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Oct..25 2012 Vol 2 Issue 10 Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc.on-line Magazine Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine May the occasion of Eid-Al Adha fill your home and heart with peace and happiness! Happy Eid-Al-Adha

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Page 1: Happy Eid-Al-Adha - Guyanese Online · 2012-10-10 · Happy Eid-Al-Adha. 2 Guyana Cultural Association of New York Inc. on-line Magazine ... Sheik M. Khan: Shundell Prasad Photographs

Oct..252012Vol 2Issue 10

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

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

May the occasion of Eid-Al Adha fill your home and heart with peace

and happiness!

Happy Eid-Al-Adha

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

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

Welcome to the OctoberOnline Magazine. October was originally the eighthmonth of the Roman calendar until 153BCE. The month originated from theLatin term - October mensis - eighthmonth. Although October is the tenthmonth of the year in the Julian andGregorian calendar, it was commonlylinked with the autumn season in theNorthern Hemisphere and spring in theSouthern Hemisphere. The Gregoriancalendar has undergone many alter-ations over the years. Originally therewere only 10 months, October beingthe 10th.

As this leap year swiftly moves along;with the United States Presidential elec-tions imminent with Thanksgiving andChristmas fast approaching, we are gearingup to close this year with a bang inGuyana at our Annual Symposium inDecember. Our theme “MasqueradeLives” is well and alive as we revive thisGuyanese art form and prepare to wel-come 2013. We suggest that youindulge this unprecedented opportunityto participate in an historic culturalevent, taking advantage of our inexpen-sive airfares and hotel accommodationfor the symposium by contacting ourCultural Director Claire Goring at 718-209-5207.

Please do not forget to turn back yourclocks and watches one hour, sinceDaylight Savings Time ends on Saturday,November 6th, and get that extra hoursleep Sunday morning.

I am positive that most of you wouldagree that this summer was pretty short,and further, you felt that 60 minutes nolonger equate to one hour. Where didthe time go? Obviously somethingstrange is taking place regarding therapid movement of time.

As every year leaves us, we aspire andmake resolutions to do better in thecoming year. With that being foremostin our minds, we believe that it is timelyand appropriate to thank you for allyour feedback comments. We love andwelcome them. It’s truly a joy to receiveyour reactions and it's an absolute pleasurefor us to read all of what you have to

say. It is clear that our Online Magazineattracts an astute, socially aware reader-ship. Please know that we truly appre-ciate your worthy comments. Thisallows us to grow mentally and wecould then utilize your thoughts,tweets, change and embellish our inten-tions to master our output and perfor-mances thereby measuring up to yourexpectations.

Admittedly, some of the responses areserious; some are hilarious, but interestingwhile others offer critical analyses. Ifyou have any more detailed ideas, feelfree to share them with us. They will bewelcomed. We always seek to improveour presentations.

For the past 11 years GCA has continuouslyprovided a stage through the Arts, folk-lore and literary discourse to entertain,reminisce and articulate possible solutionsto social problems and differences.Theapproach of our cultural organization isnot only entertaining, but also interac-tive and inclusive. October is truly amonth to surmise, contemplate andinvigorate as we prepare to plan andbudget for 2013.

In this issue, we present a variety of articlesincluding a tribute to Mildred Forde,congratulations to Paul Glover who onSunday September 30th was officiallyinstalled as Pastor of the FlatlandsReformed Church and who was veryinfluential in providing space for oursuccessful Summer Camp Program2012, the role of the United Nations, theMuslim holidays, the schedule ofupcoming activities relating to the GCASymposium in Guyana, and many otherevents.

Please feel free to visit our website atwww.guyfolkfest.org.Happy Reading.

Edgar HenryOctober Editor.

IN THIS ISSUEPAGE 3: Breast Cancer MonthPAGE 4-5: Mildred Joyce FordePAGE 6-7: Eid-Al-AdhaPAGE 8-9: Rev. Paul GloverPAGE 10 United Nations DayPAGE 12: Passing of Auriel HallPAGE 13: Passing of Ivan ForresterPAGE 14-15: Symposium in GuyanaPAGE 16: Beryl GilroyPAGE 18: Tribute to past Guyanese teachersPAGE 20-23: Guyanese Film-Festival of LightsPAGE 26-27: The Devil WitchPAGE 28-29: Hail the Champions

Edgar Henry - Editor

Cover Design - Claire Goring

Copy Editors- Edgar Henry & Lear Matthews

Layout and Design by Claire A. Goring & Ashton Franklin

Contributors:Juliet Emanuel, Edgar Henry,

Cosmo Hamilton , Carl HazlewoodVibert Cambridge

Lear Matthews, Muriel Glasgow,Peter Halder, Sheik M. Khan:

Shundell Prasad

PhotographsCarl HazlewoodArlington Weithers

Durga EntertainmentUN Website

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

Margaret Lawrence, Francis Quamina Farrier.

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

GCA Secretariat1368 E.89 Street, Suite 2Brooklyn, NY 11236Tel: 718 209 5207

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OCTOBER ISNATIONAL

BREAST CANCERAWARENESS

MONTH

3

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

KNOWING IT EXISTS IS NOT ENOUGHWhile most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget totake the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early

stages and encourage others to do the same. GET INFORMED. PASS IT ON.

MAKING STRIDES TOEND BREAST CANCERAN OPPORTUNITY TO FIGHT BACK

AGAINST BREAST CANCER(Every day, the American Cancer Society helps peo-ple take steps to reduce their risk of breast cancer orfind it early when it is easiest to treat. Today 1 ofevery 2 women newly diagnosed with breast cancerreaches out to them for help and support. They pro-vide free information and services when and wherewomen need it throughout their journey to get well.They are investing in groundbreaking research tofind, prevent, treat, and cure breast cancer, and areworking to ensure access to mammograms for

women who need them.

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4 AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETYCANCER WALK 2012

OSHAG/C & FRIENDS MAKING STRIDES TO END BREAST CANCER

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OSHAG/C AND CARIBBEAN MEDICAL MISSION OF NEW JERSEY PREPARING FOR MEDICALMISSION TO GUYANA FROMOCTOBER 26 TO NOVEMBER 4

The cancer walk was led by Team Leader,Barbara Chase and was successful onceagain. We were able to make our donation of

$625.00 to the American Cancer Society on behalfof the Organization for Social Health andAdvancement for Guyana & the Caribbean. In addi-tion, and we have contributed a total of $800 US tothe Guyana Medical Mission that starts on October26th and ends on November 4th. The GuyanaMedical Mission is a joint program with OSHAG/Cand Caribbean Medical Mission of New Jersey.

The Guyana Medical Mission Team is led byOSHAG/C founder Carol Bagot who will arrive inGeorgetown by October 22nd prior to the doctors.

Carol Bagot along with other OSHAG/Members vis-iting Guyana will conduct a pre-screening ofpatients in preparation for the arrival of the doctorsof the Guyana Medical Mission. There will be a totalof 13 doctors of various medical specialties alongwith qualified nurses and volunteers resident inNew York. General GYN and Ortho Surgeons willwork at the New Amsterdam Hospital on October29th & 30th . On October 31st ,the surgeons willjoin the other specialists of the team and will be sta-tioned at Georgetown Hospital for the rest of theweek. Addition schedules are planned for otherHealth Center locations along the Berbice Coast invillages of Fyrish, Belladrum, the East Coast ofDemerara at Enmore and Buxton. The itinerary forthe primary care physicians also reflects previousassociations with Health Centers, particularly atthe Kitty/Campbellville Community Health Center.

Once again we are looking forward to another suc-cessful mission in Guyana.

ORGANIZATION FORSOCIAL HEALTH ANDADVANCEMENT FOR

GUYANA & THE CARIBBEANMAKES DONATION TO AMERICAN CANCER

SOCIETY AFTER SUCCESSFUL CANCER WALK.

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: GET INFORMED. PASS IT ON

Lorna Welshman-Neblett

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Mildred Joyce Forde celebrated her 80th Birthdayon September 29 in fine style at The Remsen Hallin Brooklyn. This community stalwart had a long

run in the Fashion World. She did wear quite a lot of hats.Apart from being a Fashion Designer, innovative entrepre-neur, youth mentor and community activist she is a dedi-cated Mother of five lovely children and a grandmother.

Last year she was one of the ten mothers honored at thetenth year anniversary of the Guyana Cultural Associationof New York celebration of “Outstanding GuyaneseWomen of Courage and Distinction” at the Mother’s DayDinner Theatre.

Mildred, a proud native of Guyana, South America holds acertificate in Political Science and Business Managementfrom Critchlow College, Guyana. She also continued hereducation by pursuing a degree in Sociology at Pace Uni-versity.

Ms. Forde worked for many years in the publishing industryand for more than 15 years at a major insurance company,at the same time pursuing her career as a designer, spe-cializing in evening gowns. A few years ago she receivedthe Designer of the Year Award by both Miss Black Inter-national Beauty Pageant and Guyana International Net-work. Subsequently, she received the Guyanese-AmericanEconomic and Cultural Association Award for outstandingcontribution in promoting the culture and arts ofGuyanese people in the field of fashion. She also receivedthe Outstanding Woman of the Year Award from HunteEnterprises, Inc., the Charles Humanitarian Award formGreene Inc., and Woman of Distinction Award from theHenry Street Settlement. Other well-deserved honors forher achievements include the Leadership Award, the Har-riet Tubman Women of Distinction Award and the SOOInternational Pan African USA Pageant Award both forcommunity service. In 2002 and again in 2006 Ms. Fordereceived the Distinguished Community Service Awardfrom the Mid-Brooklyn Democratic Club and the Glen-dale East Flatbush Civic Association, Inc., respectively.

An innovative entrepreneur, she is the founder of Miss

Guyana USA Beauty Pageant, as well as the Mildred Fordeenhancement Workshop/Mildred Forde Dance Ensemble.Forde is the founder and President of the Mildred FordeYoung Models Competition, an organization that trainsyouth ages 5 to 17 in the arts and culture. Most importantly,these young people gain poise and self confidence byperforming and speaking on stage before a live audience.In addition, they are taught how to dress and conductthemselves during interviews, and how to interact withother young people from different backgrounds andinterests. The competition and programs utilizes fashionas a vehicle for inculcating among contestants the key valuesof discipline, self confidence and pride at the same timeproviding a wholesome environment for nurturing theirinnate abilities. Two years ago she received the presti-gious New York Council Members’ Award for her out-standing service in the City and the community serviceAward from Key Women of America, Inc.

Mildred was the source of many benefits for her youngstudents. A few years ago the Prospect Heights High Schoolin Brooklyn selected students from various schools. Theyouth of the Year Award went to one of Forde’s protégés,twelve-year old Kara Neptune. A student at PS 206, Karareceived excellent grades while also attending the AlvinAiley School of Dance and Brooklyn Academy of Music.She helped raised funds for the Guyana flood victims andvictims of the Grenada hurricane, and was also involvedwith the Key Women of America Cancer Walk. Kara’sambition is to become a Veterinarian.

The Young Models Competition is mainly supported byneighborhood business, community leaders and con-cerned citizens. Their support helps to defray the expensesfor the entire program, including scholarships, prizes andawards.

Mildred is a member of various non-profit organizationsand her community service and fundraising activitiesinclude coordinating and producing fashion shows fororganizations and colleges.

Congratulations are in order.

MILDRED JOYCE FORDE19 YEAR BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR

CELEBRATES 80TH BIRTHDAY

SURVIVING BREAST CANCER

FASHION DESIGNER, YOUTH MENTOR, INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEUR, AND COMMUNITY ACTIVIST

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: GET INFORMED. PASS IT ON

6

Edgar Henry

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

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719 YEAR BREASTCANCER SURVIVOR

MildredJoyceFordeDEVOTED HER LIFETO MENTORING & SUPPORTINGCARIBBEAN YOUTH

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

BREAST CANCER AWARENESS: GET INFORMED. PASS IT ON

Photograph by Peterson Grosvenor

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On October 26th, 27th and 28th this yearMuslims celebrate Eid-al-Adha. During thistime a series of other important holidays areremembered. The following is an overviewof these Holidays and the significance ofeach.

Muslims have traditionally celebrated twoholidays: Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-al-Adha. In recentyears, over-zealous Muslims have celebratedYaouman Nabi, the Birth and death (bothoccur on the same date), of the ProphetMuhammad, On Whom Be Peace. InGuyana, the latter, along with Eid-ul-Fitr arepublic holidays. These celebrations are mostvisible and widely observed in Guyana,Trinidad and Tobago and Suriname.

Eid-ul-Fitr marks the end of the month offasting known as Ramadan. The celebrationbegins with the gathering of Muslims at theplace of prayer where a prayer is done incongregation form. This is followed by thesharing of sweet edibles, other foods andnon-alcoholic beverages with friends, neigh-bors and relatives, much to the enjoymentand delight of the participants.

Eid-al-Adha (or Bakr-Eid in Urdu) is cele-brated to commemorate the Qur’anic andBiblical event of the willingness of Ibrahim(Abraham to Christians) to sacrifice hiseldest son, Ishmael as an act of obedience toHis Creator in response to a dream or visionhe had. As the cutting instrument descendedon the boy, the Creator substituted a ram as

the sacrifice. Like the Eid-ul-Fitr, theday starts with a gathering of theMuslims at the prayer place wherea prayer is offered in congregationform. However, sacrifices of cows,camels, goats or sheep are made bythose who can afford to do so.Subsequently, the meat is distrib-uted to the needy, to friends, neigh-bors and relatives. This custom ispracticed by Muslims in manycountries where the Muslim Faithis part of the national culture.

Yaouman Nabi is the celebration of thebirth of the Prophet, On Whom be Peace.There are indications that the Prophet didnot want this to be done, for fear that it willreplace the Worship of the Creator. Thisappears to be a tradition that originated inIndia. It is usually celebrated by a gatheringof Muslims at the prayer place and includesthe reciting stories of the Prophet andchanting songs, in addition to serving andeating of various foods and sweets.

It is expected that all Muslim Holiday cele-brations will be observed with a minimumof noise, devoid of music and dancing andwithout shirking one’s regular duties such asprayers five times a day, reading of theQur’an in the early mornings and bowingand prostrating to the Creator.

Today, many Muslim youths are distractedfrom these old religious patterns. Mainlybecause of migration to North America, andother parts of the globe, there is the tenden-cy for neglect and lack of involvement ofthe younger generation as it pertains to therole of these holidays in keeping with thereligion and cultural aspect. However, oncethe elders who are adherents are around,they would insist on their participation. Theyounger generation would then adapt andcelebrate accordingly.

EID-AL-ADHATHE MUSLIM HOLIDAYS8

HAPPY EID-AL-ADHA

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

Commemorates the willingness of Ibrahim (alsoknown as Abraham) to follow Allah's (God's)command to sacrifice his son Ishmael.

Sheik M. Khan:

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

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Muslim women show their hands painted with traditionalhenna in preparation for the Eid-ul-Fitr festival.

Eid-ul-Fitr is a celebration that marks theend of the holy fasting month of Ramadan.

MUSLIM HOLIDAYS

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

GCA COLLABORATIONS IN THE COMMUNITY

Promptly at four o’clock in the afternoon of SundaySeptember 30, 2012, the Service of Reception into theClassis of Brooklyn and Installation for The ReverendPaul E. Glover began. From the processional hymn, “Godof Our Fathers Whose Almighty Hand” through therecessional hymn, “Guide me O Thou Great Jehovah,”the service at The Flatlands Reformed Church, 3931Kings Highway in Brooklyn, NY was evocative of all thatis good when people of faith gather together.

Led by Reverend Daniel Ramm, Pastor of FlatbushReformed Church, Brooklyn, NY, the various elements ofthe proceedings resonated with history, emotion and sin-cerity.

In Reverend Glover’s biography appended to the programit is noted that he is a son of the Reformed Church inAmerica. Prior to accepting the call to become thetwenty-sixth Pastor of The Flatlands Reformed Church,he was Pastor of The Bethany Memorial Church for fiveyears. During his ministry there that church grewnumerically and spiritually.

According to the biography, Reverend Glover’s academicpreparations include Master of Science and Bachelor inProfessional Studies degrees from Metropolitan Collegeof New York. He also holds a Master of Divinity degreefrom New Brunswick Theological Seminary. His ministerialtraining and formation extend beyond The ReformedChurch in America and include serving in the AmericanBaptist Church, United Church of Christ, the PresbyterianChurch in United States and the African MethodistEpiscopal Church. In each of these contexts he hascome to learn and appreciate the breadth and diversitythat exists in God’s kingdom here on earth.

Further, in his biography it states that he believes thatGod through the Holy Spirit personally prepared him forpastoral ministry by enabling him to work for over twentyyears in Social services and twelve years in the field ofeducation as an instructor at a tertiary institution. Inthese diverse settings

Reverend Glover has experienced and absorbed lessons

that promoted and honed his ability to minister those-who need the Gospel although they may not recognizethat need. Also, he has learned the importance of listeningand communicating with people in a way that theywould understand.

Reverend Glover and his wife, Jillien, are committed toserving wherever the Lord plants them. Privately, theyenjoy a very good family life and the company of friends,reading a good book, traveling, listening to music andwatching television.

Through the statement on the Congregation’s Ministrypresented by Mrs. Alice Paulucci, Elder and Clerk of theChurch, the audience of clergy, family and friends at theservice learned that Reverend Glover has already provedhimself a hardworking man of vision for the extendedcommunity that he serves. He has opened heart andhand as he guides the members of The FlatlandsReformed Church, exploring new initiatives, promotingthe expansive use of the premises and building on thewonderful legacy left to him and his flock through thejudicious stewardship of nearly 400 years of ministry bythis historic religious institution. She revealed that thesearch that resulted in his Call lasted eight years.

Guyana Cultural Association of New York, Inc. congratulatesReverend Paul E. Glover on his accession to this positionas Pastor. The members of the Board of GCA are confidentthat he will remain a boon to that community. GCA isalready the beneficiary of the energy and faith ofReverend Glover and the Consistory of The FlatlandsReformed Church. Through their foresight, generosityand trust the organization conducted, to much approval,its fourth Annual Caribbean Heritage Summer Camp.Without that capitalization of space to this communityeffort, the Camp would have remained in 2012 a templateon paper. With additional collaborations, such as TheFamily Advocacy Group, already discussed, both the spiritualand the cultural organizations anticipate a fruitful andlong lasting demonstration of the work supported at TheFlatlands Reformed Church by Reverend Paul E. Glover.

REV. PAUL GLOVER INSTALLED PASTOROF FLATLANDS REFORMED CHURCHGCA BENEFICIARY OF CHURCH’S GENEROUSITY

THROUGH SPACE USE FOR THIS YEAR’S SUMMER CAMP.FUTURE COLLABORATIONS FOR START

OF FAMILY ADVOCACY GROUP Juliet Emanuel

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

11FIRST AFRICAN

AMERICAN PASTOR IN

348 YEARS TO SERVE

AT HISTORICAL

BROOKLYN CHURCH;

ONE OF THREE

OLDEST CHURCHES

IN BROOKLYN

ABOUT FLATLANDS REFORMED CHURCHA Brooklyn Historical Landmark Founded in 1654, Flatlands’ tradition and his-tory is firmly grounded in the history of Dutchimmigration and settlement and DutchReformed liturgy and theology. The FlatlandsReformed Church shares the distinction ofbeing the oldest church in Brooklyn with OldFirst Reformed Church in Park Slope and theFlatbush Reformed Church on Flatbush andChurch Avenues. The three congregations werefounded on February 9, 1654. There are onlytwo other Reformed Church congregations thatare older than those in Brooklyn – theCollegiate Church in Manhattan and the NorthDutch Church in Albany (later renamed FirstChurch).The Flatlands Dutch Reformed Church was a centerof Pioneer Life in Flatlands. Its cemetery datesback to the beginning of European civilizationin the "New World" Many of the tombstonesare written in Dutch, and not until the mid1800's does English become common on thegrave markers.

Pastor Paul E.Glover and his wifeJillien after hisinstallation as Pastor of FlatlandsReformed Church inBrooklyn, New York.

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

October 24th is the anniversary of the UnitedNations Charter established after being rati-fied by the permanent members in October

1945. That inaugural year marked the birth of theUnited Nations Day.

United Nations Day serves as an occasion to high-light, celebrate and ref lect on the work of theUnited Nations and its family of specialized agen-cies, promoting world peace, human rights andinternational cooperation. As such, it is usually a dayof Global Observance and not a National Holiday.

The current United Nations emblem was approvedon December 7, 1946. The design is "a map of theworld representing an ‘azimuthal’ equidistant projec-tion centered on the North Pole, inscribed in awreath consisting of crossed conventionalizedbranches of the olive tree, in gold on a field ofsmoke-blue with all water areas in white. The projec-tion of the map extends to 60 degrees south lati-tude, and includes five concentric circles".

Olive branches symbolize peace. The world mapdepicts the area of concern to the United Nations inachieving its main purpose - peace and security.Source: UN Map Library.

The UN recommended that United Nations Dayshould be a public holiday in member states since1971. There were also calls for United Nations Dayto be an international public holiday to bring atten-tion to the work, role and achievements of the UN.through its various programs: World HealthOrganization (WHO); the Food and AgricultureOrganization (FAO); the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO); theUnited Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF);International Labour Organization (ILO); UnitedNations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR);and United Nations Human Rights Council(UNHRC), particularly in the fields of human rights,support in areas of famine, eradication of disease,promotion of health and settlement of refugees.

Globally, on and around October 24, many activitiesare organized by all parts of the UN. For example, inNew York The Hague I (Netherlands), Geneva(Switzerland), Vienna (Austria), Nairobi (Kenya)...

These include: concerts; flying the UN flag on select-ed buildings across the globe; debates on the rele-vance of the work of the UN in modern times; andproclamations by state heads and other leaders.

I have listed some basic information that John Publicshould be aware of in a question and answer formatas follows:-

Test Your Knowledge:

1. How many countries have membership in theUN?

2. How many official languages are represented atthe UN?

3. Name the movie that was filmed at the UN.

4. What world events were the great motivators forcreating the UN?

5. What was the stretch of land on which the UNwas built called?

6. Which US President won the Nobel Peace Prizefor his efforts to bring about an internationalenvironment of peace (the League of Nations)?

7. Which US President was instrumental in creat-ing the UN and died less than two weeks beforethe opening of the UN in New York?

8. Who was the first Secretary General of the UN?

We invite you to access the UN Website to elaborateon the answer to the questions below

ANS: 1 – 193 and 51; 2 - 6; 3 – “Interpreter” in 1980;4 - World Wars I and II; The League of Nations(forerunner to the UN); 5 - Blood Alley (it was ameat market); 6 – Woodrow Wilson; 7 – Franklin D.Roosevelt; 8 – Trygve Lie.

.Source: - http://www.unepd.info

SOLUTIONS FOR A PROSPEROUS WORLD

Muriel Glasgow OCTOBER 24, 2012

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

13GUYANA’S AMBASSADOR, H.E.GEORGE TALBOT ELECTED CHAIROF THE ECONOMIC & FINANCIALCOMMITTEE OF THE SIXTY SEVENTH SESSION OF THE UNITEDNATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

George Wilfred Talbot, Permanent Representative ofGuyana, was elected Chair of the Second Committee(Economic and Financial) for the General Assembly’s sixty-seventh session on 4 September.

Mr. Talbot has served as Permanent Representative sinceJanuary 2012. Prior to his appointment, he was Chargéd’affaires a.i. at the Permanent Mission of Guyana in NewYork, where he also held the rank of Minister Counsellor,having previously been Second Secretary and FirstSecretary.

Mr. Talbot has held a variety of posts in the field of multi-lateral diplomacy, working on economic, social and politi-cal issues. He headed his country’s delegation in NewYork when Guyana was Chair of the Union of SouthAmerican Nations in 2011, and the Rio Group in 2006. Hewas also a member of the delegation when Guyanachaired the “Group of 77” developing countries andChina, in 1999. He joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairsin 1993.

The holder of a Master’s Degree in International Relationsfrom the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at TuftsUniversity, Mr. Talbot also earned a bachelor’s degree inmodern languages from the University of Guyana. Hespeaks English, Spanish, French and Portuguese.

He is married and has one son.

GUYANA AT THE UN

R.B. GREAVESSINGER OF HITS “TAKE A LETTERMARIA” AND “ALWAYS SOME-THING THERE TO REMIND ME”

PASSES ONRonald Bertram Aloysius "R.B." Greaves III (November 28,1943 - September 27,2012)[2] was a singer whohad chart success in 1969with the pop single Take aLetter Maria.A number twohit on the Billboard Hot 100chart, this single sold one mil-lion copies, and it earned goldrecord certification from theRecording Industry

Association of America. Greaves also had a Top 40 pop hitone year later with (There's) Always Something There toRemind Me.

Greaves was born in 1943 on the U.S. Army Air Forcesbase at Georgetown, Guyana. A nephew of Sam Cooke, hegrew up on a Seminole Indian reservation in the UnitedStates, but he moved to England in 1963. Greaves hadbuilt a career both in the Caribbean and in Great Britain,where he performed under the name Sonny Childe withhis group The TNTs. His debut recording Take a LetterMaria, released under the name R.B. Greaves, had beenrecorded by both Tom Jones and Stevie Wonder before theauthor recorded it himself at the insistence of the presi-dent of Atlantic Records, Ahmet Ertegün, who produced it.The song is the story of a man who had learned of hiswife's infidelity on the night before, and then he dictates aletter of separation to Maria, his Latina secretary.

This song has a distinct Latino flavor, complete with amariachi-style horn section. This disc stayed in theBillboard chart for 15 weeks in the United States, selling amillion copies. It received gold record certification fromthe R.I.A.A. on December 11, 1969. By 1970, sales of thissong totalled 2.5 million.

Greaves recorded a series of cover versions as follow-ups,including Burt Bacharach's and Hal David's (There's)Always Something There to Remind Me and ProcolHarum's A Whiter Shade of Pale. Greaves left the label inthe 1970s in favor of Bareback Records, and then signedto Sunflower Records. His only chart release for the latterlabel was "Margie, Who's Watching the Bab." Greavespassed away in Los Angeles, California on September 27,2012 at the age of 68.

IN MEMORIAM

Guyana’s permanent representative tothe UnitedNations,AmbassadorGeorge W. Talbotand UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon

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

14 GUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION EXTENDSCONDOLENCES TO PARENTS ROBERT & MONIQUE HALL AND TO GCA PAST PRESIDENT MALCOLM HALL & FAMILY ON THE PASSING OF THEIR DAUGHTER AND NIECE

Rojeana Auriel HallOn a sunny June 27th in 1993, Monique and Robertwelcomed their daughter, Rojeana Auriel Hall.

Her bright eyes were cautious of the world she entered;and they conveyed her opinions long before there was avoice to express them. Her entire family accepted Aurielwas going to make her own music to which she woulddance.

When entering Starrett Elementary in Arlington, Texas,Auriel never accepted anything simply because ‘it wasso’. Other students were in awe of her independent spirit.However, it was the warm smile and generous personali-ty drawing them as friends.

Auriel collected life-long confidants on her adventures. AtWalter C. Young middle school she was a member of theorchestra. She participated in DECA at Flanagan

High School and was a Falcon Softball player.

While majoring in business Administration at NOVASoutheastern University, Auriel became a sister of DeltaPhi Epsilon, worked as a student ambassador, and photographer for campus activities.

Auriel was raised in a Catholic household, where thebest treatment for Cystic Fibrosis was Faith. As a layreader, Religious Education assistant teacher and mem-ber of LifeTeen at St Maximillian Kolbe Catholic Church,Auriel remained dedicated to helping others feel God’swarmth.

Rojeana Auriel Hall is survived by her parents Moniqueand Robert, Siblings Ashley, Angel, Roman, Rico, andTyrone, niece Desiree, and several Aunts, Uncles, Cousinsand sorority sisters.

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

ANOTHER LITERARY ICON PASSES ON

Ivan Forrester was born on February 5, 1929 atManchester Village on the Corentyne Coast of BritishGuiana and grew up during the WWI period of scarcity ofessentials. He was the sixth child of his father, Joseph,who was a balata bleeder and mother, Pricilla Manchester.

Manchester Village also produced the legendary PhilipMoore who was born in 1920.

Forrester discovered art at ten. By age fifteen, he becameserious about his calling which was later manifestedwhen he was surrounded by the gracious glories ofnature.

Forrester was educated at Manchester Scott School andby a private tutor, Mr. Smart. He sat the Junior CambridgeExamination under the patronage of Berbice High School.

His success at this examination led to a job as meteorolog-ical field assistant (he was never a pork-knocker). Hissojourn in the interior of Guyana fed his artistic thirst ashe produced excellent paintings including ‘Light onTerrain’ (1966) and ‘Mazaruni’ (1973).

The ‘bush’ blessed him with other rewards; he was able tomeet Denis Williams, Wilson Harris and Martin Carter,entering into a long friendship with Carter. One of his fewexisting paintings is still hanging in the house once inhab-ited by Carter. The painting shows Carter fishing, a hobbyCarter loved.

“A Voice from Cuffy’s Grave” is listed in many documentsas a collection of poems but there is also one story, “dofuh do na obeah”, and short essays/ tips on how to sur-vive in the jungle of Guyana.

Forrester has written many short stories to the delight ofmany who know there is more to the man than his paintingand poetry.

Farro writes about Mazaruni:‘My roar is that of a thousand

Jungles.

As from Pakaraimas’s lofty

Heights

I plunge and clothe myself

In mist and foam.

Winding

Winding

Dancing my dance of death.

Gathering the gems

Willful gems

My Lure

Just to scatter them

Again.

His respect and fear for this awesome river

show in these lines.

Was I ever vanquished?

Did I ever turn aside?

When did man ever mock me?

Remember oh remember

When they came to wrest

my fortune.

Did I not seek their lives?

Deaths unknelled…

Graves unknown…’

Writing about Forrester’s works, A. J. Seymour said:

“Ivan Forrester is the Guyanese who has made a specialact of possession of the rivers, waterfalls and trees of thehinterland.”

In his poetry, we find a strong sense of imagery, whichcaptures the struggle between nature and Guyanese pio-neers in their mastery of the hinterland.

IVAN “Farro” FORRESTERDenis Williams writes in the introduction to Farro’s book ‘A Voice from Cuffy’s Grave’.: “Farro is the most strange and incomprehensible figure in the coastal society; a creatureand poet of inner Guyana, which alone makes him unique in a country where few havehad any direct experience of the interior.“His mature experience has been acquired as a meteorological field assistant, wholly ininner Guyana; in its forests, on its tumultuous but noble rivers and amongst these unex-pectedly visionary communities of Indians, gold miners and small farmers who mostGuyanese smugly know as ‘bushmen’.”

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

GCA SYMPOSIUM IN GUYANA - DECEMBER 13-14, 2012

THE MANY DIMENSIONS OF GCA SYMPOSIUM,

DEC.13-14, 2012IN GUYANA

“Masquerade Lives”• VENUES INCLUDE: UMANA YANA, VICTORIA & ANN’S GROVE

• DERRY ETKINS TO PREMIERE NEW MUSICAL COMPOSITION BASED ON MASQUERADE STYLE

• THEATRE GUILD PRODUCTION "Dancing Mask or Da –mask” - NEW WORK BASED ON MASQUERADE

• NEW AMSTERDAM STUDENTS - DANCE & THEATRE PRESENTATION

• FILM & VIDEO FESTIVALS AT STABROEK MARKETAND OTHER LOCATIONS

• MURAL BY BURROWES SCHOOL OF ART• WORKSHOPS IN COSTUME MAKING, DANCE, MUSIC, DRUM MAKING, MAKING OF IMAGES ATCARNEGIE SCHOOL OF HOME ECONOMICS, BURROWES SCHOOL OF ART, THE NATIONAL SCHOOL OF DANCE, THE NATIONAL SCHOOLOF MUSIC & RURAL COMMUNITY CENTERS.

• FASHION SHOW - PROMENADE GARDENS,• MAD COW MASQUERADE COMPETITION - CHARITY, ESSEQUIBO

JOIN GCAAT

SYMPOSIUM2012IN

GUYANA

16

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

The 2012 masquerade season in Guyana will bevery special—the result of Guyana CulturalAssociation’s 10th annual symposium—

“Masquerade Lives.”

GCA’s annual symposia are events that explore andcelebrate some theme or aspect of Guyanese heritage.Performances and other opportunities to illustratesalient aspects of the theme under consideration areintegral elements of these events. Who can forgetGodfrey Chin and Tangerine Clarke illustrating thevarious moves in Guyana’s social dance history atthe symposium on “Guyanese Dance” held at theBorough of Manhattan Community College in 2005or the “readings” by Peter Kempadoo, Ken Crosbie,Wordsworth McAndrew, Cyril Dabydeen, and JoanCambridge at the symposium of the Guyanese“Word” at Columbia University in 2004. The illustra-tions of the various “hands” of African drumming inGuyana by Buxton Fusion during the 2008 sympo-sium “Celebrating Mac: Folk, Identity and NationalCohesion” is another memorable moment from thesymposium tradition.

GCA’s symposia also provide space for sharing newresearch and scholarship. These multi-dimensionalevents are examples of GCA making manifest itscommitment to preserving, promoting, and propa-gating Guyana’s rich cultural heritage.

The symposium “Masquerade Lives” scheduled forDecember 13 and 14, 2012 in Georgetown, Guyanawill have many dimensions and will take place inmany venues in urban and rural Guyana. This yearGuyanese from “home,” from the “Guyaspora,” alongwith Caribbean and African researchers will usescholarly papers, conversations with elders, perfor-mances, mural art, music, film, video, fashion, andworkshops to explore the origins of masquerade, itslinkages with similar forms in the Americas, its cross-cultural experiences in Guyana, and identify initia-tives to enrich and sustain the art form in the future.

The Umana Yana in Georgetown will be the primaryvenue for the presentation of research, for conversa-

tions with the elders, and for sharing memory.Performances of works inspired by the masqueradeheritage will take place at venues in Georgetownand in the rural villages of Victoria and Ann’s Grove.Derry Etkins is expected to premiere a new musicalcomposition based on masquerade style and instru-ments. The Theatre Guild’s Christmas season willfeature a new work based on masquerade. Studentsfrom New Amsterdam will be presenting a newwork integrating dance and theatre. Film and videofestivals on masquerade traditions in the Caribbeanwill be held in various urban and rurallocations…one location under consideration is theStabroek Market Square.

A mural inspired by Guyana’s masquerade heritagewill be executed by students from Burrowes Schoolof Art through a “grant” initiated by GCA BoardMember, Errol Doris.

A number of workshops in crucial aspects of mas-querade will be held. The goal of the workshopswill be enrich and sustain the art form in the future.Workshops in costume making, dance, music, drummaking, and the making of images—Mad/Bad Cow,Mother Sally, Tall Lady, etc. will be held at theCarnegie School of Home Economics, BurrowesSchool of Art, the National School of Dance, theNational School of Music and in rural communitycenters. The workshops will draw upon the experi-ence of the “elders” and contemporary practitioners.Donna Ramsammy-James and Sonia Noel, along withother designers will coordinate the costume work-shop—focusing on traditional and experimentingwith incorporating masquerade motifs into contem-porary fashion. As a young man, the distinguishedGuyanese artist Stanley Greaves helped his fathermake masquerade costumes and has provided a setof patterns for traditional costumes. These will beused in the costume design and making workshop.A masquerade-flavored fashion show will emergefrom the workshop and will be presented in thePromenade Gardens during the symposium.

The symposium will end on December 14…butGuyana’s masquerade season will just be starting.Another major moment in the 2012 season will bethe annual Bad Cow Masquerade Competition to beheld in Charity, Essequibo on December 21, 2012.

Masquerade season 2012 will be different and GCAis proud to be participating with Guyana’s Ministryof Culture, Youth, and Sports in playing a role inkeeping Masquerade Alive.

GCA SYMPOSIUM IN GUYANA - DECEMBER 13-14, 201217

ITINERARY:GCA SYMPOSIUMIN GUYANA

Vibert Cambridge

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

18WORLD TEACHER’S DAY - OCTOBER 5

BerylBerylAgatha GilroyAgatha Gilroy

LONDON’S FIRST BLACKHEADTEACHER

GUYANESE

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Beryl Agatha Gilroy (nee Alnwich) was born on30 August, 1924 in Skeldon village, in BerbiceCounty in British Guiana. She grew up in a

large, extended family, largely under the influence ofher maternal grandmother, Sally Louisa James (1868-1967), a herbalist, manager of the family small-hold-ing, keen reader, imparter to the young Beryl of thestories of ‘Long Bubbies’, Cabresses and Long Ladyand a treasury of colloquial proverbs. Her grand-mother also took the view that the child wouldlearn more by being taken all over the county withher, and being given space for wonder and enquiry,than in the regimented system of primary schooling.As a result Beryl Gilroy did not enter full timeschooling until she was twelve. It is clear that muchof her grandmother’s influence persisted in BerylGilroy’s own philosophy of education (she educatedher own children at home) that stressed freedom fordiscovery within a framework of basic skills. Sherecalls the importance of the gift her grandfathergave her of a dictionary after suffering the humilia-tion of laughter over some childish misuse of aword. Her grandmother also taught that peopleshould avoid ‘spirit poorness’ (victimhood) and thisphilosophy permeates all Beryl Gilroy’s writing. Theexperiences of this Berbician childhood are told,above all, in Sunlight on Sweet Water (Peepal Tree,1994).

More formal education followed and Beryl Gilroy,awarded a British Guiana Teacher’s Certificate withfirst class honours, worked as a school teacher inGuyana until 1951 when at the age of 27 she wasselected to attend university in the United Kingdom.Between 1951-53 she attended the University ofLondon pursuing a Diploma in Child Development.Although a qualified teacher, racism prevented hergetting a post for some time, and she had to work asa washer-up at Lyons, a factory clerk and lady’s maid.She taught for a couple of years, married (one of theearliest inter-racial marriages in the postwar period)

and spent the next twelve years at home bringingup/educating her children, furthering her own highereducation, reviewing and reading for a publisher. In1968 she returned to teaching and eventuallybecame probably the first Black headteacher in theUK. Her experiences of those years are told in BlackTeacher (1976). Later she worked as a researcher atthe University of London and developed a pioneer-ing practice in psychotherapy, working mainly withBlack women and children.

Her own creative writing began in childhood, as ateacher for children and then in the 1960s when shebegan writing what was later published by PeepalTree as In Praise of Love and Children, sent tonumerous publishers at that time but not acceptedas ‘too psychological’. However, between 1970-75she wrote the pioneering children’s series Nipperswhich contain probably the first reflection of theBlack British presence in UK writing for children.But as a home-based person in North London suburbia,cut off from the networks of the male dominatedLondon Caribbean writing fraternity and later fromgroups such as CAM (Caribbean Artists Movement),it was not until 1986 that her first novel, the awardwinning Frangipani House was published(Heinemann). (It won a GLC Creative Writing Prizein 1982). Set in an old person’s home in Guyana, itreflects one of her professional concerns: the posi-tion of ethnic minority elders and her persistentemphasis on the drive for human freedom. BoySandwich (also Heinemann) was published in 1989,followed by Steadman and Joanna: A Love inBondage (Vantage, 1991), and a collection of poems,Echoes and Voices (Vantage, 1991). Then cameSunlight and Sweet Water (Peepal Tree, 1994),Gather the Faces, In Praise of Love and Childrenand Inkle and Yarico (all Peepal Tree, 1994). Herlast novel, The Green Grass Tango (Peepal Tree) waspublished in 2001, sadly after Beryl Gilroy’s death inApril of that year.

WORLD TEACHER’S DAY - OCTOBER 5, 2012

BERYL A. GILROYHER PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION

STRESSED FREEDOM FOR DISCOVERYWITHIN A FRAMEWORK OF BASIC SKILLS

18

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

As another school year commences and we celebrateWorld Teachers Day on October 5th, memories ofour own school days emerge. Drawing from this

years’ UN slogan: “Take a stand for Teachers”, our readerswere asked to reminisce about former teachers in thehome country. Some Guyanese responses are presentedbelow while others will be published in a subsequent edi-tion of our Online Magazine.

MS. DORIS WILLIAMS - Dolphin Government SchoolCW: Ms. Doris Williams, who taught me at DolphinGovernment School, delivered her lessons with profoundpassion, an attribute which was passed on to her students.She influenced my life in that if I am “bright”, she is theperson most responsible for that brilliance and because ofher I have carried myself in a professional mannerthroughout my life. I still remember and think about herfrom time to time. In High School, it was Mr. Knights.Although he may have had some disability affecting hisspeech and hearing, he was a terrific teacher. He madesure that we learned in class with vigor and vitality. Mr.Knights influenced me because I loved Literature, especial-ly Shakespeare, and History. When I quizzed my femaleclassmates we can always remember the opening verse ofMacbeth which he taught us some 40+ years ago. Thiseccentric, but brilliant educator still has an impact on mylife when I read in church or at work when presenting anarticle.

MR. CLIFTON “Browsy” ADOLPHUS DAVID - Tutorial HighSchoolLM: Mr. Clifton Adolphus David (“Browsy”) taught at myalma mater, Tutorial High School for over 25 years. Anotable stalwart of traditional education, Mr. David wasknown to many as committed to the intellectual developmentof his students, dedicated to the ideals of Tutorial, and a dis-ciplinarian. He exemplified the consummate educator, agood communicator, ebullient and at times unconventionalin manner, but a harbinger of principled values. To many,he represented one of the pillars of academic foundationsthat made his students who they are today. This remark-able teacher pursued his profession with passion andvibrancy that set him apart from other educators of histime. He was part of an able literacy team led by theCastello Brothers, founders of Tutorial High School. Lastingmemories of Mr. David for this writer include a unique andalmost amusing tone of voice when communicating withstudents; the “benching” of a significant number of stu-dents; and meeting him again after two decades at the 8thTriennial THSAA Reunion in Guyana, which was indeed acherished moment for former students, many of whom had

not seen him since leaving school. Finally, allow me, withthe utmost respect and nostalgic yearning to honor thename “Browsy”, a title that is indelibly etched in the memo-ry of a proud cadre of former Tutorialites.

MR. RUDDER - Smith Church Congregational SchoolWR: “Mr. Rudder”, one of the most well-known and respect-ed teachers of the ‘50s – ‘60s era, taught me at SmithChurch Congregational School. He was a strict disciplinar-ian, who must have administered thousands of “wild cane”lashes to students during his career. Among my most vividmemories of Mr. Rudder were: He would articulate thewords when giving “Dictation” tests by rolling his tongue inpronouncing “Rs”; doubling as teacher and Athletic Couch,his stern method of directing and encouraging athletes,though effective,was often terrifying to some of students; Irealized years after leaving school, that many of us neverknew the first name of our teachers, or if we did, we darednot repeat it in the presence of adults, as a sign or respect.It was always “Sir” or “Miss”.

MR. PATRICK FREDRICKS - Queens CollegeGM: Mr. Patrick Fredricks at Queens College. He had theability to terrify me and simultaneously make me want torun to his class with excitement to see what I would learnfrom him that day. If you did not like language and litera-ture before you were taught by Mr. Fredricks, you lovedand appreciated those subjects after one term with him.We had an assignment to write a short story, and I wrote astory in which in which I was a writer who had just beentold that I had won the Pulitzer Prize. After reading maystory, Mr. Fredricks said to me, “Ms. M, if you continue writ-ing like this you will one day win the Pulitzer Prize”. I wasover the moon. This praise from a teacher who expectedexcellence was a dose of confidence that has never wornoff, and I would always recall his remarks. His head wasalways held high, shoulders straight, back straight. Hisphysical bearing commanded respect and it mirroredexactly what he expected of his students- high standardsof work and behavior.

The foundation given by these educators and others oftheir ilk, helped to establish the life course of manyGuyanese at home and abroad. Many have become suc-cessful in various occupational endeavors. Others havecontinued their formal education and training, not allow-ing age to be a deterrent, while doing their utmost toensure the success of their children. Below is a comparativelook at the educational attainment (specifically CollegeGraduates) of Guyanese immigrants in New York City:

Total Population % CollegeGraduate

Total 8,391,066 34.0

Native-born 5, 406, 179 40.2

Foreign-born 2,984,887 26.7

Jamaica 171,014 19.2

Guyana 130, 184 16.1

Trinidad and Tobago 92,637 18.3

Haiti 90,365 19.6

US Census Bureau.

WORLD TEACHER’S DAY - OCTOBER 5BACK TO SCHOOL

A TRIBUTE TO OURPAST GUYANESETEACHERS Lear Matthews

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

21FOLK FESTIVAL 2012: “MASQUERADE LIVES”

GCA MAKING WAVES ON THE RADIO

LIVESUNDAY AT

4.00 P.M.

Weekly RADIO Program

One Caribbean Radio Power105.1 HD2

Bookmark ourwebsite

Streaming live at www.onecaribbeanradio.com

Hugh Hamilton Claud Leandro Margaret Lawrence

Ron Bobb-SempleMondale Smith Joslyn Small

GUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK, INC.

www.guyfolkfest.org

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

OPENING IN THEATRES IN NEW YORK NOVEMBER 2

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS A GRIPPING AND EMOTIONAL FILM ABOUT A YOUNG

WOMAN WHO MUST SACRIFICE EVERYTHING IN ORDER TOGIVE HER DAUGHTER A BETTER LIFE IN THE UNITED STATES

22 GUYANESE DIRECTOR SHUNDELL PRASAD ON THE MAKING OF

Festival of Lights is nothing short of amiracle, and sharing it with the worldthis November marks a victory foreveryone involved in its making.

Directing a movie that encompasses myhomeland’s story was a profound expe-rience for me, however I truly believe itsthemes are universal.

I began my career at HBODocumentaries in New York, where Ihad the chance to meet and work withthe leading documentary filmmakers inthe world. They were all passionateabout their work and the lives theirfilms were changing, which helpedinform the type of movies I would even-tually make.

My first film– Once More Removed: ajourney back to India tells the story ofmy forefathers - Indian indentured ser-vants brought to Guyana to work thesugar plantations. Two years later,while living in Mumbai, I visitedPakistan to make Unholy Matrimony.Now after three years in the making inNew York and Guyana, Festival of Lightsis ready for its debut.

continued on page 22

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

When a family is ripped apart by immigration laws, a young Guyanese mother must fight to survive in anew country, while her rebellious teenage daughter aches to return to her homeland. Based on trueevents, FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS is an absorbing and ambitious film that pits an intimate family portraitagainst a global landscape, breathing fresh life into the immigration drama.

FESTIVALOF LIGHTS

23FROM GUYANESE DIRECTOR, SHUNDELL PRASAD

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

24

After the British relinquished control of Guyana in 1966 abloody struggle for power subsequently ensued, placingthe country under a dictatorial regime for nearly 30 years.The tiny, fledging nation all but collapsed during this timeand saw a massive exodus of its population. LargeGuyanese communities sprang up in cities across theword: New York, Toronto, London and others. The immi-gration process was complex and often times destructive,creating deep, irreparable rifts within families. I was fourwhen my parents left Guyana, leaving me in the care ofrelatives. I didn’t rejoin them in the US until age 6. As anadolescent, and perhaps until now, I still struggle withseparation anxiety and an overall lack of being grounded.Immigration and resettlement often leads to a loss inone’s culture and thus a loss of identity. I’ve seen thisexemplified hundreds of times among the Indo-Guyanesepopulations I’ve visited around the world.

I felt compelled to tell the story of the Indo-Guyaneseexperience in America and thus began the cinematic jour-ney of creating Festival of Lights. This time I departedfrom the documentary tradition, which afforded me theopportunity to create and mold a plot with characters.

I’m often asked if Reshma’s story is autobiographical. Myresponse is Reshma’s story is not my story, but in myopinion, it’s the story of many Guyanese people who havefled their homeland to carve out their place in a foreignsociety. Reshma’s light, unwavering against the brutalityinflicted upon her, is a special homage to those who havefought and struggled for a better life. It’s a gritty battle,but there is hope. As a 75-year-old Guyanese man oncewrote to me, “we Indo- Guyanese in America are a dis-placed lot but we are not completely destroyed.”

The casting process was challenging because I wantedauthentic Guyanese actors and unfortunately there aren’tmany of them. I was ecstatic when I learned about theincredibly talented, Indo-Canadian actress, MelindaShankar, whose parents are both Guyanese. After watchingan episode of Degrassi High, I knew she was my Reshma!Casting Meena, Reshma’s mother, was an undertaking. Wemeet Meena as a wide-eyed girl in Guyana, married toVishnu (played by Jimi Mistry) and witness her transfor-mation into a reserved businesswoman in New York, nowremarried to Adem (Aidan Quinn). The right actress had tohave diversity and skill. She also had to convince theworld she was Guyanese. It was an exhaustive process – itfelt like I auditioned every actress of Indian origin in NewYork and even considered bringing in an actress fromIndia to play the role, until Ritu Singh Pande walked intomy office near Madison Square Garden.

FROM GUYANESE DIRECTOR, SHUNDELL PRASAD

THE MAKING OF FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS

Shundell Prasad

GUYANESE MOVIE OPENING IN THEATRES THIS NOVEMBER

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In her audition, she nailed the role of the older Meena. Sheintrigued me, especially when I learned her family descendedfrom Bihar, India. Interestingly, the Indo- Guyanese peoplealso trace their roots to the same region of India. But thequestion remained - can she transform herself into a young,simple, village girl? Ritu brought an innocence and grace toyoung Meena that even I couldn’t imagine.

It was important, but challenging, to shoot on-location inGuyana. We shot on super 16mm film and since there wasn’ta film rental house in Guyana, we had to ship several tons ofequipment from the US to Guyana. At the time of writing,there isn’t even a film commission. Nevertheless, Guyana wasa beautiful canvas for the story of Vishnu, Meena and littleReshma. The entire opening sequence of the film is filledwith lush, sweeping imagery of Guyana, shot lovingly by cine-matographer, Valentina Caniglia. Guyana’s geographic diversi-ty allowed us to create beautiful, memorable images.

One of my favorite parts of the film is the score. It encom-passes a nation and a people in transition and heightens theemotional arc of a young woman searching for her place inthe world. Composer Ronen Landa created a musical experi-ence using the charango, cello, woodwinds from India andSouth America, acoustic and electric guitars, and a stringorchestra.

The small army that created this film is now a group of peo-ple I consider family. With each film I’ve grown as a person.Festival of Lights has been an enormous, life-altering journey,and a movie I couldn’t be more proud to call my own. ThisDiwali, I invite you to see Festival of Lights with your friends,family and community. Please help ensure that these nicheAmerican stories, and others like it, continue to get told.

OPENING NOVEMBER 2AMC Loews Village 766 3rd Ave., New York, NY 10003(212) 982-2116

ATLANTAOpens November 2nd, 2012Landmark Midtown ArtLOS ANGELESOpens November 9th, 2012Laemmle NohoDETROITSingle night engagment Date TBDLandmark Main Art Theater

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GUYANA ART INTERNATIONAL

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

Mazunte-Starry_Night Photograph by Arlington Weithers

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GUYANA ART INTERNATIONAL

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As a child living in Agricola, on the East Coast of formerBritish Guiana, there was a picture that hung for years onArlington Weithers’ bedroom wall. It was a printed repro-duction showing a young black man with a towel wrappedturban-like around his head. Weithers never knew wherehis family got that picture, and never asked. It was just oneof many familiar objects that seemed always there amongeverything else in his house—still, he would constantlystudy that image over the years.

One day, the boy was spanked in class for lying when heinsisted to his teacher that he had not copied or traced adrawing. Later, with his mother present, he did anotherdrawing on the spot for the teacher who apologized fordoubting him. Impressed by her young son’s artistic talenthis mother remarked, “... boy, this art thing must run inthe family.” It was then the young Weithers learned that thefamiliar image of the man with the wrapped head wasactually done by his cousin, the well-known polymath andartist who, at the time, was painting and writing novels inEurope and Africa. The original of “Self-portrait With ATowel”, was in the collection of the British Guiana NationalArt Gallery in the local museum.

With his academic performance secure (he had beenskipped ahead several classes at school) Weithers wasallowed to study for a few years in Georgetown with famedart instructor, E.R. Burrowes’ ‘Working People’s Art Class’ atQueens College. But his most influential mentor was thebrilliant, Barbados-born, painter, Vivian Antrobus who livedin McDoom Village, just a few minutes away from Agricola.Antrobus encouraged him to further his study abroad. Thusin 1969 Arlington Weithers found himself in the USA study-ing drawing and illustration for a year at the venerable ArtStudents League of New York. Later he earned a fine artdegree with honors in painting and photography fromBrooklyn College of the City University of New York.

Although he has done innovative work using pioneeringtechnological means and large-scale digital imaging as wellas photography, Weithers’ focus has remained on his prac-tice as a painter. He is totally committed to the act of cre-ative image making using his own human resources to pro-duce a vigorous and engaging abstract art. Weithers appre-ciates the element of aesthetic surprise—which is an aftereffect of his intense relationship with the canvas or theequivocal color spaces provided by the computer. Hiswork in painting recognizes the history of art after JacksonPollock, but is nothing like 'action painting', or some debili-

tated re-thread ofclassic internationalabstraction aftermid-century; rather,it is about howcolor can take cuesfrom the vital lifeand various statesof nature withoutreferring at all tospecific shapes and forms found there. It is a messy formal-ism that emerges out of the plastic materials of paintingitself. If one finds the work somehow evocative, or findsoneself having a personal relationship to these obduratelyabstract objects, it is only because they come into exis-tence at the hands of a painter who is passionately interest-ed in the world around him.

While his mural-sized abstract paintings are aggressiveconcerning their identity as art, what is their status asproducts of someone who originates from that culturallocale, that Caribbean space? The answer to that is multi-faceted, and should be addressed elsewhere, but the shortprovisional answer lay perhaps in the way his largeworks, in a different manner to another Guyana-bornabstractionist like Frank Bowling, manages to locate theviewer in the powerful presence of geological forces. Theflux and flow of paint material within his open or articu-lated color fields seem to find parallels in the sensual tem-perature and efflorescence of nature with its eruptionsand upheavals. Weithers never needs to mirror the look ofany specific landscape — certainly not the familiarcoconut tree exoticisms or any hackneyed touristicdevices; those are the stock in trade of the unimaginative.Weithers has been artist-in-residence with the city ofDallas, Texas, and was awarded a yearlong private residen-cy in Mazunte, Mexico. His art has been seen throughoutEurope, including London, Finland, and Russia. In the US,he has exhibited at the New York State Museum and theBrooklyn Museum of Art, among others. Private and pub-lic institutions including the Ogden Museum of SouthernArt, New Orleans, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, TheDelaware Art Museum, and the Anchorage Museum ofHistory and Art, Anchorage, Alaska, own paintings. AnArlington Weithers’ work is now in the Guyana NationalCollection—joining his cousin Denis Williams’s longloved self-portrait.

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

ARLINGTON WEITHERS-ARTIST‘THIS ART THING MUST RUN IN THE FAMILY’

Carl Hazlewood

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

28 It was October 31. The time was6.30 p.m. It was beginning to getdark. Eight-year-old Carol was sit-ting at the window of her parent’scottage and looked towards thewoods on the other side of theroad. She saw a bright round light,the size of a large raisin bun mov-ing from side to side. The lightstopped near the edge.Carol thought little of the circle oflight. She was accustomed to seeingpeople walking in the woods carry-ing a flashlight that was on. It wasso dark in the woods after 6.00that a flashlight was needed to findone’s way out. The child suddenlysat up in her chair. She peeredintently at the light. There was noperson. There was no flashlight.The light was on its own. The moreshe stared at it, the more she real-ized that it was glowing larger andlarger. It grew to the height of agigantic balloon.It stopped growing and out of itstepped a woman. She wore a long,white flowing, high- neck dressthat reached past her anklestouching the ground. The ruffledlong sleeves reached her wrist. Shewore a large, white, wide-brimmedhat and her face was hidden by thehat and covered by a white veil.The woman began to dance roundand round. She stopped and lookeddirectly at Carol. Using her rightindex finger, she beckoned Carol tojoin her, while holding a multi-col-ored ice cream cone in her lefthand.Carol ran into the bedroom andlooked for her mother. She was notthere. “Mom, mom, where are you?”shouted Carol. There was noanswer. The child called out again,“Mom, mom there is a lady whowants me to join her to play andshe is offering me a huge ice creamcone.” There was no reply. Hermother was in the bathroom.Taking silence for granted, Carolran out of the house and to theedge of the woods.

The woman in the white dress hugged her andoffered her the ice cream cone. The child smiledand took it. She began to lick it feverishly. Moreinterested in the cone than anything else, Carolallowed herself to be led into the woods, deeperand deeper. The cream and cone were completelyeaten when Carol realized where she was. “I amtired,” she said, “I want to sit down.” “Well, sit downand rest next to the tree. I will keep and eye onyou.”Carol sat next to a giant oak tree and for the veryfirst time looked at her companion. She still couldnot see her face because of the wide-brimmed hat

and the veil. “Do you have to wear that silly oldhat and that stupid cloth over your face?”“Notreally.”

The stranger first removed her hat. Her hairwas long and iron grey in color. It fell to belowher shoulders. She threw her hat to theground. She next took off her veil.

Carol screamed in terror and nearly fainted.

The woman’s face was ugly, like that of a hagand it was scarred. Her nose was long andpointed and her lips were thin and sneering.The top of the woman’s ears were pointed.And her black eyes glowed like two pieces ofburning coal.

Carol continued to scream. The woman liftedher dress and exposed her feet. One instepwas turned the other way, the toes werebehind her back. The other foot had no toesbut a cloven hoof. The Devil Witch whoappeared only on Halloween night opened hermouth and gave a shrieking sound.

“Ha, ha, ha, my pretty little one. Don’t youremember the story of the spider and the fly -will you

THEDEVILWITCH

Peter Halder

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

BEWARE AT HALLOWEEN

29step into my parlor said the spider to the fly. Well Iam the spider and you are my fly and like the spi-der, I am going to eat you.” “No, no, no, you can’t,you can’t. My father will kill you. I’m sure he’salready searching for me.”

“I am not worried. But I am hungry. I am the DevilWitch of the Woods and tonight is my night for cel-ebrating and feasting on human flesh. I love to eatchildren and your flesh looks soft and tasty. ShouldI eat you raw or should I roast you over a slowfire!”

Carol stopped screaming. She realized that no onewill hear her, deep in the woods as she was. Shebegan to think of finding a way out. The DevilWitch changed into a tiger and ran at her. “I think Iam going to eat you raw,” said the tiger.

Carol rose and ran behind the tree. The tigerstopped. It turned into a snake and crawled behindthe tree. The child saw it, bent and picked up sever-al stones and pelted the snake. One hit the creatureon its head. It crawled back to the other side of theoak tree.

The child ran from the tree towards a wide, deepstream which she knew reached the roadwayopposite her home. She had swum in it manytimes, but with her Dad. A thought came to her. Itbrought a smile. The snake changed back into theold hag. The Devil Witch ran after Carol shouting,“Come here, come here my tasty dinner. Come tome and let me taste your delicious flesh.” “Comeand get me if you want me.”

Carol reached the edge of the stream, the DevilWitch, right on her heels, reached out to grabher.The evil creature suddenly realized too late aflowing stream was danger. Carol didn’t. The childhad read, and she just loved to read, that a fast flow-ing water was a no no for evil beings.

The Devil Witch stopped, but Carol grabbed her bil-lowing dress and tugged with all the might shecould muster. The Witch and the young girl fell intothe stream. Helpless in the stream, since one footwas turned the other way, the other was a clovenhoof and she could not change in flowing water,the Devil Witch begged the little girl to help her.

“I was only joking. It was just a game. Didn’t I giveyou a tasty ice cream cone? Come now; give a handto the old and aged. All little girls must be kind and

helpful.”

“I am little but I am not stupid. As you said I am afly and you are a spider. Well this fly doesn’t likespiders. So drown spider drown.”

The long, white flowing dress of the womanbecame the death of her. It soaked and soaked andabsorbed so much water that it weighed the Witchdown to the bottom of the stream, never to be seenagain.

Not knowing her way back through the woods,Carol swam in the winding stream. Slowly but surelyand tiring, she managed to reach the main road. Shewalked out of the stream to the road. She saw amyriad of flashlights and ran to them, shouting“Mom, mom, dad, dad, it’s Carol.”Her parents saw her, grabbed her and hugged herwith relief and lots of love. They took her home,and after a bath, they ate dinner and Carol toldthem of the appearance of a Devil Witch of TheWoods and how she nearly became dinner for the evil creature.“That should be a lesson to you. Never go near or in the woods or out of your home on Halloween Night without a parent or an adult. Witches, goblins, ghouls, devil women, griffins, banshees, ogres and other evil creatures are out and about, prowling around and looking for little children. And a message to one and all, beware of the Devil Witch on Halloween,” warned her Dad.

THE DEVILWITCH Peter Halder

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

West Indies Wins ICC T20 World Cup 2012 This is certainly not your father’s West Indies team. These areyour diamond studs blinging, dreadlock styling, Mohawksporting, Mercedes driving, affluent six-hitting machine, whoon their day could destroy any cricket team particularly

in the game’s newest 20/20 format.

Hail the

CHAMPIONS

CARIBBEAN CRICKET

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

What a year 2012 has been for sports in the Caribbean.Firstly in track and field highlighted by the LondonOlympics it was sprinter supreme world 100 and 200meters champion Jamaican Usain Bolt illuminating theplanet with his electrifying performances. Then it wascrowning glory for world 400 meters hero GrenadianKirani James in the summer to remember. This wascapped by Trinidad and Tobago’s golden boy KeshornWalcott who shocked the world if not himself, by hurlingthe javelin an astounding 84.58 meters to stand like areluctant colossus astride the world.

Now it is hail to the spanking new ICC T20 WorldChampion West Indies team which shocked the cricketuniverse by demolishing Australia by 74 runs in the semi-final, and out-maneuvering hosts Sri Lanka in the final towin by 37 runs to capture the coveted championship onSunday October 7th.

It was a victory heard around the world, but was particu-larly resounding among the 5 million people in theCaribbean from the majestic Blue Mountains in Jamaica,all along the shimmering archipelago, down to Guyana,the jewel on the crown of South America, that seemed tocome together in one big warm embrace. And if only for amoment in time on a sultry Sunday night in Sri Lanka onthe other side of the world, West Indies captain DarrenSammy, with team mates Marlon Samuels, Chris Gayle,Sunil Narine and company took the fans in the Caribbeanand in the Diaspora for a ride on their wings soaring to aplace near nirvana.

This is certainly not your father’s West Indies team. This isnot Sobers, Kanhai, Clive Lloyd or Viv Richards. These areyour diamond studs blinging, dreadlock styling, Mohawksporting, Mercedes driving, affluent six-hitting machine,who on their day could destroy any cricket team particu-larly in the game’s newest 20/20 format. For the record,on their way to this World T20 championship, the WestIndies slammed 49 sixes in 7 matches. Australia tallied 31

sixes in 6 matches, and England 28 sixes in 5 games.

Who are the other members of the firm? JohnsonCharles, Andre Russell, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo,Dinesh Ramdin, Samuel Badree, Kieron Pollard, RaviRampaul, Dwayne Smith and Fidel Edwards, all heldtogether by tough task master, Coach Ottis Gibson.Perhaps not since Clive Lloyd’s legendary West Indiesteam won the inaugural cricket World Cup at Lords in1975, has the region experienced such euphoria.

After the victory the Windies team comprising 7 fromTrinidad and Tobago, 3 from Jamaica, 2 from St. Lucia and2 from Barbados, flaunting their culture, pranced allaround the Premadasa Stadium field under the lights, car-nival style but with a distinct ‘gangnam’ twist. Meanwhilethis unforgettable spectacle and indeed the entire ICCT20 Championship match between West Indies and SriLanka was carried for the first time in history onAmerican television – ESPN amongst its typical Sundaypanoply of American sports.

One could not help but think that this unbridled joy man-ifested by the team reflected redemption. Redemption fora much maligned team that has enjoyed winning only fewand far between for the last 20 years or so; redemptionfor Captain Darren Sammy, who some critics have saiddoes not warrant a place on the team; redemption forMarlon Samuels – the hero and the player of the matchawardee for his brilliant knock of 78 in the historic finals,and who was banned from the game for 2 years in 2008for actions that could bring the game into disrepute; andredemption for Chris Gayle who had been at loggerheadswith the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) after the 2011World Cup and was isolated from the team for over ayear.

This seminal victory feels like a breath of fresh air. Thestars are aligned and it could signal a new era for WestIndies cricket.

HAIL TO WORLD T20 CRICKET CHAMPIONS -WEST INDIES Cosmo Hamilton

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GUYANA UNITED YOUTHASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK7th Annual PresentationDinner & DanceSATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 20129.00 P.M. - 2.00 A.M.Fleur De Lis Caterers870 Cypress Avenue,Ridgewood, NYTickets $90.00Music by DJ Lady SupremeContact informationBeryl James - 917 754- 8313Leslie Stewart - 516 -662 -6109Carlyle Harry - 718- 272- 4508

SOMETHING POSITIVEDANCE COMPANYMasquerade Party & ExoticCocktails for HalloweenTUESDAY, OCTOBER 30, 2012 - 6.30 P.M. 146 Hull Street, Brooklyn, NY(off Thomas Boyland Ave on Fulton St.)Contribution: $25.00

THE ORGANIZATIONFOR SOCIAL HEALTH &ADVANCEMENT INGUYANA & THECARIBBEAN - OSHAG/CHeld their Friday Night Fall Flair

SHOW YOUR FLAIR FOR CAREProceeds to benefit AnnualMedical Mission which providescare for Guyana’s underserved.

CONTRIBUTIONS STILLACCEPTEDCONTACT

Lorna 646 522-8005

Carol 678 327-3077

Cleveland 646 872-6074

Jean 404 593-3316

Barbara 718-288-2060

Harold 917-496-8247

Maria 917-385-6409

Romona 646-246-7362

ST. GABRIEL’S EPISCOPALCHURCHThe Very Rev Eddie Alleyne &Mrs. Kay Alleynecordially invite you to the

Annual Rector’s BallFriday, November 16, 2012Cocktails: 8:30 pm - 9:30 pm

St. Gabriel’s Golden Hall331 Hawthorne Street,Brooklyn, New York(Bet:Nostrand & New York Aves)

Donation: $90.00

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE COMMUNITY

COME OUT AND SUPPORT THESE EVENTS

TO HAVE YOUR EVENT PROMOTED IN FUTURE GCANEWSLETTERS:Contact Claire Goring - [email protected] Edgar Henry -- [email protected]

COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

A Guyanese-born lawyerdefending a man in NewYork accused of burglarytried this creative defense:-

"My client merely insertedhis arm into the windowand removed a few triflingarticles. His arm is not him-self, and I fail to see howyou can punish the wholeindividual for an offensecommitted by his limb."

"Well put," the judgereplied. "Using your logic, Isentence the defendant'sarm to 5 year's imprison-ment. He can accompany itor not, as he chooses."

The defendant smiled.

With his lawyer's assistancehe slowly detached his arti-ficial limb, laid it on thebench, and walked out thecourtroom.

CHUCKLESCORNER

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

GET YOUR COPY AND ONE FOR A FRIEND

GUYANAFOLKMAGAZINE$6.50S&H INCLUDED

CHECK OUR WEBSITE:www.guyfolkfest.org

MAIL YOUR CHECK/MOGUYANA CULTURAL ASSOCIATIONNY1368 E.89 STREET,SUITE 2BROOKLYN, NY 11236(Give 10 days for delivery)

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GCA Folk FestivalKwe Kwe 2012

ALSO AVAILABLE:2012

KWE KWE DVD - $25.00 S&H INCLUDED(Give 10 days for delivery)