GGR Book Club: The Black Man Drought by Lorraine Jonelle Stephens

Buxton Spice (Bluestreak) ABOUT  THE BOOK:  Told in the voice of a girl as she moves from childhood into adolescence, Buxton Spice is the story the town of Tamarind Grove: its eccentric families, its sweeping joys, and its sudden tragedies. The novel brings to life 1970s Guyana-a world at a cultural and political crossroads-and perfectly captures a child’s keen observations, sense of wonder, and the growing complexity of consciousness that marks the passage from innocence…

Guyanese-born Daphne Steele made headlines around the world when she became the UK’s first black hospital matron in 1964. For the time, Daphne’s achievement was nothing short of amazing. Former Deputy Director of Nursing at the Department of Health, Nola Ishmael, described Daphne as a ‘first’ who led with dignity and determination.“ She helped to shape aspirations for BME nurses across the profession who sought to follow in her footsteps.” Daphne was born in 1929…

Guyanese cake artist extraordinaire Corrie Bacchus is combining your ideas with her ability to magically transform sugars and spices into truly unique cakes, edible art sculptures and desserts. Hand-sculpted cake art gives evidence of her passion for creating savoury slices of heaven. Bacchus said since childhood she has been fascinated with baking. Her mother baked every Saturday, and Bacchus always helped in the kitchen, observing her mother’s techniques. Through her business, Corries Creative Cakes, Bacchus…

Dr Dee Dee Dynamo | Super Surgeon on the Go!

Janice Elizabeth MacGregor is a second generation Canadian born to parents who emigrated from Guyana and became Canadian citizens. Her father, Frank Moorgen (RIP 2010), was born in Hampshire Village, Berbice and her mother, Mary Moorgen (née Deonarine) was born in Corentyne, Berbice. ‎ Janice, her brother, and her sister were born in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada). She attended Millwoods Christian School where her strong commitment to academics and faith were formed. She fondly recalls visiting…

Reigning Miss Universe Guyana Soyini Fraser recently embarked on a journey to vie for the coveted Miss Universe crown.  Following extensive training in New York, the Georgetown-native traveled to the Philippines on January 8th where she will compete with delegates from over 80 countries.  The Miss Universe Pageant is in its 65th year and will be held on January 30, 2017, at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines. “As I represent this beautiful country of ours, I’ll strive to have the…

Rianna Soraya Scipio is a British television host, journalist, producer and director who is perhaps best known for her work on UK national television, as a prime time television host (presenter) of such flagship series as the BBC‘s Watchdog, Holiday, UK’s Worst…?, Newsroom Southeast, Wide World (Channel 5), and on BBC Radio 2 and Choice FM (Global Radio). Scipio’s outstanding awards and achievements include, breaking record figures as a host within the BBC’s ‘entertainment features’…

My mother is a woman like no other. Nicola Amanda Dover Roberts, amazing mother of three rocks!!! She is the best mom that you can ever ask for. She is brave, adventurous, loving, charismatic, caring and to top it off kind-hearted. She is an intelligent, hardworking young woman whose beauty is beyond compare. I remember this one instant whereby I wanted to participate in my primary school’s fair because it was my last year in the…

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…

Michelle A. Albert, MD, MPH is a general cardiologist with expertise in preventive cardiovascular medicine as well as managing the most critically ill cardiovascular patients with a range of conditions including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies and vulnerable populations with heart disease such as women and racial/ethnic minorities. Born and raised in Guyana, Dr. Albert had a fairly austere upbringing. The sudden death of her grandfather by cardiac arrest was probably the trigger for…

UK-based Journalist and Life Skills Speaker,  Sherry Dixon, who we featured back in October 2012  (Sherry Dixon, admitted to Black 100+ Hall Of Fame), recently graced the cover of Nubia Magazine and discusses her life and work in the community. This G.G. was also one of the recipients of the 2013 Stephen Lawrence Women’s Award – named after the slain 18 year old black youth whose 1993 murder galvanized London and forced its criminal justice…

Mashramani is carnival like in nature. This year’s theme is “Showcasing our Culture, Sustaining Our Heritage.” Customarily, this is a colourful festival and is a combination of costume competitions, float parades, masquerade bands and much dancing and merriment in the streets to the sweet sounds of steel pan along with calypso and soca music. The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport continues annually to create and manage the Mashramani celebrations as the largest national event.

Guyanese Author & Weight Loss Consultant, Caroline Jhingory @JHINGORY was featured in People Magazine and Glamour Magazine this month! Learn more about her weight loss journey at www.carolinejhingory.com You’ll be amazed at her transformation. She Rocks! #Inspirational  

Embrace people’s differences with Karen O. Roberts’s empowering debut children’s book, Look at You! You Are Beautiful.  Brimming with vibrant pictures of kids from all walks of life, this charming collection stands in stark contrast to defeat the looks-obsessed culture in which children grow up today. Karen was born in 1971 in a small town in the only English speaking country in South America, Guyana. As a child, she often felt awkward, too tall, too…

Martha nee Fung Kee Fung was one of the earliest female business owners in Guyana (1800s). She became a landed proprietor who owned many businesses including a rice mill. She bought two abandoned sugar estates Waller’s Delight and Ruimzight at Windsor Forest which she rented to tenants to plant rice. Martha Street in Windsor Forrest is named for her. Sarah Lam-a-Poo born in 1870, was the grandmother of Errol “Ping” Gillette, Guyana’s first Ombudsman after…