guyana

21 Mar: “Sweet, Edible Art” by Corrie Bacchus, Owner of Corrie’s Creative Cakes

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…

13 Mar: Think Simple | Think Elegance | Think Distinguished with Lydia Short:Owner/CEO TTT Event Planning, LLC

Whether you are having a destination wedding on a tropical island of the Caribbean, or in a Luxury Hotel or Mansion in New York, London, Paris, Jordan, Dubai, or just an intimate celebration in a Boutique Hotel overlooking snow covered peaks of Aspen, Lydia Short is your Planner and Designer.​ Born and raised in Guyana, Lydia moved to New York in 1988.  She is the Owner and CEO of  TTT  Event Planning, LLC; a full…

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09 Mar: It’s Guyana, Not Ghana!

Too often people mistake Guyana for Ghana.  During  a recent trip to Florida, I was having a conversation with a colleague about the Mashramani celebrations in Guyana and she said to me “that’s in Africa right?”  I’ve also been asked quite a few times “what other language do you speak in Guyana?  That’s why I decided to put together this synopsis  to enlighten some folks on the difference between “Guyana” in South America and the African nation…

28 Feb: Women in History: Joyce Ferdinand-Lalljie (Saunder): Classical Music Composer/Concert Pianist

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…

26 Feb: Women in History: Pat Cameron: Radio Broadcaster/Actor/Poet & Celebrator of Guyanese Folk Traditions

Before there was American Idol, there was Pat Cameron, who as host of the influential radio show, `On Show Young Guyana,` helped give recognition to the musical abilities of many young Guyanese. Pat was born on October 3, 1924 to Lilian Gertrude Christiani and Henry Perot Christiani. A Bishop’s High School graduate, she  worked in the Guyana Civil Service and was trained as a Social Welfare Officer in Jamaica. She entered the world of broadcasting…

15 Feb: Women in History: Valerie Rodway – Patriotic and Classical Music Composer

Ms. Valerie Rodway (1919-1970) was a teacher and Guyanese composer.  She is best known for her national songs, which include, “O Beautiful Guyana,” “Kanaïma,” “Hymn for Guyana’s Children,” “Arise, Guyana,” and “Guyana the Free.  She also put to music the famed Guyanese independence poem by Martin Carter, “Let Freedom Awaken.” Ms. Rodway was a member of one of those families whose contributions to Guyana are still evident. Her father, Newton Berthier Fraser was born in…

21 Jan: The Honourable Madam Justice Desiree Bernard: First Female Judge of the Caribbean Court of Justice

The Honourable Madam Justice Désirée Bernard, a citizen of Guyana, was born on 2 March 1939. A lawyer by profession, she began her career in 1963 when she attained a Bachelor of Laws Degree from the University of London.  Qualifying as a solicitor in 1964, Justice Bernard engaged in private practice in the High Court of the Supreme Court of Guyana from 1965 to 1980. During that period, she was appointed a Magistrate (1970), Commissioner of…

15 Jan: Guyanese Heritage: Actress Melinda Shankar – Making her Mark in the TV/Film Industry

Melinda Shankar (born February 18, 1992) is a talented young actress who is best known for her role in the Canadian teen drama television series: Degrassi – The Next Generation. She was born and raised in Ottawa, Canada to Guyanese parents and has 3 siblings. Melinda started her acting career at age 10 appearing in TV commercials, print ads and some theatre work.  She made her starring mark in 2008 in the 8th season of Degrassi as…

10 Jan: She Rocks! Meet Abiola Abrams – Author/Certified Wellness Coach aka “The Lifesyle Passonista”

Abiola Abrams is a first generation Guyanese-American author, columnist, speaker, filmmaker and multimedia personality who was raised in New York City. Also a certified wellness coach, Abiola gives heartfelt, no-nonsense, stigma-free advice on self esteem and self worth, body image issues, healthy relationships, mental health, sexual health, and how to live with verve. The first person in her Guyanese family born in the US, Abiola was bullied in her African American neighborhood for being “the…