GuyanaLive.com Blog

Persons looking for a cool place to hang out away from the regular bar scene may find a new spot in the Cocktail Bar. Located on the bottom floor of the Zoom Inn international Hotel, it’s a public bar but at present is the best kept secret probably for exclusivity.

Entertainer happened upon this location by chance and by confession is now hooked for the extremely homely atmosphere where one can sit, sip and chat privately while taking in a movie or the latest sports action on cable TV.

The music is soft and ideal for unwinding after a hard days work. Save for four tables, the seating arrangements include two plush sofas with pillows and several bar stools at the international cocktail bar that also offers the best in local beverages. Its ideal for the alone time that one might need with that special someone or slected friends looking to connect, reconnect or simply hang out at another level in a mostly dimly lit atmosphere that’s fully air-conditioned.

Additionally the menu list allows for a freshly prepared serving of seafood such as prawns and Lobster or golden brown fried fish cutlets. It’s a Calamari (Squid) lovers delight. The meat variety is unending and includes such delectable as steak, and Buffalo wings as well as many other offers aside from the regular. On Saturdays it’s mostly Guyanese Creole cuisine such as black and white pudding, souse and real a Guyanese soup with dumplings and ground provisions.

Notable is the personal attention that each customer gets from the in house staff and on Friday nights one may enjoy live, solo serenading from a singer strumming an acoustic guitar. To some its the ideal home away from home experience of royal treatment.

Even as Guyana’s top models 2010 male Steven Baggot, female Allana Phoenix and plus size Latoya Whitehead  are  celebrating their win and have secured their place on the 2010 Guyana Fashion Weekend Catwalk.

Auditions for the Guyana Fashion Weekend are set for July 17 & 18 at the Water Chris from 14:00hrs to 15:00hrs. This is the statement from Sonia Noel the Guyana Fashion Week CEO who is advising that all interested female models are advised to wear heels as they pursue a chance to be part of the premiere fashion event in Guyana.

Last weekend Sonia Noel proved yet again that she means business in her quest to build Guyana’s Fashion Industry. Last Sunday evening after weeks of preparation several winners and runners up were decided on in her just concluded Guyana Model Search 2010.  The event staged at the Pegasus Hotel on Sunday night offered much excitement and jaw-dropping fashion and created much room for conversation.

From delicious collections to fierce attitudes; the night exploded with a string of new creations from fresh, young designers proving that fashion has a future on the local shores.  The participants included models, designers and stylists’ aspirants as well as this year’s addition of the culinary arts.

The ideas were mostly fresh and while some proved rough around the edges there were more who have grown from the training and nurturing they received from Noel’s team.

Patrons to Sunday’s event also got a glimpse of the new faces with varying body types who are likely to be seen strutting local catwalks hence forth. In the end the top models were crowned and the runners up named.

Steven Bagot ruled the male models line up while the other models were Tyrone Hamid, Esau Humphrey and Osafa Dosantos.

Alana Phoenix was queen of the pack in front of Gericia Francis Fiano Spencer and Alisa Williams in the female top model’s category.

A welcomed addition was the full figured models category and Latoya Whitehead proved the best over Pamela Vaughn, the effervescent Lucia James and Mishon Pertab.

In the culinary line up the chefs were Samantha Mosley, Kester Hinds and Gail Davidson.

For the team competition Team pumpkin led by Chef Deon Tasher and designer Micheal De Abreau won for the best design. Jomal Larose led the team that won the creative category with designs made from Victoria Lily and paper.

Natisha John Won best Arabian night outfit while Lucia James won the advertisement challenge along with Anthony Staman and Alicia Kiston while the winners of the photo shoot competition are Steven Baggot, Jonelle Dugall and Lotoya Whitehead.

Last year winners Jamain Victor and Yolanda Kerr were featured in pink in the opening number signify breast cancer awareness and will be a big part of fashion in October.

The top designer this year went to Nekisha John whose fierce collection of leather and tiger prints clawed its way to a top finish. The audience was buzzing about her collection from the opening presentation when she unleashed jungle fever.1st, 2nd and 3rd runners up are David Clarke, Micheal De Abreau and Micheal Kellman. The top stylist in the competition was the very flamboyant Mark Adams followed by Ryan Berkley and Kevin Singh.

Assessing the event Noel dubbed it major success. Noel noted too that she is pleased with its turned out and the overwhelming support that the young people received. “I am particularly happy that Guyana is emerging as a regional front runner for fresh, young talent” Noel said last Sunday at the shows conclusion. She further noted that the focus of the models, designers, stylists and chefs in the competition was “unbelievable” and she praised the hard work of the behind the scenes personnel. Expressing gratitude to the sponsors and the persons who contributed in various ways; she was high in praise of

Agriculture Minister, Robert Persaud and his ministry’s endorsement of the culinary arts challenge.

The large audience embraced the models who battled it out on stage for a place in the top four in the respective categories and while the popular models were well supported by various fractions with the audience, but it was the plus size models who electrified the room.

For more info call 2263099 of email guyanafw@gmail.com

‘One’s character propels one beyond the walls of any limitations or challenges therefore I believe my intelligence, humility, determination coupled with my open mind will enable me to lucratively represent Barbados’.

An eloquent 19 year old humanitarian who ardently upholds solid morals and grabs every opportunity to motivate and elevate her fellow youths Miss Barbados Je-Meila Ramona Maloney stands proudly as her country’s ambassador in the Miss Jamzone International 2010 pageant.

Je-Meila is currently the Barbados Face of Shabeau Model Search winner and is attached to the Ebony Model agency also of Barbados. At the tender age of sixteen, Je-Meila joined forces with a friend and started a youth organization called the ‘Emerging Global Leaders of Barbados’, a youth organization that seeks to ‘empower all young people so as to creatively shape a better tomorrow’.  She was sent by ‘UNICEF Barbados’ to Chitose City Japan to represent the entire Caribbean and Latin America at the J8 Summit in 2008 ,an annual forum where young people from around the world meet and discuss global issues, and share their solutions with G8 leaders and the world community.  There she was selected to meet the G8 Leaders of 2008 where she advocated for child rights and other global issues.  An avid youth leader this young lady is the current ‘UNICEF Barbados’ youth advocate and is a dedicated volunteer for the National Council on substance Abuse and United Caribbean Trust.

An aspiring lawyer Ms. Barbados hopes to own a law firm by age thirty and is working fervently towards achieving this goal. Remarkably, at 5ft 7inches Je-Meila bears a striking mannequin resemblance and explains that she enjoys singing, dancing, acting and writing poetry.

Miss Maloney assures the public that she confronts any challenge with poise, dignity and optimism and she is confident that the Miss Jamzone International crown is the exact fit for her head!

Of the line up of seven local beauties listed to contest the Miss Guyana Earth title who ever wins the title will walk away   with the first crown designed and handcrafted by jeweller Lance Da Silva and was launched last Sunday at the swimsuit competition Crown was fabricated with sterling silver and features a combination of roses, butterflies, flowers, leaves, vines and fruits; colourfully adorned with semi-precious stones and accented with a piece of the rare and beautiful Snakewood - all natural symbols of Earth’s beauty and magnificence.

According to Da Silva all of the stones used in the Crown were found in the jungles of Guyana and cut and polished, cabochon style by the Guyana Geology & Mines Commission Lapidary Department.

Semi-precious stones used on the Crown include Amethyst, Agate, Fire agates and banded agates, Jasper: Red & brown, Quatrz: Rose and green, Granite and Snakewood piratinera guianensis.

Last week Sunday the delegates took to the stage at the Princess International Hotel in the swimsuit competition and proved quite a competitive bunch. The queen goes to Vietnam.

Jamaican comedian Oliver Samuels and his cast have arrive and are promising much excitement and family oriented edutainment for lucky digicel customers who won tickets to the Puppy Love.

That show is slated for show at National Cultural center tonight and on Saturday. The cast hosted a press conference yesterday at the Digicel Head office where they share a sample of what  patrons can expect when a married couple get old in their relationship grow apart and a young pretty miss get into the picture  and her love is strong for the more matured artist.

The other cast members are Dalia, Natasha and Earl. in this photo they share alight moment with Digicel head of Marketing Jacqueline James and PRO Shonette Moore.

Wildfire Entertainment’s heat for the Temperature Concert has reached boiling point! The final tally for the texting promotion is in and Wildfire Entertainment’s CEO, Jonathan Beepat, has made a very special announcement, “We are very pleased with the response from all of our supporters in the texting promotion.  In the end, it was Gyptian who had the most texts and is, technically, the winner. However, since Tarrus Riley was very close behind in the number of texts received, we realize that many fans in Guyana want to see Tarrus as well. All of our events is a WE ting, and so we have decided to give everyone their desire and bring both artists! Therefore, the Temperature concert will be featuring Tarrus Riley AND Gyptian! Wildfire Entertainment would like to thank everyone for participating and making it a WE ting!”
The concert will be held on July 3rd at the National Park. The early bird tickets were available for a short period and are already sold out. Regular Tickets are now $2,500 and are available at Beepats, Giftland Officemax, White Castle Fish Shop, Nanda’s Boutique, and the venue on the night itself. Wildfire is advising persons to buy tickets in advance as the gate price will be $3,000 and also would save them from having to stand in line to get tickets. Also, patrons are asked to purchase the tickets from official ticket outlets. There will be a VIP area for the event and these tickets will be limited and available through promotional activities of our sponsor partners. Sound PA will be provided by Slingerz international sound which has a brand new power system built for large capacity arenas. CEO of Slingerz, Javed Ali says, “We are happy to be the selected P.A. system for the Temperature concert and will not disappoint the expected huge crowd. Our new system was built on December 25 2009 and we have played at our Christmas Village night which featured Ding Dong, and our Anniversary at Joe Veira Park which featured the mighty Stone Love out of Jamaica. We are more than confident to be able to provide adequate sound and power for the event and the people can expect to have a great time with no fault of sound quality.” Light and stage gears will be provided by the Brutal Tracks Company who are also veterans in providing quality lighting and stage gears as they have done many events.
Warren Williams, Wildfire event manager, stated, “We have always ensured that our events are well secured and this one is no different. We have employed the police and a private security firm to handle the security aspect and we will also be providing secure parking for patrons.”
The local artists are Spidaman out of the Wildfire camp, and Mystic and Ilaman out of Brutal Tracks Recording Studio. Also being introduced to Guyana are two new Guyanese artists Eva blazin and Dublin. Dublin is a new addition to the Wildfire camp and holds promise. Musical entertainment for the evening will be provided by Stereosonics, Slingerz and Trendsetter. Our partners for the show are BTV2, Giftland Officemax, and our diamond sponsor Digicel, Guyana’s bigger better network. WE hope to see all the fans of the artists and Wildfire at the event to jumpstart the summer. The Temperature for the summer was rising, but now, with both Tarrus Riley and Gyptian on the concert, and who have great hits individually, it has just reached boiling point!

The Kross Kolor Studios artistes have yet another reason to celebrate victory following the finals of the Cellink Plus Kids stage competition last weekend at the Theatre Guild in Kingston.

After a night of very memorable competitive performances by the nation’s future entertainers KKR artiste Jiovinski proved the best in the 11-14 category of the inaugural Cellink Kids stage competition.

Initially the six month long competition started with more than three hundred children drawn from across Guyana displaying dance, dramatic poetry and singing but on finals night the line up was down to twenty one: ten in the 8-10 category and eleven in the 11-14 category.

Minus a few glitches the evening sparkled with mostly good performances by the majority and kudos is in order for the organizers almost show.

Jovinski performance of Michael Jackson’s classic ‘Rocking Robin’ was ahead of his game from the opening bars of the song to the very end. Dressed in a black scissors tail suit with red comber band, white shirt and black hat to top it off, Jovinski lived the song in every way.

He was probably the most relaxed performer and the one that communicated most effectively with the judges and the audience. Except for two occasions when the mike moved slightly away from his mouth he was right in the zone. As if his singing wasn’t enough, Jovinski showed that he also has got dance in his blood and this sent hi s performance over the top to finally get the judges nod.

The Judges were Dave Martins, Ron Robinson, Michelle Johnson, Paul Charles, Francis Bailey, Lavonne George, Charlene Wilkson, Michael Thompson, Lorraine Barker King and kenrick Cheeks.

Jovinski is the youngest performer on the Kross Kolor label and finds himself  among Guyanese music Royalty such as Three time Road march Queen Vanilla and people’s Choice award winner 2010, two time Chutney Monarch Rajesh Dubraj, Three time Soca Monarch Adrian Dutchin, Three time Junior  Calypso Monarch Wilbur “b52 ” Levans, Junior Calypso Monarch and HIV song contest winner Tennicia Defreitas and former Roadmarch Queen Big Red. The two other members of the KKR family are Jumo and Ossie O. Simon said his formula or the continued success of his artiste is always the same: long term planning, arduous practice, and efficient implementation.

By Mondale Smith

While some would think twice before they even consider it would you take someone into your home…a friend even? May be after viewing the soon to be released Guyanese movie you will be thinking differently.

Probably the lone most recent all Guyanese cast movie produced in recent times, ‘Till I Find A Place’ was filmed in Guyana and will be premiering in Guyana next week first at the National Cultural Center from June  23- 27. The movie will then be premiered at Lichas Hall Linden on July 10, Berbice: New Amsterdam on July 3 at Skeldon on July 4, and in Essequibo on July 11.

Film director and lead actor Mahadeo  Shivraj said the movie shot on location in Guyana and is based on an adaptation of Guyanese playwright Ronald Hollingsworth’s popular stage play, “Till Ah Find A Place”. The original play was written in 1991 and was re-written for movie by Shivraj.

He said “after acting in the play in Guyana I had directed it five times in NY and was an actor in it six times.”

The end result was him asking Ronald Holingsworth to make it into a movie and after filming in 2007 it was edited in 2009.  Some nine songs were also recorded for the movie and were done exclusively by Guyanese.

The movie’s Synopsis

Dave and Sonia lived in Georgetown and all was well until Sonia’s friend Donna makes an appearance at their home claiming that her house had been demolished in a storm. The time was 3 o’clock that morning.

She is accepted by Sonia against the wishes of her husband and was offered abode until she could find a place of her own.  Dave never liked Sonia because of a rumor that she was responsible for his wife believing that he was having an affair with another woman.

One can but imagine the fire and brimstone that may follow when Sonia (the Wife) had to leave temporary for the USA and Donna (the Friend) is left alone in the home with Dave (the Husband). As the events there after unravel patrons to the premier are guaranteed to be kept at the edge of your seats.

Unlike in other locally filmed movies where actors were imported to play lead roles all told it’s an all Guyanese cast of eight actors representing the realities of infidelity.

The cat and dog scenario grows when the husband, against the guest staying over get ahead of himself.  It becomes overbearing and the man decides tomorrow never comes and as is often the case much to the frustration of the husband. Heaven knows what happens when their hands accidentally meet. Will passion follow of a cuss out and bloody disaster?

The actors include Mahadeo Shivraj who plays the angry husband caught in a web of deceit, jealousy, intrigue and passion.

Rajan Tiwari and Andre Wiltshire are Dave’s Friends who are oblivious to the under currents while Linden Jumbie Jones is the guest’s boy friend who will live or die at the hands of an angry Dave and Donna is right in the middle of the cook up.

Cameo appearances will be played by Neaz Subhan, Petal Burnett, Kassia De Santos and Bibi Kadir.

Shivraj said “Its Guyanese, it’s as real as it gets and is rated 16 for a viewing audience aged years and older.”

This movie produced by Mahadeo Shivraj and stealth Productions with promotion from The Dramatic Arts Academy was filmed in 2007 and was edited in 2009.

Singers on the sound track include DJ Dutty Flex, Nadeer Bacchus, Rick Ramdehol, Eve Blazin and Rory Jagdeo while background music is produced by Avirodh Sharma.  Shivraj said after the movie premiers it goes to NY, Canada, Florida and all other places.

By Mondale Smith

After more than a month of training and mixed media publicity as well as three shows including a national costume segment and an intelligence segment; its time for the swimsuit competition.

Reports from the competition coordinator Pamela Dillon are that the delegates will compete at the Princess Buddies Hotel in Swimwear on Sunday June 13. “The girls have been trained well and will be showcasing a selected competition swimwear as well another of their choice.  Additionally there will be much on the offer with side entertainment from several Guyanese artistes such as Malo, Big Red, Rajesh Dubraj and Tennecia Defreitas as well as Classique Dancers.  From an original line up of nine the line up is now down to the final is set for June 26. Their swim suits are designed by Vastie Harlequin and a list of various Guyanese designers.

Let’s meet the delegates:

Delegate # 1
Marcia Badal age 23 boasts statistics of 33-25-35 and stands at a height of 5′7″.  She is employed as a script Writer for National Communications Network and is Sponsored by National Communications Network. He PLATFORM is Sustainable Logging and she loves Basketball.

Delegate # 2
Anesha Benjamin age 23 is sponsored by Forest Enterprises Ltd. Her PLATFORM is Responsible Garbage Disposal and she say that the environment is everyone’s business and all should do their part to preserve it. ” littering in any form is a definite no no because it can cause much harm to the earth and  the earth is our only home so I’m advising that we take more care and caution when we go to dispose  of our waste and garbage,” she  told this publication.  She loves reading, listening to Music and Traveling. Her statistics are 34-24-34 and she stands at a height of 5′9″ with sights set on becoming an Air hostess she’s currently a Customer Service Representative.

Delegate #3
Velisha Easton age 21 is sponsored by:  Y& J International Cuisine and she loves dancing and surfing the net. Her ultimate goal is to become a nurse as she has a hear for caring people back to heath.  Her vital statistics are 32-24-34 and she stands at a height of 5′7″. Her platform is renewable energy.

Delegate # 4

Franale Holder age 21 is Miss Sun Lite International. Her hobbies include cooking, singing, dancing and modeling.  Her platform is project clean air and her vital statistics are 32-23-34. She stands at a height of height; 5′4″

Delegate #5
Shellon Fraser is Miss Lucky Dollar. This 22 year-old says she loves; modeling, and dancing. Her vital statistics are 32-24-34 and she a professional Administrative Assistant. As a Guyana hopeful beauty ambassador to the Miss Earth International Pageant in Vietnam her platform is ‘using plastics wisely’.

Delegate # 6
Soyini Fraser is a confident self assertive 19-year-old. Sponsored by Unicom her vital statistics are 36-26-36 and she stands at a height; 5′9″. Her hobbies include dancing. She’s student pursuing tertiary education and her platform is ‘reduction of greenhouse gasses.’ She’s a dancer with the Classique dance theater.

Delegate #7
Kiswana Jefford age 19 is focused on ‘Embracing controlled logging’ as her platform. A legal clerk at present she’s also a second year student at the University of Guyana UG. Her hobbies include dancing. This Miss Guyana Talented Teen second runner up is a confident articulate but quiet beauty who says has all the right qualities to be a Guyanese beauty ambassador to the world.

By Mondale Smith

Taking Guyana’s fashion to the world

Fresh back from showcasing her new world Sonia Noel Resort line in Tobago and her Mariska’s line with shades of pink in support of breast cancer awareness Sonia Noel is now focused on Guyana Fashion Weekend 2010.

The ever busy designer told this publication that all focus is now set on making the 2010 even grander than in years past. “Guyana Fashion Weekend is set for Oct 30 and 31 at The Pegasus Hotel and will feature designers from Guyana as well as international designers and some from the Caribbean.

As a prelude, registration for hopeful local designers to the event commences on Tuesday June 15 and ends on Saturday. This is the word from GFW CEO Sonia Noel as she encourages new designers to present sketches and one or two complete pieces during the period at her Silhouette showroom Barr Street Kitty at the former Rayon House of Fashion building.  She also let up that among the lot of designers will be Guyana Born Diaspora based designers.

After showcasing her creations on many Caribbean catwalks, Sonia Noel’s first fashion weekend show was staged in August of 2007 and has since been staged at the Buddies Hotel, the Georgetown Cricket Club Ground. The event normally features regional and international designers as well as models. This year’s event will feature as special focus on Breast Cancer awareness. Meanwhile the Search for Guyana’s next top model male, female and full figured and chef is soon to climax. Noel can be contacted on 226-3099.

By Mondale Smith