Guyanese, Roxanne Caleb, named Nyack College’s 2015 Valedictorian

www.ajc.com Democrat Lisa Cupid has ousted incumbent Cobb Commission Chair Mike Boyce, a Republican, in a major victory for her party that signals the county’s demographic and political transformation. Cupid has represented South Cobb, a suburban county of Atlanta, as a commissioner on the board for the past eight years. She will be the first African American woman to serve as chair, and the first Democrat in many years. Cupid was born to Guyanese parents…

In Nirmala’s Kitchen: Everyday World Cuisine ABOUT THE BOOK:  Through her travels to such exotic locales as New Zealand, North Africa, India, and the Caribbean, to name a few, Nirmala Narine has scoured local markets and remote hillsides for herbs and spices to bring home to her own kitchen. In this collection of recipes and personal anecdotes, Nirmala includes a thorough glossary of herbs and spices to guide even the most inexperienced cook beyond table…

The Philanthropic work of a 26-year-old Guyanese woman has earned her the prestigious Queen’s Young Leaders Award 2017. Samantha Sheoprashad was born and bred in Enterprise, East Coast Demerara with her two siblings and parents. She is a suicide survivor-focused on making a difference in her community and helping young persons to realize their potentials.  The young and ambitious entrepreneur has been working with disadvantaged communities in Guyana for some years through her non-governmental organization…

Guyana female table tennis champion, Chelsea Edghill, was awarded a partial scholarship to attend Lindenwood University in Saint Charles, Missouri.  According to a Guyana Table Tennis Association (GTTA) Press Release, the scholarship covers five years and will allow Edghill to train, play and participate in high-level competitions against top level players on a consistent basis in view of achieving 2020 Olympic qualification. Edghill, a Bishops High School Student, has won several championship awards and was named…

Last night was the much anticipated coronation ceremony for the 2016 Miss World Guyana Beauty Pageant and of the seven finalists, 25-year-old Nuriyyih Kama Gerrard emerged the winner of the coveted title. The talented Radio Personality, who presented Potaro-Siparuni (region 8), is co-host of the popular 94.1 Boom FM “Jumpstart”  Morning Show.  She also won the talent segment of the competition. The names “Nuriyyih Kama” which are Arabic in origin and mean ‘Light’ and ‘Perfection’ respectively, were bestowed on the beauty queen by her father,…

Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie  was a child prodigy who began playing one of her mother’s piano pieces when she was three years old. She and her younger sister Mavis both became concert pianists and were known as the two Ferdinand girls. Joyce is accredited as being the first black woman, if not the first woman to play a full piano concerto.  In his article on radio in British Guiana for the 1951 Chronicle Christmas Annual, Albert E…

Jamila Keizia Sanmoogan will be one of two, and the only female swimmer representing Guyana at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 19-year-old, who recently trained in Columbia on a swimming scholarship, is slated to compete in the Women’s 50m Freestyle event. In an interview the Guyana Chronicle, Jamila shared the following: “It felt as if my dreams finally came true, there were so many feelings, from excitement to happiness” she…

Dr. Alisha Griffith, affectionately referred to as “Dr. Alisha”, is a compassionate professionally trained educator, speech language pathologist, and audiologist.  Over a span of nearly two decades, she has assisted countless people from all walks of life to overcome various challenges, empowering them to live their lives to the fullest. Dr. Alisha was born in Stillwater Oklahoma after both of her parent left Guyana on scholarship awards to study abroad.  Her mother, Ismay Griffith and father, Charles Griffith; returned to Guyana…

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…

Shondell ‘Mystery Lady’ Alfred is a professional boxer from Guyana. She is one of the first female boxers to represent Guyana internationally and in 2011 the “Mystery Lady” was awarded “Most Inspirational Boxer of the Year” by the Women’s Boxing Archive Network (WBAN).  Alfred’s knockout victory over Corrine Van Ryck DeGroot was largely responsible for her winning the award in front of a glamorous line up of boxers worldwide. Shondell grew up in Albouystown where she took to athletics and later karate while in…

On Sunday July 1st, 2018, Guyanese from New York/New Jersey Diaspora turned out in support of the Coalition of Guyanese Women – Conversation and Fundraising Luncheon held in honor of the first lady of Guyana, Her Excellency Sandra Granger.  The Coalition, made up of  Sherif Barker, President of Guyana Unity Movement, Cloyette Harris-Stoute, Founder & President of Guyanese Girls Rock, Sharon Devonish-Leid, CEO of Netstruc PR and Internist, Dr. Candace Cummings hosted the event to help…

Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell is a major in the United States Air Force, and the first female African-American fighter pilot in the Air Force history. She was born in Lafayette, Indiana on April 20, 1976, to Guyanese parents, Dr Norman Ng A Qui, and Eve Blackman Ng A Qui after they migrated to the US.  Their hard work and dedication paid off in her father earning a degree from Howard University and a doctorate from Purdue University. That focus on…

Caribbean Squash Queen Nicolette Fernandes was born  in Toronto, Canada on June 19, 1983.  She moved back to Guyana with her parents at an early age began playing squash competitively at the age of 8.   Representing Guyana, she dominated the junior category both domestically and regionally before she became famous for her outstanding performance at various Caribbean Championships.  Nicolette made a significant leap when she was just 19-years-old and emerged as Champion at her first Pan American Games. Nicolette has…

We all know that curry and roti is one of Guyana’s most popular cuisine and a common dish within the Caribbean community. It is also much more enjoyable when you indulge with your fingers. However, one can also admit that it’s sometimes quite messy and will ruin your pale nail polish or fresh manicure. For this very reason I sometimes prefer to eat this dish only while at home where I can really dive in with my fingers. I recently attended a function and observed one…

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.