Kite Flying in the Village: A Guyanese Girl’s Story, by Myrtle Watson

Professional bodybuilder, Alana Shipp, has muscled her way to the top echelon of  Women’s Body Building in just a few years.   Born in 1982 in Barbados to Guyanese parents, Alana spent her early childhood in Guyana prior to moving to Queens, New York at age 11. After graduating high school, Alana enlisted in the US Marine Corps and spent almost 8 years as a non-commissioned officer, working as a logistics procurement manager in Okinawa,…

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…

Maya A. Trotz, Ph.D., born in Georgetown, Guyana is an Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of South Florida (USF), Tampa. She works at the nexus of geochemistry/water quality and global/community sustainability and education with current and previous student research projects in Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Bolivia, Liberia, Madagascar, Mali, and Peru. She currently holds a patent on “Functional composites formed from colloidal polymer particles with photocatalytic metal oxide nanoparticles.” Dr….

Nine-year-old award winning author and poet, Anaya Lee Willabus, will be launching her second book, ‘A Bully’s Disguise.’  Anaya Lee published her first book ‘The Day Mohan Found His Confidence,’ at the age of 8, which earned her five awards, as well as local and international recognition for her outstanding literary contribution. A Bully’s Disguise, sheds light on peer pressure and how it may influence one’s decision in elementary school.  Mohan, the nine year old…

Canadian actress & international fashion model, Simone Small aka “Small & Mighty” was born to a Guyanese mother and Barbadian father. She attended Humber College and Etobicoke School of the Arts in Toronto, Ontario. The only child for her parents, Simone recalled having a great childhood. She spent her school years in Toronto but every summer went to Barbados or Guyana, sometimes both, to spend time with her cousins, aunts and uncles. Simone’s mother is from…

Christine Neblett’s journey from facing the hardships of single motherhood to becoming an influential entrepreneur is genuinely inspirational. Born and raised in Guyana,  the New York-based businesswoman has built a solid foundation with her degrees in Communication from the University of Guyana and Applied Management with a focus on Finance from Medgar Evers College. Christine has a  background in International Multi-level Marketing, which she began in 2004 with YTB Travel, followed by a significant stint…

Karen Godette, MD, is a board certified radiation oncologist in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA. Dr. Godette practices general radiation oncology and specializes in breast and gynecological malignancies, prostate cancer and soft tissue sarcoma. Within these areas, her expertise is brachytherapy. Dr. Godette treats patients at Winship at Emory University Hospital Midtown where she has served as medical director since 2001. Winship Cancer Institute is Georgia’s…

The height and volume of water in Kaieteur falls makes it the 26th most visited falls in the world. Being three times the height of Niagara, and twice that of Victoria falls, this water falls is dubbed one of the most powerful waterfalls in the world. Pushing some 663 cubic meters of water per second over the edge of the Potaro River (one of the longest and widest rivers in South America), Kaieteur is considered…

Guyanese designer, Keisha Edwards of Shasha Designs, on February 19 represented Guyana at the first-ever Commonwealth Fashion Exchange programme, which saw designers and artisans from 52 Commonwealth countries producing a fashion ‘look’ using principles of sustainable excellence. The design was unveiled at a special reception at Buckingham Palace for London Fashion Week. In an interview with The Pepperpot Magazine Keisha said that she feels excited, honoured and humbled to have been selected to participate in…

`Georgetown, October 9th 2018 Global Dignity announced the appointment of Natasha Martindale as the organization’s Country Chair for Guyana. As Guyana’s Country Chair, Natasha embodies the core values of Global Dignity, an international non-profit dedicated to uniting everyone with the belief that we all deserve to live a life of dignity. Her passion for and commitment to helping young people be the best versions of themselves and embrace self-love and self-worth are what will serve…

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…

Guyanese Girl Lisa Mary Johanna Punch wowed the judges and viewers last night  during the premiere of  ABC’s new singing show Rising Star,  belting out Whitney Houston’s “How Will I Know” to move on to the second round of the competition.  Lisa, who was born in Guyana, migrated with her family to the USA only 6 months ago and made it to the top 30 out of 40,000 auditions. The  Rising Star show follows a group…

By the end of her senior year, Lisa Wilson will be a degree ahead of many of her peers.   The 17-year-old high school student is set to earn an Associates Degree in Biology with Honors in June 2016, prior to graduating high school.  Lisa is currently a  Smart Scholars at the Medgar Evers College Preparatory High School (MECPHS) which allows her to take Medgar Evers College courses during her high school years. Lisa was…

Nirmala Narine is a World Traveler, Author, Executive Producer, Television Host, and Founder of Nirmala’s Kitchen, the go-to company for spices, grains, sauces and much more.   She was born in Guyana and at the age of six Nirmala began to cook in a tiny kitchen with no running water or electricity.  It was Nirmala’s grandfather, an Arya Samaj Hindu Pandit, who schooled her in the ancient Indian arts of holistic cooking and Ayurvedic living.  When…

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…