About the Author Philippa Perry was born and raised in the pre-independence days of British Guiana — the only English speaking country in South America. She recounts her early days as the second daughter in a family of six children in a struggling middle class family. Her stories come from a lost civilization of pre-independence stability just as the anarchic blessing of democracy came to the Caribbean. She recounts her Sisyphean trials growing up a Carrington in Lot 10, First Street, Georgetown — from the women’s battles to the neighbours that never wore clothes to the relatives who walked with their shoes in their hands. Her escapes came by winning scholarships — first to Bishops, the prestigious girls’ school where new trials and adventures awaited her, and later to Connecticut College. Philippa received her PhD in Psychometrics and became a Bunting Fellow at Radcliffe Institute, Harvard University. She lectured in Mathematics at University of Guyana and subsequently, at Queens College (NY) for too many years. Philippa has returned often to Guyana, but, these days, primarily for funerals. She currently resides in Pound Ridge, NY where she spends her time chasing deer from her garden.
Related Posts
In the spirit of New York Restaurant Week and Black Business Month, we take immense pride in celebrating the achievements of Guyanese female restaurant owners. Today, GGR shines the spotlight on the owner of the Hills Restaurant, Doris Rodney, an inspirational woman born in Guyana, whose passion for food and unyielding determination led her on a remarkable journey to success. Doris Rodney’s story is a testament to resilience and unwavering ambition. Growing up without the…
Delene Musielak is a dual Board Certified doctor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. She is the Associate Program Director of Internal Medicine Residency Program at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. Delene is also a busy mother of triplets and a life, health, wellness and parenting coach. Yet she finds time to produce “The Doctor Mom Show” in St. Louis, which serves as a medical resource for patients and parents. Add to that her…
New York-based lawyer Denise M. Grant was born in Guyana and is a Partner in the Project Development & Finance Group, Shearman & Sterling,LLP. She is the daughter of Guyana’s former ambassador to the United States, the late Hon. Cedric Grant and the second oldest of four girls (three of whom are lawyers). Denise was raised in England before migrating to the United States in 1982 where she graduated with an International Relations degree from…
Margaux Rusita (Margaux Wong) is a fashion and textile designer originally from Guyana, South America. She was first introduced to textile design while in Secondary school but was introduced to the sewing machine as a young child. For the past ten years, Margaux has worked as a freelance designer. She was in 2007, employed as the Personal Assistant to the late Catherine Walker, who for many years designed countless special pieces for the late Princess…
Future Olympian, Andrea Fosters, recently added another award to her outstanding resume when she was named “Woman of the Year” by the New Jersey Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women! The middle distance runner is the first Guyanese student to receive this distinguished honor. This annual recognition is awarded during the month of February in honor of the 32nd anniversary of National Girls & Women in Sports Day; a national observance celebrating the extraordinary achievements of women and girls…
In 1958, Martha Ruby Holland (nee Nicholson) founded the first Ruby Holland School of Music in British Guiana, South America. She was an avid believer in music education and the art. She believed that everyone possessed creative talent and spent her life providing artistic opportunities for students regardless of their age, social standing or financial means. Martha’s approach to teaching music (the piano) was unique and quite enriching. She offered her students a rich array…
When Ingrid Berkeley-Brown began her career in law enforcement 30 years ago, she wanted to be the best that she could could be and leave above the rank of constable. Today the Guyana-native has risen far above that rank On January 29, she made history when she was promoted to Superintendent in Peel County, Ontario, making her the highest-ranking Black female police officer in Canada. Berkeley-Brown was one of only two Black female recruits in a class of about 300 at the Ontario…
Celebrity choreographer and actress Shakira Marshall combined her passion for African and Caribbean dance into a class. Marshall, who is of Guyanese ancestry, now shares her love of dances from the diaspora as an instructor at the Center for African and Diaspora Dance in Brooklyn. NY-based video reporter, Melissa Noel, (also a Guyanese Girl) recently caught up with Marshall at her studio and witness her in action. Check out the video. Shakira grew up in…
Enna Morgan (aka: j.a. morgan) is an avid traveller with a passion for art, dance, language, and cultural thought. Beginning at an early age, she has travelled extensively throughout the Caribbean and South America, then later in North America, Europe and Asia. While residing in various countries, she spent many years researching cultural thought and language, concurrent with maintaining her finger on the pulse of dance, design, literature, and photography. Years after migrating to the USA…
Coined as “the board woman’s bible”, 7 Traits of Highly Successful Women on Boards – views from the top and how to get there is an essential read for women on boards, and those aspiring to get there, not only in the private, but also public, charity and Sme sectors. It delves into the hearts and thoughts of 22 highly successful women on corporate boards in the Uk, sharing gems of advice, tips, traits and…
Linisa George is a creative outburst of energy. Born in Guyana, Linisa migrated with her family to Antigua, the island where she calls home, at the tender age of 4. She wrote in secret from the age of 6; her poems were her escape from a world that she didn’t think she fit into. It wasn’t until 2003 while living in Toronto where she discovered the writings of the amazing Maya Angelou, that she realised…
Congratulations Yvette Irving and daughter, Darcy George, grand prize winners of the “My Guyanese Mom Rock Contest! Runner up contestants Odetta Abiola Young and Angela McPherson will also each receive a GGR T-shirt. .
Congratulations to 18-year-old, Vena Mookram, who captured the crown last night and walked away with the title of Miss World Guyana 2017. The 5’6″ tall beauty was born on September 12, 1998 in the Capitol City of Georgetown and is a first-time beauty pageant contestant. She will represent Guyana on the Miss World stage this coming December in China. A fitness enthusiast, Vena’s Beauty with a Purpose platform focuses on physical fitness and nutrition and she has collaborated with Guyana’s Ministry of Public Health to…
Guyana’s Female Amateur Baseball Team recently competed in Halifax, Canada for the first 21U (21 and under) women’s invitational tournament. The tournament, which was hosted by Halifax and Team Nova Scotia, ran from August 4th to August 8th and included teams from different regions in Canada (Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, British Columbia), and Guyana. Team Guyana was made of 15 players and 4 coaches. See Scoreboard HERE. Congratulations ladies, You Rock! This is the Team’s first time playing…
The National Library recently held its second annual Easter Hat Parade in Georgetown and these pretty little GGs Rocked it!