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How to Make Ghee Parsad, also Called Mahamboug

Parsad (not sure I spelt that correctly) is a Guyanese dessert of East Indian origin. It is especially popular during the Phagwah Holidays. Although parsad is often used in Hindu Religious Functions, and is offered to “hindu gods” during Hindu rituals, parsad or mahamboug can be made and eaten by anyone at any time and for any occasion. There are many variations of Parsad. In this video, a Guyanese citizen, Miss Naressa, teaches us how to make Ghee Parsad, also called Mahamboug.

Video: A Close Encounter with a Fierce Jaguar

The jaguar is Guyana’s national animal. Guyana’s Coat of Arms features two of these strong and courageous big cats which are found in the jungles of Guyana. This amazing video was filmed in January, 2023 by Guyanese citizen, Melly Allicock, in the South Central Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana. Ms. Allicock relates that she was traveling to the Marudi Mountains from Lethem when she came face to face with the cross jaguar. Instead of panicking, the brave citizen pulled out her mobile phone and filmed this amazing, close up encounter with the fierce, roaring, big cat.

Ten Years Ago, Sarah Hakh Made Her Country Proud. What is She Doing Today?

Ten years ago, she made her country proud. In 2012, Sarah Hakh was the Caribbean’s best overall CXC student copping a record breaking 16 Grade Ones with all As on the profile grades. Sarah Hakh won the award for the Most Outstanding Candidate Overall in the Caribbean. As a result of her performance, her school, Abram Zuil Secondary on the Essequibo Coast, received the CSEC School of the Year Award for 2012.

US Advises All its Citizens to Get out of Russia Now

While the reason given for the advisory is “risk of wrongful detention and harassment,” the possibility of a full scale attack on Moscow aimed at taking out Putin is always looming. Since the unprovoked Russian invasion of Ukraine in January, 2023, nearly 500,000 persons have been killed on both sides including thousands of civilians. The war has caused extensive and debilitating damage to Ukrainian infrastructure and had sparked a mass exodus of millions of Ukrainians fleeing the country and seeking refuge on foreign shores.

Bush Cook – a Guyanese Tradition

Bush cook is a Guyanese tradition where a group of persons, usually friends, family, neighbors or any combination of such, get together to cook a nice pot of cook up rice, also called “all in one,” at somebody’s backyard or another “bushy” area of choice. It is sort of like a picnic, but somewhat different.

What is Tasso and Why You Should Learn About it

Tasso is a high protein food product which is made by slicing beef into thin layers, salting it thoroughly and drying it in the sun for four to five days. After five days of drying the salted beef, the tasso is said to be “cured” and then carries a long shelf life. While the precise shelf life of tasso has never been scientifically determined, most people whom I’ve interviewed in the Rupununi say that tasso can last for up to six months without refrigeration.

German Sports Fishing Tourist Describes Experience in Guyana

A German tourist who traveled to Guyana to engage in catch and release sports fishing in the waters of Guyana’s vast rivers has described his experience. In a Facebook Post titled “Rumble in the Jungle,” the sports fishing enthusiast described his travels and adventures to Guyana. The article posted below was translated from the original German text extracted from the Facebook Page of Global Fishing Adventures.

Guyana’s First Ever Farine Bakery Opens in the Rupununi

In December, 2022, a group of Guyana’s indigenous population of the Rupununi took cassava farine to a new level by launching Guyana’s first ever farine bakery. This is truly a landmark achievement and an evolutionary process. This publication contacted the bakery for more details on their operations. The following writeup was furnished by the management of the North Rupununi Farine Bakery in Masara Village – the first ever such in the country of Guyana.

Guyana’s “Somewhat Legal” Suriname Backtrack Crossing

If we say that a backtrack crossing is “legal,” we find ourselves in a conflict of expressions. After all, a backtrack route to another country is a route that seeks to bypass immigration authorities and the necessary legal procedures for cross border travel. However, Guyana is one of those countries where these kinds of somewhat weird and unexplainable things happen. Guyana does have a “somewhat legal” backtrack route to neighboring Suriname.

Mr. Ivan Alexander Johnson: A Rupununi Pioneer

Mr. Ivan Alexander Johnson (Sr), who completed his long and fruitful earthly journey in December 2017, was doubtless one of the the first pioneers of the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana.  He was one of many Rupununi trailblazers, who, in their own simple ways, unique personalities, and vision for making a successful living in what is still considered a remote region of Guyana, have facilitated the opening up of the Rupununi to the rest of the country and the world at large, and contributed to the economic and social wellbeing of the Region. 

Poll: Most Brazilians Believe the Election Was Rigged

In a recent poll conducted by this publication across neighboring Brazil, 90.7 percent of the respondents say they believe that the 2022 general elections that put Lula Da Silva in power were rigged in favor of Lula. When asked how this might have happened, they responded that Lula has strong ties with Russia, who are masters at the game of hacking, and they believe that Russian hackers might have played a role in infiltrating the computer system.

Businessman Wishes Daughter a Happy Birthday

Everyday, men across Guyana and the world wish their children happy birthday as they reach another milestone in their journey through time. So what’s so special about this one and why does it deserve a feature here? It’s the words spoken and the circumstances under which they were spoken. Azruddin Mohamed, a member of the Team Mohameds family, is a well known and much-loved businessman and philanthropist who has touched the lives of countless people across Guyana.

Turning My Passion into Profits by Tromain David

There is a saying that goes, “find a job you love, and you will never have to work another day in your life.” The same applies for business. Doing something that you are passionate about accelerates your performance. This concept is the key element within the success story of young Guyanese businesswoman, Tromain David, who harnessed her love for fashion and turned it into a profitable business.

Direct Cash Transfers to Citizens Would Contribute Greatly to Economic Growth

Guyana started pumping oil in late 2019, and to date (January 2023) has earned more than US$2 billion from oil revenues and royalties. That translates to roughly GY$420,000,000,000.00. This breaks down to roughly GY$525,000 per person using the generous population estimate of 800,000. Production data produced by the Ministry of Natural Resources show that Guyana recorded its highest output level in November 2022, reaching 389,000 barrels of oil per day. But production rate is climbing and Guyana is projected to produce more than 600,000 barrels of oil in 2023.

Jaggernauth – a Poem by Frank Satnarine

After the abolition of slavery throughout the British Empire around 1838, European plantation owners in Guyana, as well as throughout the Caribbean, looked to India for cheap labor. The myriads of stories passed down from generation to generation about the East Indians’ journey from India to Guyana help us fit pieces of a puzzle together and get a clear picture of the chain of events that made Guyana what it is today.

As I Gaze Upon the River – A Poem by Kapohn

The indigenous lifestyle is a simple, natural one. While many indigenous persons leave their natural communities and venture into more industrialized zones, taking up jobs and even owning businesses, indigenous peoples in their natural environment only consume what they need to survive and live comfortably. Unlike other ethnic groups in Guyana, the indigenous peoples value the preservation of the natural environment above the creation of wealth or the promise of money.

Corona Falls in North Rupununi

Corona Falls is one of the lesser known and explored, yet magnificent, beautiful and splendid, waterfalls of Guyana. It is located at the headwaters of the Rewa River in North Rupununi. With its refreshing waters and magnificent scenery, the Corona Falls is definitely a place to visit.

Music Video: Our Land, Our Life by Galina Edmund

Our Land, Our Life is a beautiful song astoundingly performed by Guyanese singer/performer Galina Edmund. The song, presented in the native language of the Arecuna tribe of Indigenous peoples of Guyana, expresses appreciation for the land and all it provides for the people that inhabit it. At the same time, it showcases the simple, beautiful, and sustainable lifestyle of the Arecuna Tribe of Indigenous peoples. The Arecuna Tribe of Indigenous are found in Paruima Village in Region 7 which is the village from which Galina Edmund hails.

The Meeting of the Waters in Region 7

Did you know…that there is a place in Guyana where the Cuyuni and Mazuruni Rivers run side by side without mixing? This is a remarkable natural phenomenon with various scientific explanations. According to science, the waters do not mix because they are of different temperatures and densities, and they run at different speeds. However, the phenomenon is so remarkable that it is considered a natural and scientific marvel.

Birdwatching in the Botanical Gardens by Jane Miller

The Botanical Gardens is located next to the Guyana Zoo and Castellani House in Georgetown, Region 4, Guyana, South America. Established since 1878, the tropical botanical gardens serves as a recreational park which showcases one of the most extensive collections of tropical flora in the Caribbean laid out with ponds, canals, kissing bridges, and a bandstand. The botanical gardens also offers a unique place for birdwatching.

Video: Teachers of Huis’t Dieren Primary Condemn Attack on Teachers

On Wednesday, 11th of January, 2023, a male teacher was reportedly assaulted by a parent at Graham’s Hall Primary School on the East Coast of Demerara, Guyana, South America. Although the Ministry of Education released a statement condemning the attack on the teacher, it stopped short of explaining what might have provoked the attack. The next day, teachers across the country wore black to protest against violence against teachers.

Photos: The Annual Rupununi Rodeo Events

The Rupununi Rodeo Performances is an annual concert of live entertainment filled with heat, excitement, and adrenaline-pumping action. The rodeo performances showcase the skill, art, bravery, and raw power of Rupununi-born-and-bred cowboys and cowgirls. It is a phenomenon that explodes across the Rupununi Savannahs and ripples its way across almost every economic sector of Guyana.

What is Guyanese Creolese?

The Creolese Language is a form of substandard English spoken by people across the Caribbean in countries that were once colonized by the British Empire. Guyanese Creolese is a Creolese dialect unique to Guyana and different from other variations of Creolese that are spoken in other Caribbean countries such as Trinidad and Jamaica.

Meet Aurelia Ibrahim – Guyana’s 14-Year-Old Published Author

The success of Aurelia Ibrahim at such a young age in one of the world’s most competitive and challenging fields is yet another beautiful example of a parent’s ability to recognize a child’s latent talents and abilities and help them to harness it. This key concept is the backbone of the success story of young Guyanese author, Aurelia Ibrahim, who is the published author of two books: “A Little Poet’s World,” and “A Picturesque Journey” – both poetry collections.

Video: Plane Lands at Lethem (Part 3)

Today, 6th of January, 2023, I did a third video of the Trans Guyana Plane landing at the Lethem Airport. Hope I didn’t scare anyone or cause any problems by the way. I stood on the road just in front of the airstrip. When the plane approached, it was a scary feeling, as though the plane with its frightening propeller blades were coming straight at me. I tried to hold my ground but I found myself side stepping a bit.

Meet Caleb Benjamin – the University Student who is a Professional Photographer on the Side

Caleb Benjamin is presently pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Guyana, but on the side, he has developed a profitable photography business that is quickly spiraling into a fulltime career – to the point that Caleb considered dropping out of the University to focus entirely on his photography career. However, after taking some sound advice from several well-meaning individuals, Caleb decided that he will do both – push through with his studies at the University of Guyana to obtain a B.A in Forestry and continue to develop his photography skills and business at the same time.

Practicing at Her Own Private Clinic in St. Lucia, Dr. Celia McConnel’s Story Truly Inspires

Following through with a childhood dream can be a challenge. We often get distracted. For many people, these fiery dreams simmer down to nothing more than amusing, sentimental, or entertaining stories of the past. Then there are the special few, who, through unmatched resolve and determination, work hard and make it happen. These are the ones who live their dreams and inspire others to do the same. Dr. Celia McConnel is one such story.

New Year’s Celebrations in Guyana

New Year’s Celebration in Guyana is pretty much the same as most other countries around the world. People have family gatherings, parties, fireworks, and other social activities. Romantic couples often try to spend the last few hours of the old year together in order to “break the new year” together. Guyanese, like other people around the world, place great emphasis on the start of the New Year. They see it as a new chapter in life, and hope that it will bring them good or better fortune.

Gymkhana, a Uniquely Guyanese Tradition

Gymkhana has different significance to different countries. The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines Gymkhana as “a meet featuring different sports contests or athletic skills,” and added that the word originated in 19th century India. If you google the term “gymkhana,” you might realize that this sport culture is not spread out across the world. It is unique to a few countries. In Guyana, the idea has morphed into something even more unique.

Let the New Year Find Us With Light Hearts and Clean Slates – by Ronald J. Daniels

I challenge us not to write lengthy resolutions. Let’s be honest about how many of those we abandon soon after we pen them – soon after our burning desires to change are consumed by our surrender to our regular ways. Let us keep our goals tight and realistic. If we commit to a few realistic goals, we will accomplish infinitely more than the scrolls of resolutions that we routinely pen.

Video: Christmas Celebrations in Gunns Village, Deep South Rupununi

Christmas celebrations are generally uniform across the country of Guyana, South America: partying, church, music, lots of food, ginger beer, pepperpot, family gatherings, and the likes. However, a recent video which surfaced on the 23rd of December, 2022, shows an indigenous community in the Deep South Rupununi Savannahs doing their own thing: a uniquely indigenous way of celebrating Christmas.

A Non-Conventional Arrival Day Message – by Dr. Josh Kanhai

The conventional Arrival Day message seeks to glorify the East Indians’ arrival in Guyana and to celebrate the achievements and contributions of the East Indians in and towards Guyana. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But under the peaceful waters of cultural pride rages a deadly current of racism that few like to acknowledge. It is this unseen aspect of racial pride – the disunity created by unity – that Dr. Josh Kanhai seeks to address in his non-conventional Arrival Day Message.

My Arrival Day Sentiments are Bitter/Sweet – by Romona Chanderballi

As mentioned in our previous article, Indian Arrival Day, the attitude of the descendants of colonized East Indians of British Guiana towards their colonial past are wide and varied. Some are thankful for the voyage that brought them a new life and new opportunities while others detest the compromising and sometimes harsh conditions to which their fore parents were subjected during their voyage to the new world.

The Baccoo

I personally have never seen a baccoo, nor have I seen evidence of it, nor do I want to. But I’ve heard so many stories about this strange demonic creature, all of them resounding with the same theme and description from people far removed in space and time, that I am tempted to believe that there must be some truth to the matter.

The Kanaima – Folklore or Reality?

During my travels throughout the Rupununi Savannahs of Guyana, I’ve heard stories of the Kanaima. In fact, I first read about this frightening creature in an online publication which claimed that the Kanaima is a spiritual being which comes to execute vengeance for some wrong committed. Apparently, the Kanaima is “invoked” by someone and sent to harm someone as an act of revenge for some wrong.

The “Coolies” of Guyana, South America

If you lived for any amount of time in Guyana, South America, you might have heard the expression “coolie man,” “coolie boy,” “coolie woman,” “coolie people,” etc in local dialect. In Guyana, the expression “coolie” is used colloquially to refer to someone of East Indian ancestry. But what is the etymology of this word? And what exactly does it mean?

Meet Talented Singer, Performer, and Medical Student, Galina Edmund of Paruima Village, Region 7

Galina Susie Edmund was born on the 8th of April, 2003 in Paruima Village on the East Bank of the Kamarang River in Region 7, Guyana, South America. She attended the Paruima Nursery School, and then the Paruima Primary School where she wrote the Common Entrance Examinations and was awarded a place at one of Guyana’s top secondary schools – the Christ Church Secondary School in Georgetown, Region 4, Guyana, South America.

St. Ignatius Village, Region 9

St Ignatius Village is a Titled Indigenous Village in Region 9 of Guyana, South America. The village, which borders the town of Lethem, is replete with breathtaking scenery, beautiful landscapes, and natural vegetation. The bridge which crosses over the Moco Moco Creek marks the entry point into St Ignatius Village from Lethem. This bridge is located only about 120 m southwest of the Lethem airport.