Guyanese Singer Lisa Punch named “Profile of the Year”

From Stabroek News Archive When she married David Granger, Sandra Chan-A-Sue knew she was going to be a military wife which meant her husband would be away from home a lot of the time. But what she did not know was that forty years down the line she would be married to a politician, still with the name of David Granger. “I did not believe him…” the then 62-year-old Sandra Granger told the Sunday Stabroek…

Letting go helps us to to live in a more peaceful state of mind and helps restore our balance. It allows others to be responsible for themselves and for us to take our hands off situations that do not belong to us. This frees us from unnecessary stress. Melody Beattie

Eliza Smith is 9 years old. Born on October 8, 2005 she is a mix of Guyanese and Turkish. He mother was born in #58 village in Berbice. She currently resides in Queens, NY. Eliza will be starting the 5th grade for the upcoming school year, and has been awarded student of the month on numerous occasions. Eliza is a model, dancer and actress. She currently attends the Ghungaroos Dance Academy where she is being…

  Born in Guyana in January 1923,  Patricia Gomes has purposefully dedicated more than half of her life to theatre and along the way has been quite accomplished in other areas. She has, as they say, “done it all” – from stage plays to storytelling to dancing her life away, much to the enjoyment of the audiences she thrilled.  In 2010, Ms. Gomes was named by “Special Person”  by Kaieteur News, and in an interview…

She’s Mad Real: Popular Culture and West Indian Girls in Brooklyn In She’s Mad Real, Oneka LaBennett draws on over a decade of researching teenage West Indian girls in the Flatbush and Crown Heights sections of Brooklyn to argue that Black youth are in fact strategic consumers of popular culture and through this consumption they assert far more agency in defining race, ethnicity, and gender than academic and popular discourses tend to acknowledge. Importantly, LaBennett…

Dr. Latoya Shonell Gooding is a beacon of hope to many cancer-stricken patients in Guyana. She goes above and beyond to ensure they receive the best care as they battle this deadly disease. Her kindness has touched many families and helped most of her patients through those dark days. She was compelled into the field of medicine, specifically Oncology, following the death of her grandfather to prostate cancer. According to Dr. Gooding, he was given…

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…

Stabroek News – La Jalousie, West Coast Demerara resident Sasha Mahadeo was admitted to the local bar after Attorney General Anil Nandlall presented a petition on her behalf to Justice Navindra Singh. Mahadeo, who is the daughter of ND&S Furniture Store owner Parasram Mahadeo, is a former student of Queen’s College and School of the Nations. She completed her Cambridge A-levels programme at the latter mentioned learning institution. She successfully completed her LLB Degree in…

On Sept. 9 in a lavish ceremony in Temple Hills, Maryland, Guyanese Ariana Austin married Prince Joel Makonnen who is the great-grandson of Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Mr. Makonnen, known as Prince Yoel, is the 35-year-old great-grandson of Haile Selassie, the last emperor of Ethiopia. Ms. Austin, 33, is of African-American and Guyanese descent; her maternal grandfather was a lord mayor of Georgetown, the capital of Guyana. · Their marriage had been…

Anjali is the breath of fresh air that the world of music is waiting for. A woman of gentile strength and passion, her innovative style, powerful sultry vocals and haunting melodies ensure that she will touch the heart of one and all. Her influences span several continents, cultures and musical genres therefore it is only natural for her music to fuse both classical and contemporary urban sounds. Born in Brooklyn, with roots in Guyana and…

Fear can paralyze your life and prevent you from following your dreams. It’s all in your mind; – stop thinking  about the hurdles and just jump over them.

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…

Dr. Padmanee Sharma is a leading figure in Oncology.  She currently holds Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointments as Professor in the Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology and Professor in the Department of Immunology, Division of Cancer Medicine at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr.  Sharma specializes in renal, bladder and prostate cancer. Her prime focus is to understand the mechanisms and pathways within the immune system responsible for tumor rejection. Since 2005 she has been…

Listening is not only a polite gesture, it’s also one of the most important skills you can have.  Good listening skills will help you to succeed in your personal and professional life.  Many great leaders are also great listeners.  So listen once in a while; it’s amazing what you’ll here.  The word “Listen” rearranged will give you “Silent.  

English Teacher, Shamayne Cumberbatch, was born in Guyana, South America and later moved to Irving, NJ. She first attended the local public school before enrolling at Kent Place for middle and high school. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University and her master’s degree from Harvard in Education Policy and Management. Before working at the Pingry School, Ms. Cumberbatch participated in the Teach for America program, teaching eighth grade English classes at a charter…