Happy Holidays GGR Family!

Born under the Zodiac star of Leo,  Actress Simone Dowding attended the Salem Primary and Secondary schools, where her love for the stage was noticed by teachers and peers alike. In no time she had become quite a force to be reckoned with, as she participated in numerous school plays and drama presentations with gusto, finesse and bravery. Being an artistic person, she attended and graduated from the Burrowes School of Art with flying colours…

Kenise Etwaru was born in Guyana and emigrated with her parents at age nine along with her sister who was then six in order that they would have greater education opportunities.  They wanted to ensure them having the best possible opportunities in life.  They left a very comfortable life at the church her father Pastor Lionel Etwaru and his wife Margaret had started for a completely new life in a new country.  Seeing them persevere…

Rochelle Porter has never met a blank surface she didn’t want to draw on. A lifelong lover of global design traditions, the Atlanta-based artist takes cues from the breezy hues of her Caribbean roots, the stark simplicity of Scandinavian prints and the bold geometrics of West African weaves to create vibrant, eye-catching textiles for the home décor and apparel markets. Her travel-inspired patterns feature joyful, unexpected burst of color and classic motifs with a fresh,…

High school student Kelly Hyles has made her entire family and the Guyanese community very proud after being accepted to all 8 Ivy League Colleges.  Born in Guyana, Kelly now resides in Brooklyn, New York and received a total of 21 acceptance letters, but the best arrived from America’s Top 8 Colleges. Kelly migrated to the US from Guyana with her family when she was 11 years old.  She is a former student of Vryheid’s Lust…

Born November 5, 1995, in Miramar, Florida, Sachia Vickery is one of the most promising young players in American tennis. Her Guyanese mother, Paula Liverpool, formerly of Kwakwani on the Berbice River, has made many sacrifices to facilitate the career of Sachia, which is now paying off with her daughter rising to be among the top junior players in the United States and the world. Sachia started off on the track with older boys and…

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing (1 Thessalonians 5:11).  This five young women definitely epitomize this phrase. Meet Trea, Michelle, Sonya, Corlecia and Feigel who reign from the small town of Amelia Ward Linden in Guyana, and playfully call themselves the “Amelia’s Ward USCians.” These “beauties with brains” all attended the University of Southern Caribbean (USC) in Trinidad; an affiliate of Andrews University in Michigan and over the years have form a…

An insightful, bold exploration into the disappearance of African American men, The Black Man Drought is upfront about the issues plaguing them. From drugs to jail to interracial dating and homosexuality, this sometimes funny, sometimes serious, sometimes sassy in your face narrative forces an internal look into the choices of Black men and how they affect the whole community. The Black Man Drought: An answer to where all the brothers have gone and how to…

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

I was told by a friend that she wanted to plan a small reception for her mother’s 80th birthday; she wanted something very elegant. A Champagne Reception is ideal for this type of event. It is also perfect for small weddings or any other function, where the intention is to host a top notch classy event that has a small guest list. You will need three types of champagne: ‘Dry’ or ‘Extra Dry’ for cocktails  …

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…

Krista Martins is a professional choreographer, ACE-certified group fitness instructor and founder of Wukkout!® She has been teaching and performing professionally for over 15 years; she is also a Professor at Long Island University’s Brooklyn Campus where she teaches hip hop dance to undergraduate students. Krista has performed in a wide variety of music videos, commercials and television shows including but not limited to performances with MTV, BET, and the NFL. Most notably, her choreography…

For those of us who have emigrated from Guyana, Demerara Gold is a refreshing reminder of the expectation, excitement and anxiety that we experience in our journey to  join our families in America. I recently had the pleasure of sitting in the front row to watch Ingrid Griffith, the star of Demerara Gold, as she seamlessly transformed into a slew of characters and captivated the audience with her raw emotions and hilarious depictions of events from her…

Amy Elizabeth Imrie (4 Oct 1870 – 4 Apr 1944), Born Pollard, was a British heiress and one of the wealthiest women in Britain who, at the age of 37, became a Roman Catholic Nun, Sister Mary Clare and, subsequently, Mother Superior of the Order of Poor Clares. She was born as Amy Elizabeth Rosalie Pollard in British Guiana to William Branch Pollard and his first wife, Elizabeth Anne (née Blackley). After the death of…

Meet Domini Alleyne, 2014 Miss Barbados Senior Fitness Queen. The 30 year old fitness model, who reings from Tuschen, East Bank Essequibo and Den Amstel West Coast Demerara in Guyana, migrated to Barbados at age 13. She later returned to Guyana and in 2011 worked briefly for the local HJTV television channel and was also a fashion model. However, chronic overeating following a failed marriage propelled Domini to embark on her fitness journey. Here’s Domini…

Guyanese, Iris de Freitas, was the first female lawyer in the Caribbean and possible The chance discovery on eBay of a postcard featuring a portrait of a young black woman in university robes has led a Welsh university to honour one of its alumni. As part of its International Women’s Day celebrations on Tuesday 8 March 2016 Aberystwyth University,  a public research university in Aberystwyth, Wales officially named a room in honour of Iris de…