Recent medical school graduate, Topaz Sampson, is very close to accomplishing her dream of practicing Medicine. A New Amsterdam native, Topaz was part of the graduating Class of 2015 at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine, and is scheduled to begin residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. While in medical school Topaz was appointed 2014 President of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), the oldest and largest student-run organization focused on the needs and concerns…
Our Sheroes
Olivia Dope started out as a dancer, but music was always her passion which eventually led her to her true calling as a DJ. Olivia is now one of NYC’s most sought after DJs in the fashion industry. Her passion and her ability to reinvent herself makes her pretty, powerful, and provocative. With humble beginnings as a classically trained dancer & later performing with artists such as Shaggy, Mac Miller & Chris Brown, music has…
Guyanese Maureen Walker, who is the Comptroller of the City of Mount Vernon, has recently announced that she is seeking the nomination of the Democratic Party in the up-coming primary elections to be held on Thursday, September 10, 2015 for the Office of Mayor of Mount Vernon. Maureen is a New York State Certified Public Accountant. The Plaisance native holds an MBA in Finance from the University of New Haven and a B.Sc. in Accounting (magna cum laude) from…
Former local TV personality, Dimple Singh Willabus, is in Guyana promoting her 8-year-old daughter Anaya’s book. The young writer launched her book, ‘The day Mohan found his Confidence’ at the National Library a few days ago, and it was there that the Chronicle spoke with Dimple. Her 8 year old daughter, Anaya Lee Willabus made history rthis year when she was named the youngest published female author of a chapter book in US History. Anaya’s…
Meet Marva Jacobs, the new Honorary Consul for Guyana to the State of Georgia. Born and raised in Bartica, Marva was officially appointed to this role in February 2015. Her focus will be on connecting the Guyanese community, which is estimated to be about 10,000-strong in the State, with the Guyana embassy in Washington and facilitating improved business relations with Guyana. A former Guyana Airways employee, Marva emigrated to the US in the 1970’s and served for 7 years at…
Meet Halima Yusuf, CEO & Founder of FRX International Drugs (FRXID), a pharmaceutical company based in Berlin, Maryland. As Chief Executive Officer, Halima Yusuf has had a very influential role in steering the ever-evolving business. In fact she indicated that she used her upbringing in Guyana as inspiration to create the company. According to her, the scarcity of proper pharmacy care and knowing the facts relating to the medication and its usability drove her to create…
Keisha Scarville is an accomplished and talented fine arts photographer. Born in 1975 to a Guyanese father and mother, she self-defines as Guyanese-American. Keisha spent her childhood in Brooklyn after her parent migrated to the United States in the late 1960s. She will be the first to admit that within the walls of her childhood home, her experience was still a Guyanese-centered one. Keisha earned a B.S. from the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) in…
On Saturday, July 4, Guyana’s first female World Champion Gwendolyn ‘Stealth Bomber’ O’Neil defeated Sonya Lamonakis and captured the heavyweight title in Philipsburg, St Maarten. O’Neil who is now a five-time boxing world champion while at the same time a mother of five children, thanked the fans, her management team and God for the heart-stirring win which put her back on top of the world heavyweight boxing scene. A huge crowd favourite, O’Neil fought to…
Roxanne Jacqueline Persaud was elected to the New York State Assembly in November 2014. In January, 2015 she was sworn in as the first female, first black, first Guyanese to hold the position of Assembly member for the 59th Assembly District in Brooklyn, New York . Assemblywoman Persaud is a longtime advocate for her community and an avid volunteer. Her dedication to serving her community has motivated her to serve in various capacities. Assemblywoman Persaud …
Ira Leona Lewis is known throughout the Caribbean and American community as “Lady Ira”. Born in British Guiana to the late Omar Converty and Elaine Pile, Lady Ira has been an essential figure in spearheading efforts that promote the Cultural awareness and well being of New Jersey’s Guyanese American community for over 20 years. Supporting her vision of a united and informed Guyanese community, Lady Ira is dedicated to the development of organizations and events that benefit Guyanese…