their trophies while pos-ing with Dr. George Norton and other

functionaries at the Prize Giving Ceremony at theNational Cultural Centre on Friday evening. MOREthan 100 trophies were on Friday evening presentedto winners of competitions in various categories,when the Ministry of the Presidency – Departmentof Social Cohesion, Culture, Youth and Sport, heldits Mashramani 2018 Prize Giving Ceremony andLaunch of Mashramani 2019. The venue was theNational Cultural Centre on Homestretch Avenue.Best Designer, Trevor Alfred receives his trophyfrom Minister of Social Cohesion, Dr. GeorgeNorton Characterized by glamour, glitz and glitter,the ceremony was a spectacular event at which theaudience was regaled with the showcasing of indi-vidual masterpieces by prize winners; the likes ofDexter Copeland, Junior Soca Monarch; ChaitsinghMohanlall, Chutney Monarch; and Jovinski Thorne,Junior Calypso Monarch, along with the generationof thrilling silver sounds – a steel band performanceby the winning pan duet.Adult Soca Monarch, Brandon Harding, was at hisbest with his piece. Meanwhile, Adult CalypsoMonarch, Onika Joseph ‘brought the house down’and had the audience on its toes, as she powerfullyand convincingly belted out the lyrics of her win-ning entry, "Woman is Boss!"Adult Calypso Monarch, Onika Joseph receives hertrophy from a Banks DIH representative MinisterNorton and other members of the officiating teamshowered kudos on organizers, sponsors, musicians,participating families, revellers, members and thediaspora who had come home for Mash 2018 andfor their involvement, at whatever level, in makingMash 2018 the resounding success it was.Minister Norton extended sincere congratulationsto all present and asked that they give themselves around of applause…. "You’ve all played your part inmaking Mashramani 2018 one of the best you haveever had … and this is because of what we have inthe public. You heard it on the radios; you readabout it in the newspapers; saw it on the television.Indeed, Mashramani 2018 surpassed our expecta-tions," Dr. Norton said, with a sense of pride.The Minister said that even though being a Ministerwith responsibility for Social Cohesion and ulti-mately Mashramani was a new responsibility forhim, he has truly enjoyed it.

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Photographs by Amanda Richards, Ministry of Education,Guyana Chronicle, Harold Hopkinson

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To this end the Minister thanked all those whogave their support and worked towards makingMash 2018 the resounding success it was.

Bunty Singh receives his trophy from Director ofSport, Christopher Jones Minister Norton recalledand acknowledged all contributions made at thelevel of the central committee and other levels, aswell as those who participated in events or other-wise. The Director of Sport, in light of the over-whelming response to Mash 2018 from the massesof Guyanese and the diaspora, what resonatedeverywhere was that "Mash is Back and 2018 wasit!" Jones said also that it was the consensus that‘Mash 2018’ will linger in our hearts as "somethingto talk about."

Meanwhile, this year’s Mashramani Coordinatorwas Mr. Andrew Tyndall of the Ministry of Culture,who, according to Mr. Christopher Jones has beenwith the Department of Culture for approximately11 years, is well rooted and grounded inMashramani activities. Against this backdrop, in2018, the Hon. Minister Norton , recognizing hispotential appointed him the 2018 MashramaniCoordinator.

Tyndall, acknowledging the success Mashramani2018 was, said that it was a product of hard workand national unity. He recalled calling on allGuyanese to take up ownership of the festival andreiterated that Mashramani and our status as aRepublic are judged in terms of who we are. Headded that the only way we are going to continue tobuild on structures that we already have in place,and to improve on previous years, is by putting ournational pride at the forefront.

"Overall we saw a successful Mashramani where wetook Mash to various parts of the country and theresponse from the general public was great," saidTyndall. He added that there was an outstandingresponse from community leaders, regional admin-istrators, private contractors, all of whom workedtirelessly in all regions to ensure Mash 2018 was asuccess.

THREE MILES SECONDARY SCHOOL, BARTICADesigned by Mwanza Glen

Congratulations to the pupils and teachers of Three MilesSecondary School "Bartica "especially Miss Petula Hawker and the

Deputy Head Mistress Zenetha Simon.


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2018 Distinguished HonoreesDr. Rhonda Cambridge- NYC H+H/Kings

Rev. Jonnel Doris & Rev Aisha Doris-Full Gospel Assembly QueensVeronica Garcia- VG Day Care/Teach Net

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APC COMMUNITY SERVICES(15 International Medical Missions since 2006)Annual Gala

Sunday April 22, 20184.00 p.m.

Mrs. Sheila Chan, widow of Neil Chan A.A., formercostume designer and Mashramani Mash Day andMash Nite convenor, presented the Neil ChanFoundation trophy, along with one hundred thou-sand dollars to the winner of the King of the Bandcompetition, the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs, inhis memory. This trophy will be donated yearly aspart of the King of the Band competition. NeilChan Foundation members Harold and RoxanaHopkinson donated the $100,000.00 cash prize tothe winner on behalf of the Neil Chan Foundation.

Neil Chan, who died on January 5, 2018, , wonKing of the Band at the Mashramani Mash NiteCompetitions in the 80s and 90s, on many occasions,with portrayals of different themes over the years .Chan’s costumes dominated the Mashramani scenewith presentations that can be described as a master-ful blend of costume design and well choreo-graphed pageantry.

Speaking after the presentation, Mrs Sheila Chansaid “I was very proud that the presentation capturedthe criteria of creativity,workmanship andpageantry that we had hoped for and indeed I feelMash is back to stay. Congrats to the designer andthe whole band on an excellent performance.”

Accompanying Mrs. Chan, in picture: Neil Chan Foundation members: HaroldHopkinson, Roxana Hopkinson, TrevorAlfred, designer of the King of the Bandcostume of the Ministry of IndigenousPeoples’ Affairs, Sheila Chan, SattieSasenarine and Aloma Fredericks.

NEIL CHAN FOUNDATION PRESENTS TROPHY & $100,000.00

TO THE WINNER OF THE NEIL CHAN PRIZE FOR CREATIVITY AND PAGEANTRY,

THE KING OF THE BAND,MINISTRY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ AFFAIRS

Mrs. Sheila Chan presenting trophy andprize money to representative of theMinistry of Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs.

MASHRAMANI 2018

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11Rituals of HoliRituals of the ancient festi-val of Holi are religiouslyfollowed every year withcare and enthusiasm.

PreparationsDays before the festival peoplestart gathering wood for thelighting of the bonfire calledHolika. This ensures that at thetime of the actual celebration ahuge pile of wood is collected.

Holika Dahan CelebrationsThen on the eve of Holi,Holika Dahan takes place.Effigy of Holika, the devilminded sister of demon KingHiranyakashyap is placed inthe wood and burnt. For, Holikatried to kill Hiranyakashyap'sson Prahlad, an ardent devoteeof Lord Naarayana. The ritualsymbolises the victory of goodover evil and also the triumphof a true devotee.

THE SIGNIFICANCEOF PHAGWAHParmanand Sukhu J.P.Kaieteur NewsPhagwah is one of the mostancient, joyous and colorfulfestivals of the Hindu calen-dar. This festival was broughtdown from Indian in 1838, byIndian Indentured Immigrants.

PhagwahCELEBRATIONS

Holi is celebrated forty days fromthe planting of Holika (Castor Oiltree). The burning of Holika takesplace on the Eve of Phagwah(full moon night). A huge struc-ture (pyre) is built and kindled atthe appropriate time in a symbol-ic act. Phagwah commemoratesthe New Year for Hindus.Phagwah started at a time whenIndia was facing a seriousdrought, affecting the variouscrops. However, the rain eventu-ally came pouring down to thesatisfaction of the people (farm-ers) who came out in the fields;playing with the water in joyousjubilation as they throw it on eachother. Soon after, they start reap-ing their bountiful harvest (crop).There are special forms of musicand songs which are associatedwith Phagwah; Chowtaal singingis the dominant style, which isheard from Basant Panchmi nightuntil eight days after Phagwah.Holi was celebrated before thePrahalad’s legend. However, thestory of Prahalad added newdimensions. Prahalad’s defianceof the many impositions of hisfather, King Hiranyakasyapu istestimony and evidence of firmfaith in Truth and God. The burn-ing of Holika (Prahalad’s Aunt) isreminiscent of his victory overevil. King Kasyapu contrived vari-ous diabolical means to kill hisson Prahalad, who went againsthis will, but all his efforts were invein. King Hiranyakasyapu; has ablessing (boon) that he would notdie in the day or night, nor insideor outside of his house nor wouldhe be killed by man or beast. Sohe felt that he was God and pro-claimed that all worship must behenceforth Given to him.

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13Soon after, Lord Vishnu came inthe awful form of Narsingh (halfman and half lion) at twilight(neither day nor night). LordVishnu brought to an end thetyranny, arrogance and atrocityof the evil King (Hiranyakasyapu)in the centre of the doorway(neither inside nor outside of thehouse).Holi in all embracing has a his-toric meaning with a strongsocial content which caters forreunion, social exchanges,greetings and visits, it also pro-vides for spiritual communionand economic assessment sothat the New Year can experiencethe emergency of a world freefrom want, poverty, full of justiceand goodwill.When the winter is over andnature rejoices, it is time for us tobring out the abeer, abrack,powder, perfume, beat thedrums, sound the jhaal, sing anddancing for it is harvest time. Thespring crop is reaped and every-one is in a happy mood, bubblingwith enthusiasm and in joyousjubilation as they celebrate.The coloured water/powder sym-bolized the unique floral beautyof spring and the vanishing ofhatred feelings, jealousy andenmity, and bringing into thecommunity a feeling of together-ness. This celebration sees allcast and class as one. The reddoes not represent anyone’sblood.Let us celebrate Holi in the truespirit of friendship, joy, merrimentand love.‘Let noble thought and actionsbe your guide and the fragrance of Bassant rejuvenate your life’

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16MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

Sir Wilson HarrisWriter and leading figure in postcolonial literature whosework was inspired by Guyana, the place of his birth.

Sir Wilson Harris, who has diedaged 96, was a towering figureamong the writers of theCaribbean and Central America.Concerned with the human con-dition, in particular with themarginalised, Harris sought arevolution in form as well asapproach. The writing style hedeveloped succeeded in conveyingwhat William Blake called “four-fold vision”: grounded in the realworld, transformed by metaphor,

cultivating empathy, and havinga universal perspective.

It was while working as a surveyorin Guyana in the 1950s, discover-ing the enigmatic silences ofremnant Amerindian culturesand the haunting landscapes ofthe rainforests, that Harris pio-neered his individual andexpressive voice, first revealed inpoems published in Georgetownin the magazine Kyk-Over-Al

Wilson Harris in 2006. After publishing his first poetry, he found it ‘impossible to stay in Guyana and write’. So, in1959, he moved permanently to Britain. Photograph: Eamonn McCabe for the Guardian

and later in a privately printedcollection, Eternity to Season(1954).

On a visit to London he met hisfuture second wife, MargaretWhitaker, and he moved toEngland permanently in 1959,when they married. He hadalready experimented with thenovel form before leaving.However, it only became clearwhat power sprang from Harris’snewly forged language when hisfirst novel was published inLondon by Faber and Faber,which went on to publish all hissubsequent novels.

Palace of the Peacock (1960)describes a racially diverse crewdriven by their obsessive anddomineering leader to pursue anelusive “folk” towards the upperreaches of a rainforest river, asfar as the ultimate barrier of awaterfall. Harris makes it clearthat their journey is towards adeath that has already occurred,but which they can still revise.The protagonist, the dictatorialman of action Donne, is also thesensitive and reflective narrator,and indeed the whole crew. Whathe is in fact pursuing is aresource of human potential –muse, increasing awareness andrelationship with the naturalworld. Harris created “thought-plots”, here and in later fiction,to overcome the restrictions oftime and space.

Harris was born in the smallcommunity of New Amsterdam,in what was British Guiana and is

now Guyana. His mixed ancestryreflected the diverse interactionof cultures and races in Britain’sonly colony on the SouthAmerican mainland. His father,an insurance broker, died whenhe was two, and his stepfatherdisappeared, believed drowned,in the rainforests in 1929. Thisand other childhood memorieswere to influence the themes ofhis future fiction. Georgetown,the capital, to which the familyhad moved in 1923, was aprovincial and racially dividedplace, yet Harris found educa-tional opportunities at Queen’scollege. After leaving Queen’s in1937, he trained as a surveyor,and subsequently led expeditionscharting the great rivers of theGuyanese interior and theireffects on the flood-prone coast-lands.

After publishing his first poetry,Harris found it “impossible tostay in Guyana and write – therewere no publishers in the WestIndies”. Once he was in Britain,Palace of the Peacock was fol-lowed by three further works setin Guyana and its interior, TheFar Journey of Oudin (1961),The Whole Armour (1962) andThe Secret Ladder (1963), subse-quently published together asThe Guyana Quartet, establish-ing their author’s reputation as aleading figure in postcolonial lit-erature.

One thing that set Harris apartwas the breadth of his vision. Hewas interested in physics,anthropology, mythology, alche-

my and the pioneers of theunconscious, particularly CarlJung. He also warned against thetrap of victimhood in postcolonialfiction, which could lead theoppressed to become as preju-diced as their former oppressors.

Harris’s work, meanwhile, wasstriking out in new directions.After three transitional andexperimental novels, Heartland(1964), The Eye of the Scarecrow(1965) and The Waiting Room(1967), his writing with aGuyanese setting reached anextraordinary climax inTumatumari (1968) and Ascentto Omai (1970). A sequence ofshort stories with Amerindianthemes then led to a series ofbooks set in Britain, in whichHarris engaged with widerthemes of colonialism and post-war immigration, and beyondthem with the clash betweenmaterialist and spiritual values.

Black Marsden (1972), introduc-ing a set of powerful and shiftingcharacters, was set primarily inEdinburgh, while Da Silva DaSilva’s Cultivated Wilderness(1977), The Tree of the Sun(1978) and The Angel at the Gate(1982) were set in London, wherethe author had made his homenear Holland Park. In the middleof these, Companions of the Dayand Night (1975), inspired by avisit to Mexico, signalled greatempathy with the neglectedachievements of the pre-Columbian arts of CentralAmerica.

It was while working as a surveyor in Guyana in the 1950s, discovering the enigmatic silences of remnant Amerindian culturesand the haunting landscapes of the rainforests, that Harris pioneeredhis individual and expressive voice, first revealed in poems publishedin Georgetown in the magazine Kyk-Over-Al...


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Harris’s prose style, which hadbeen in danger of becomingmannered by the end of TheGuyana Quartet, had by nowdeveloped a breathtaking palette,as was confirmed in a tri-umphant return to the Guyaneselandscape in The CarnivalTrilogy – Carnival (1985), TheInfinite Rehearsal (1987), andThe Four Banks of the River ofSpace (1990) – and Resurrectionat Sorrow Hill (1993). At thesame time, he engaged with centralEuropean works such as TheDivine Comedy and Faust.

Faust’s bargain with dark forceswithin himself forms the impliedbackdrop of one of Harris’s

greatest works, Jonestown(1996). It did not attempt to be afactual account of the Rev JimJones’s millennial community inthe Guyanese jungle or itsappalling end in mass suicideand murder, but an investigationof the roots of evil and powerwithin human personalities andcivilisations, and the possibilitiesof redemption.

Harris was also a prolific essayist,casting unexpected and brilliantlight on aspects of his own workor that of other writers andartists, or general cultural andpolitical topics. His last works offiction, The Dark Jester (2001),The Mask of the Beggar (2003)and The Ghost of Memory(2006), bridge the gap betweenessay, novel and poem.

He and Margaret were a devotedcouple and welcomed many visitorsto their homes in London and,later, in Chelmsford, Essex.Margaret died in 2010. In Junethat year Harris was knighted forhis services to literature.

Harris’s first marriage in 1945, toCecily Carew, ended in divorce.He is survived by his children, ENigel, Alexis, Denise andMichael, from that marriage, sixgrandchildren and 13 greatgrandchildren, and by his sisterArlene.

Theodore WilsonHarris, writer, born

24 March 1921;died 8 March 2018

19"In a 1987 interview with Moira

Paterson (London, Observermagazine, 14 June 1987), Wilson

Harris emphasized theuniversality of human beings.

He is quoted as saying,“Our humanity is impoverished

when we seize on eithertradition or identity…

I am not interested in a multi-culturalcommunity but in a cross-cultural

community, in ways in whicha myth in one can find parallels in the

other. I look to create akind of community

that has a literacy of the imagination in it, that can unlock

polarisations and fanaticisms that bedevil us”. In the same interview, Moira

Paterson remarked,“He speaks as he writes, in organic

images of such astoundingforce and fecundity that the listenercan only grasp some of the evolving

ideas and hope to hang on.”

[From a statement released by his family yesterday].

RIP Wilson Harris, author, poet and sometimesurveyor of the Guyanese psyche.

[Image credit: Investiture at BuckinghamPalace, Zimbio.com]

HOMAGE TO WILSON HARRISby George Simon

George Simon, "Palace of thePeacock." Oil on canvas. This homageto Wilson Harris was exhibited at the

2017 Indigenous Heritage ArtExhibition at the National Art Gallery,

Castellani House.

To view other paintings by GeorgeSimon, please visit:

http://guyfolkfest.org/george-simon/

20 21

Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine

The ongoing media-saturatedconversation about immigrationin the U.S.A. has evoked wide-spread opinions and emotions,but the motivation and conse-quences that emerge from thisdiscourse are not new.Essentially, those who advocate arestrictionist view of immigrationtypify a throwback to a time whenthe nation was gripped by nativistand xenophobic practices. TheImmigration Act of 1924(Johnson-Reed Act) was aresponse to pervasive anti-immi-gration attitudes in the U.S.According to the U.S. Departmentof State’s Office of the Historian,“In all of its parts, the most basicpurpose of the 1924 ImmigrationAct was to preserve the ideal ofU.S. homogeneity.” Later, theImmigration Act of 1965 abol-ished the use of national-originquotas and introduced preferencecategories for family ties and

employability. Today, what haslong been a topic of nationalimportance for some has becomea simmering social issue churnedby politics, economics and beliefsrelated to ethnocentric ideals.Added to this is the constancy ofpernicious assumptions about therelationship of race, ethnicity andthe granting of citizenship orLegal Permanent Residency. Notto mention the fact that bothRepublican and Democraticpoliticians treat immigration likea political ‘football’ or ‘hot potato’.

The current rumblings over DACA(Deferred Action for ChildhoodArrivals), chain migration (a slurin this writer’s view), the Diversityor Lottery Visa program, TPS(Temporary Protected Status),Sanctuary Cities, insistence onentry based on ‘merit’, and thesymbolism of border security, areat the epicenter of the debate.

THE IMMIGRATION DEBATE:

IMPLICATIONS FORTHE CARIBBEAN DIASPORA Dr. Lear Matthews


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The Caribbean DiasporaIt is a known fact that since the1950s and throughout the end ofthe last century, the U.S. system-atically destabilizedLatin/Central American andCaribbean nations to favor largecorporations and to the detri-ment of poor people, many ofwhom belonged to indigenousgroups. Migration flows fromthis region must be understoodwith this reality in mind. Theconditions created by waves ofinterventions (military, diplo-matic, and economic) and theeffects of ‘structural adjustmentprograms’ across the regionbecame the impetus for many toseek better life opportunities incountries like the U.S., Canada,and Great Britain. More specifically, English-speak-ing Caribbean immigrants areamong the burgeoning numbersof people comprising the mostrecent wave of new global citi-zens to settle in North America.They have become a part of anexpanding “Caribbean Diaspora”.Information about their transna-tional experience, like other newcomers, has been subject to theperceptions, biases, stereotypesand misconceptions portrayed bythe media, politicians and civilsociety. One such impressionthat is framed by these forces isthe assumption that politicaldecisions regarding DACA andother immigration policies onlyapply to Mexicans and CentralAmericans. Contrary to this view,immigrants from other coun-tries, including those from theEnglish-speaking Caribbean arealso affected. For example, thou-sands of Nigerians faced depor-tation following the repeal ofDACA (Meyerson, 2017).The increase in deportation and

suppression of family reunifica-tion because of changed policyare traumatizing for immigrantfamilies, causing fear, anxiety,vulnerability and victimization.The social and emotional costscould be devastating andunprecedented. The unrelentingdeportations to the Caribbeanhas continued under the presentadministration. When immi-grants are uprooted and sentback to their country of origin,not only is family life disrupted,but children in particular, whoseparents are deported face mentalhealth and social dislocation con-sequences. As observed byCaldwell (2017), this is true forthose who remain in the U.S.separated from deported rela-tives, as well as those who leavethe country in order to preservethe family’s cohesion and inter-dependence. Notably, the follow-ing deportation numbers for theCaribbean region in 2017 arequite revealing. Jamaicans 782;Trinidad and Tobagonians 128;Guyanese 137; Haitians 5, 578(U.S. Immigration and CustomsEnforcement (ICE) Enforcementand Removal Operations Report,2017). Comparatively, in the firstthree months of 2017, ICEordered the deportation of morethan 1,200 Africans (S. Solomon,2017). Reintegration of deportees:A hidden dimension of theCaribbean immigrant experience

The reintegration of deportees inthe home country is challenging.In essence, they are exiled fromtheir adopted country, some forviolation of sundry laws ofAmerica, while others are victimsof ambivalent, albeit biasedimmigration policies. Regardless,they are all subject to the reali-

ties of forced re-migratory expe-rience. There is the need forthem to be re-socialized intoCaribbean cultural values andpractices or to be introduced to asocial environment they hardlyknow. Unfortunately, deporteesare generally labelled as adeviant group and often accusedof being responsible for theincrease in crime. But many whoare detained by ICE and subjectto deportation are non-violentoffenders or not ‘criminals’ at all(Iannelli, 2018).Diaspora Hometown Associationsand Immigration AdvocacyGroups in collaboration with gov-ernment and non-governmentalagencies could be instrumentalto the reintegration process. TheFamily Unification and ResettlementInitiative (FURI) established by aNew York-based HometownAssociation working with the govern-ment of Jamaica and other localagencies to assist deportees, hasprovided a promising model toaddress this problem. Sincemany deportees do not have closerelatives in the home country,FURI initially arranged accom-modation to assist them in theearly stages of their return.Sustained financial and otherneeded help is provided, includingthe provision of land for com-mercial farming with the use ofgreenhouse technology. The goalis to help them adjust to the newhome environment. Other coun-tries could benefit from similarprograms. The response ofCaribbean governments to thispotential crisis will determinetheir legacy in the realm ofhumanitarianism for birthrightcitizenship.

However, these issues havebecome an albatross for thosewho genuinely seek to bringabout comprehensive immigra-tion reform that would benefitboth immigrants and the hostsociety. The consequences of pro-longed negotiations, characterized bymistrust and posturing, can stymiesuch an objective. Immigrants aregenerally welcomed, but invariably,

they have been made the perennialscapegoat for the nation’s short-comings and lately, bargainingchips of politicians. In light of therecent school violence, moralindignation should lead to investmentof resources and vigilance in preven-tion of both domestic and interna-tional terrorism.Significant contributions ofimmigrantsA few under-reported facts areessential in this inherently causticdebate as we interrogate the his-tory and benefits of immigration.Immigration contributes to popu-lation growth compared to natur-al increases. In the context of anaging U.S. population and shrink-ing working-age population,migration flows are not onlyneeded, but are likely to continue

at sustained levels.Furthermore, research hasshown that immigrant flows donot harm employment prospectsof Americans (Boubtane, et al2017). Business leaders tend toview immigration favorably, interms of being a source of low-wage workers towards keepingoverall product and operationcosts low.

The Deception of ChainMigration and Visa LotteryMeanwhile, there is some confu-sion, albeit deliberate misinfor-mation about what constituteschain migration. It is suspectedthat the focus on ending chainmigration is a guise to eliminatefamily reunification (establishedunder the Immigration ReformAct of 1965), in favor of immi-grants with “skills” and “merit”determined to be beneficial tothe United States. To this end,the president of the UnitedStates created a firestorm byimplying that “merit” should bemeasured by race andethnicity/country of origin – with apreferential bias toward countrieslike Norway. In this regard,Krishnadev Calamur (2018)

found very little evidence to suggestthat because immigrants fromNorway and other Scandinaviancountries are Caucasian, theyassimilate into the U.S. easier.He notes, “Norwegian immigrantsdid so poorly in the United Statesthat about 70 percent of themreturned and stayed in Norway”.Furthermore, as VibertCambridge reminds us in hisbook, Immigration, Diversity,and Broadcasting in the U.S.(2005), the Visa LotteryProgram was introduced toincrease Caucasian immigrationto the USA – a response to the“browning of America” concernsof the early 1990’s. During thatsame period of time, California’sProposition 187 was designed todeny certain basic entitlementsto both LPRs (Legal PermanentResidents) and the undocumented.It is important to note that theterms ‘merit’ and ‘skilled’ arenot the exclusive domain ofhighly educated/trained profes-sionals, but should include non-professionals and menial immi-grant employees, whose humancapital is also valued and whohave been admitted to the U.S.from countries throughout theworld. They too are assets, notliabilities to their adopted home,contributing to the economicengine of America. Ignoring thisis a repudiation of the nation’sprinciples grounded in hardwork, opportunity, and ambi-tion. Interestingly, the USCIS(US Citizenship andImmigration Services) recentlydropped “a nation of immi-grants” from its mission state-ment.


2524 UWI Vice Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles spearheads riveting Caribbean Diaspora Panel Discussion in New York

On February 24, 2018 the SUNYEmpire State College Black MaleInitiative sponsored a panel discus-sion on Exploring the CaribbeanDiaspora featured keynote speaker,Sir Hilary Beckles, Vice Chancellorof the University of the WestIndies. Other presenters wereSUNY faculty members Drs.Nadine Wedderburn, RosalindOctober-Edun and Lear Matthews.The event was in commemora-

tion of the College’s Year of theCaribbean and Black HistoryMonth. Sir Hilary, an accom-plished historian and Chair ofthe Caribbean CommunityReparations Committee deliveredthe keynote address. A large andenthusiastic audience of SUNYstudents, faculty, alumni andmembers of the CaribbeanDiaspora community were inattendance.

From Left to Right: Sir HilaryBeckles, Dr. Nadine Wedderburn,Dr. Lear Matthews, Dr RosalindOctober-Edun


26REPARATORYJUSTICE ANDECONOMICDEVELOPMENT:CRITICAL SUPPORT FORTHE SOCIALGROWTH PARADIGM INTHE CARIBBEANIn her opening presentation, Dr.Wedderburn set the tone anddepth of the forum by giving acomprehensive overview ofCaribbean history, geography,diverse culture, ethnicity and identity. She framed her presentation witha spirited selection from culturalliterary icon Louise Bennett (Ms.Lou). Dr. October-Edun exploredadjustment issues of Caribbeanimmigrants in the areas of fami-ly, employment, the retention ofcultural elements such as music,food, traditions and social net-working institutions. Dr.Matthews focused on the emer-gence of Hometown Associationsamong Caribbean immigrants,highlighting their characteristics,challenges and role in sustain-able development.

Sir Hilary’s theme was“Reparatory Justice andEconomic Development:Critical Support for the SocialGrowth Paradigm in theCaribbean” based on hisresearch and expertise in thearea of the economic andsocial impacts of colonialism

and the African slave trade.According to Sir Hilary, repa-rations lead to democracy anddemocracy is founded on thenotion of inclusion. Hereminded participants that theunpaid Africans who wereenslaved contributed to thewealth of the British Empireand the extent to which theirlives were decimated. He fur-ther asserted that Caribbeannations were impoverishedfollowing the withdrawal ofthe British having extractedthe value of their labor fornearly 200 years. Withregards to reparation, the ViceChancellor outlined how edu-cation and health initiativescould help alleviate a numberthe remaining post-colonialcrises that Caribbean coun-tries have been unable to con-quer on their own despiteheroic efforts against unimag-inable odds. The 10-pointReparation Plan developed bythe CARICOM ReparationCommission includes a formal

apology, aid with reparation,development programs forindigenous peoples, culturalinstitutions, addressing thepublic health crisis, eradicat-ing illiteracy, transfer of tech-nology and debt cancellation.

During the Q and A period, SirHilary described the degradationand inhumane treatment ofthe Africans who wereenslaved and the continuationof institutionalized deprava-tions after emancipation.Many in the audience werevisibly emotionally affected bythe vivid reiteration of thesehistorical realities. Heexpressed optimism that thereparation movement is gain-ing momentum in theCaribbean, North Americaand the African Diaspora.Overall, the presentations ofthe four panelists were com-plementary in promoting theneed, not only to engage theDiaspora, but to actively seekto engage the youth.

27Guyana Redux Reflective Photos Melvin PerryMarch 24, 2018 - April 28, 2018

Schaffner RoomPound Ridge Library271 Westchester AvenuePound Ridge, NY 10576(914)764-5085Opening Reception: March 24, 2018 - April 28, 2018

Guyana, the tiny English speaking ex-British colony, is wedgedbetween Venezuela and Brazil. It is a land of savannah, rainforests, and sugar cane plantations.Largely ignored by McDonald-land developers, cruise ships, andtourism in general, it has no high rise condos; no beach clubs. Wildparrots still live in Georgetown, the capital. Much of the colonialarchitecture survives.In the post-independence 60's Guyana was flush with post-war affluence,enjoying the bounty that rich nations showered on it to thwart thedreaded Communist menace.I taught Math at University of Guyana from 1968 to 1970. The photosin this show are a combination of my slides taken then and morerecent digital photos when I returned after a 45 year absence. A companion photo book of Guyana Redux is available on amazonand blurb.Melvin Perry, a reformed mathematician, toiled for many years inthe bowels of the financial industry before turning to literaryendeavors. He resides in Pound Ridge, NY and is a member ofPRAS -- Pound Ridge Authors Society. His most recent book is Aesop’s Fables for the 21st Century — 21didactic tales that will resolve your moral dilemmas and start youon the road to Damascus. Earlier publications include The Impurgated Austen – the previouslyexpurgated salacious stories of Jane Austen; The ExquisiteCorpse Boogies – the first work of fiction completely written by acomputer; and two volumes of Mondo Sudoku. All are available onamazon.


LESSON OF LOVE IN THE LIFE OF A CENTENARIAN

Louisa GrimmondIt was my privilege to attend the birthday celebration for Centenarian Louisa Grimmond. Born onNovember 28, 1917, Louisa spoke with passion and sincerity about her life and the lives of her four chil-dren with a joy that radiated throughout the elegantly decorated hall. To each she attributed their indi-vidual qualities as she spoke with pride about what each child meant to her. In her response to the trib-utes, Louisa expressed her thanks to God for longevity. Her astuteness and sharp wit, likely contributorsto her long life, were ever-present. In this tribute to her, granddaughter Janelle Tomeko shares touchingsentiments in love and gratitude.

Gail Nunes

28 29Born November 28th, 1917, mybeloved grandmother, LouisaAmanda Grimmond, made it apoint to emphasize that messageduring her interview. She want-ed to make sure her message toher grandchildren was loud andclear. So clear it became thetheme for her royal blue and goldthemed Centennial Celebration.The grand occasion inspired meto create a short film about herlife. With over 250 friends andfamily gathered in her honor, myfamily and I presented the film,as told by Louisa. I wantedeveryone to hear her tell her ownstory. I also wanted to make surefuture generations would havethe chance to enjoy her spicy wit

and graceful charm. She wasabout to turn 100 years old -- ablessing, a privilege and a rareaccomplishment. Mid way through the filming andediting process I began to noticejust how vital it was for her off-spring to acknowledge theimportance of honoring eachother. “ Long ago, when our par-ents would tell us something andwe didn’t agree, we couldn’texpress ourselves [she says], youhad to go by what they said. Nowit’s essential we allow children toexpress themselves. It gives thema little space to interpret life forthemselves. But you have toknow, as old people would say,when not to give too much free-dom. ” I’ve come to understandthat, children should have atremendous amount compassion,love and respect for their par-ents, and likewise, parents

should show the same for theirchildren. “ But it starts with theparent. You have to lead byexample ” she says. When askedif there was something she wouldlike to say to her grandchildren,she replied “ Listen to your par-ents, be obedient, they may nothave all the answers, but they’retrying their best to guide youonto the correct path. ” After my grandmother got married andmoved to New Amsterdam, Guyana,her Aunt convinced her to join theMothers Union -- A worldwide Christ-ian faith based charity that was estab-lished in the United Kingdom in 1876.It’s purpose was to encourage mothersin caring for their children, not justphysically and mentally, but also spiri-tually. I grew up overhearing storiesabout the Mothers Union, but had noidea my grandmother held the positionas President for the Guyanese chapterfor two consecutive terms.

Honor Thymother and thyfather so yourdays will belong on theland.

Louisa GrimmondCelebrates 100 YearsJanelle Tomeko Grimmond

There is much more than meets the eye in the creative arts, andaccording to Dr. Natalie Hopkinson, Guyana can benefit significantly ifinvestors pump capital into the industry. Dr. Hopkinson, a HowardUniversity and University of Maryland graduate, was the guest speakerat this year’s Republic Anniversary Distinguished Lecture held today atthe Umana Yana. “It doesn’t cost anything to be creative, but you doneed some help outside,” she told the gathering. “They have beenpulling all of the riches out of Guyana forever. So, it is a matter whereyou have to gravitate and make it go to places that reflect your val-ues.” Dr. Hopkinson delved extensively into Guyana’s pluralistic cul-tural society and the richness of its diversity. “Art is about radical imagination, it is about imagining a future we can-not now see. It is not just about the poets and the painters; it is also forthe women and men on the street. We are in trying times and we reallyneed all-hands-on-deck, no voice and no vision should be left behind,”she emphasised. Cultural Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Education, Ruel Johnsonexplained that the Republic Anniversary has both a celebratory andreflective aspect. This year’s reflective aspect took the form of the publiclecture, he related. Johnson said he wanted to explore the nexusbetween the creative arts, culture and the concept of citizenship withinthe Republic. Addressing the point raised by Dr. Hopkinson, Johnson said he isinterested in using oil revenue investment directly with the expectationthat the “orange economy” is going to be a viable component of whateverfuture economic diversification that will come. Quoting the renowned Poet, AJ Seymour, Dr. Hopkinson said for theartist of Guyana, the revelation of a national identity is the most revolu-tionary possibility that exists. “The Guyana man has to recreate himselfin his own image as an indispensable basis on which to realise theimage of a national identity,” she said. The distinguished lecture was part of a series of activities organised bythe Ministry of Education leading up to the 48th Anniversary ofGuyana’s Republic.

(A DPI feature)

Embracing the Arts


30 31REPUBLIC ANNIVERSARY DISTINGUISHED LECTURE

The Guyanaman has to

recreate himselfin his own

image as anindispensable

basis on whichto realise the

image of anational identity

“I was on the Board of Trustees andwould often have to correspond withthe chapter in England. I served fiveyears and have been a member since1949 ” she says. From the very begin-ning, she understood that strong rela-tionships, and the leadership role of amother within a family, were crucialin building healthy bonds with herchildren and the community. Theirmain goal was to show their faith bytransforming and nurturing families.They did this through promoting sta-ble marriages, family life and mostimportantly the protection of chil-dren. The same ideology was applied whenshe moved to the United States in1978. She lives on a quiet residentialblock in the East Flatbush section ofBrooklyn, New York. “ I wouldbabysit and keep all the children inthe yard when their parents went towork. The children that lived on theblock would come and spend timewith me. I would chat with them,watch them play games and wouldshare the food, breads, and pastries I

made.” She brought those same com-munity values here with her to theStates. With an obvious passion forfaith and family, she lives by themantra - it takes a village to raise achild. Her Reflection.Fast forward to today, I’ve come toappreciate that my grandmother isnot just the matriarch of our family.She has been a fine specimen of whatit means to be a mother to everyonewho came out to pay homage at her100th birthday celebration. She’snurtured all of them in someway as ifthey were her own. “ I can’t expectmore from my family and friends[she says]. Sometimes I’ve askedmyself, Why me? Why do people careabout me so much? ” I don’t know ifmy grandmother knows this, butwhat she’s feeling now is the sameenergy she has put into all of us. Thelove she has shown is reflected rightback to her. When it comes to her children, I lovethat she doesn't sit back and allowdiscord amongst us. She’s not afraidto speak up when necessary. “ I havea close knit family [she says], and I

want them to stay that way when I’mno longer here. There is strength inunity. ” Because she continues to leadby example and express her lovethrough God’s Good Grace, she hasbeen blessed with the gift of longevi-ty. Through observing her, I’veacknowledged that a family will onlybe as good as The Mother. So to mydear grandmother, I say, Bravo!Cheers to a life well lived and job welldone.

If you’d like to hear Louisa sharemore about her life. Click herehttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBQTfmPpO_c-HvpcmUgKImgto see her short docu-film “ as told byLouisa.”

a mother is a gift from GodCENTENARIAN LOUISA GRIMMOND

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CONGRATULATIONSGCA CONGRATULATESFRANCIS QUAMINAFARRIER MEMBER OFOUR MEDIA TEAM ONTHE ACHIEVEMENT OFHIS 80 YEAR MILESTONEAccomplished playwright, actor andmulti-media producer, broadcasterand journalist, Francis QuaminaFarrier, celebrates his 80th Birthday.Francis is the writer of the firstGuyanese produced radio soap operaThe Tides of Susanburg, and founderof Radio’s first 80 Plus Club. He con-tinues to be active in the fields of jour-nalism and broadcasting.

UNIVERSITY OFGUYANA HAS A NEW PRO-CHANCELLOR Major General (Rtd) Joe Singh, hasbeen appointed Pro- Chancellor of theUniversity of Guyana (UG) by theUniversity’s Council.The University’s new Council willserve for a three-year period witheffect from February 22, 2018


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Former City Mayor,Compton Young, haspassed away. Youngserved as Mayor of thenation’s capital from1990 to 1994. In hismayoralty, he encour-aged citizens toimprove the aestheticsof their local communi-ties and to take respon-sibility for the physical

condition of their neighbourhoods.

He was particularly passionate about restoringGeorgetown to its pristine state, which earned it thereputation as the “Garden City”.

Even after he left City Hall, the late Young remainedunswervingly committed to the vision of a clean, greenand healthy city.

Moreover, it was underscored that Citizens ofGeorgetown have lost a strong civic crusader withYoung’s recent passing.

“Mr. Young will be long remembered as a visionary cityleader and for his good works and wisdom,” said MayorPatricia Chase-Green and other former city Councillors,who worked and served with him at the GeorgetownMunicipality.

They said despite being elected mayor with the ticket ofa political party, the late Mr. Compton Young managedthe City Council rising above partisan politics and thusbecame a true city father and change-maker, of the City.

In his last days, he lived in a senior residential carehome, but despite this, and having a leg amputated as aresult of diabetes, he did what he loved best, making flo-ral arrangements.

In an interview, he said that after 45 years, he decidedto sell his shop, World of Flowers, on Middle Street, ashe felt more than four decades of success was a lot to bethankful for, and he could not keep up with taking careof himself and managing the business simultaneously.

“My son lives in Australia and my wife in New York so Idid not have anyone living with me.”

Kaieteur News

CELEBRATION OF LIFECompton Young was key inmaintaining Georgetown asthe ‘Garden City’

Dr. Harold DraytonDr Harold Drayton, the individualwho was tasked by then PremierCheddi Jagan to establish theUniversity of Guyana (UG) in 1963,passed away in the United States. Harold Drayton was born inGeorgetown, Guyana (then BritishGuiana) in 1929 and grew up with adoting mom and stepfather. Ofthem, in his memoir published latelast year under the title An

Accidental Life, he writes “together and cooperatively [they]made it possible for me to survive, to grow and develop bothphysically and intellectually, and gave me my earliest insightsinto the world, beauteous and hideous, that mankind hasmade”.Drayton received his secondary education at Modern HighSchool where one of his classmates was Sir Shridath Ramphal,whose father was the founder and Principal of the school, andlater, at Queen’s College. In 1948 he won an open scholarshipto the University College of the West Indies, Jamaica, but wassoon expelled because of his left wing political activism. Heentered the University of Edinburgh, Scotland where he com-pleted his bachelor’s and doctoral degrees before taking up alectureship position in Ghana. In December 1962, he heededDr Jagan’s call to return home and take on the “university pro-ject”.As Technical Advisor on higher education to the GuyanaGovernment, he worked feverishly and under difficult conditionsto transform the government’s vision into reality, thereby cre-ating a national institution which, in 2013, celebrated its 50thanniversary. He was instrumental in establishing a core curriculum of compulsorycourses to provide a well-rounded education to students in allfaculties. The benefit of courses such as Social Biology, whichhe taught, and Caribbean Studies were later recognized andpromoted by older and more prestigious universities. And hisinitiatives in the Biology Department such as the training ofmedical technologists, etc, subsequently evolved into a fullFaculty of Health Sciences for the training of health care profes-sionals. After leaving UG in 1971, he joined PAHO as a consultant inHuman Resources Development, stationed in Barbados.During this time he worked extensively to improve health educa-tion in the region while still maintaining contacts and providingadvice to UG and the Ministry of Health. In 1989 he moved tothe University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas,USA, as Director, WHO Collaborating Centre for Inter-nationalHealth and Professor of Preventative Medicine where heremained for ten years. Again, he visited Guyana frequently pro-viding advice to the Faculty of Health Sciences and theMinistry of Health, occasionally securing funding for variousprojects.


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