Our sincerest condolences are extended to our dear friend Thomasine (Kyte ’68) Daniels  whose mom, Mrs. Fawsett Kyte,  passed away in March 2008.  Thomasine’s mom lived with her in California and interment took place in Guyana.

Thomasine, you are in our thoughts and prayers and we know you took great care of your Mom during her illness.

I know you would have liked to attend the August 2008 Reunion but for the fact that tickets are no longer available.

Thomasine’s family was the owner of  the bus “Duke of York”.

INTERVIEWING THE PRESIDENT OF GUYANA  - by Farook Juman

It was an honor and privilege, beyond any shadow of doubt, to be selected by a non-Caribbean TV Network to interview the Guyana Head of State and later some of his senior officials.  It was also a great experience to do this interview for such a strong TV Netwok loaded with state-of-the art equipment.

Since I was called upon on short notice to undertake this assignment I knew I would be winging it.  I had three sessions with President Jagdeo who indicated in advance that he was willing to field any questions I may have.  I knew I had to ask balanced questions given the diversity of the network’s viewership while at the same time being fair to the President – never an easy task!

Mr. Jagdeo and I had a few minutes to chat informally before we were asked to be seated and the control room signalled for the cameras to roll.  Mr. Jagdeo was well-dressed, collected and at ease.  I could tell he was used to this.   To be honest I don’t remember what my first question was, but as he was answering I was able to get my thoughts together and after that it was smooth sailing all the way.

I questioned the President about his government’s plans and preparation for CARIFESTA and about the related security, transporation and accommodation logistics issues.  Moving on from there I asked about his recent visit to England, his government’s policy relating to climate change, deforestation, crime-fighting, infrastructural developments and intelligence. 

The bosses at RAVI TV Network expressed their satisfaction with my professionalism and have indicated an interest in having me anchor live programs.

It was a proud day for me and I hope for all you CHS-JCCSS folks out there!!

Farook Juman ‘73

President Jagdeo and Farook Juman

Press release posted at:

http://chs-jccss.org/blog/2008/06/22/321/#comments

Last Day in Form 4A

CHS-JCCSS Website Analytics

In the past week our website received 779 visits from the following 10 countries:

Belgium |Canada | Germany |Guyana | India | Nicaragua | Netherland Antilles | Switzerland | UK | USA

Source: Google Analytics

Going forward I will no longer be posting these stats as some may find it boring, repetitious, and it may even sound like blowing our own trumpet.

Rishi

David & Violet Latchana – A Golden Wedding Anniversary

by Sid Latchana

On May 31, 2008, two former students of C.H.S., David and Violet Latchana, celebrated their 50^th Wedding Anniversary and David also celebrated his 75^th Birthday. The dual celebration took place at Malvern Presbyterian Church in Scarborough, Toronto, and was attended by over 100 guests, including many C.H.S. graduates. Both David and Violet are active members of this church. (more…)

Farook interviews President Jagdeo on Pakistan TV

President Bharrat Jagdeo was interviewed over the weekend by Farook Juman in NY on Ravi Pakistan TV channel.  Mr. Jagdeo is currently in NY to launch CARIFESTA. 

CARIFESTA (Caribbean Festival of Arts) was the brainchild of Prime Minister Forbes Burnham and the festival was first held in Georgetown, Guyana in July/August 1972.

This interview was a notable achievement for Farook to be selected by a non-Guyanese TV channel to conduct the interview. The CEO of the  Pakistan Network started discussions with Farook Juman almost immediately after the interview to have him on Ravi TV channel for live programs and to incorporate other programs on the Network. Farook is scheduled to do additional interviews of other Government officials later in the week.

Farook is an old boy of CHS, class of 1973. 

“My Missionary Journeys” by Fr. Joseph Chira, S.J

Fr. Chira, a former CHS master,  was the guest speaker at our August 2006 Reunion in Toronto.  He now lives in Kerala, India and has written a book on his life.  Here is how he remembers that reunion, a reunion which has now taken its place in legend.

“There was a grand reunion of former teachers and students of CHS-JCCSS in August 2006 in Toronto, Canada.  Rishi Singh, together with an efficient team (Patsy, Jackie, Dee, Sher, Netram and many others), organized the grand meeting.  The organizers sent me ticket and money to travel to Toronto to be the keynote speaker at their 7^th. special gathering.  On the day I went to the large hotel auditorium I had no idea whom and what I would see.  Men and women, elegantly dressed, appeared from all over.  They were former teachers and students of the school in Guyana where I once taught.  While all of them were beautifully and formally dressed, I was the only one dressed in my usual simple Guyanese shirt-jac.  To look more formal I had to ask for a tie.  My friend, Chaitram Singh, kindly tied it around my neck.

“There was a huge dinner.  Former students of CHS had come from many parts of the USA and Canada.  A few had come from very far like Japan, UK, Germany.  I realized that there was a huge Guyanese diaspora in the States and in Canada.  They do help various projects in CHS and in Berbice as a whole.  For me it was wonderful to see students whom I taught and teachers with whom I moved now living and working abroad.  They looked well.  I thanked God for them.

“After the event I took the occasion to visit my Jesuit friends.  Fr. Michael Coutts, S.J., took me to the retreat centre and infirmary for the sick and elderly Jesuits in Pickering, Ontario.”

Extract from “My Missionary Journeys” by Fr. Joseph Chira, S.J

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Reunion Meeting in NY – pics

FINALIZING REUNION PLANS

A Reunion Committee meeting was held on Saturday June 14, 2008 at Our Saviour Lutheran Church 90-04 175 Street, Jamaica, NY 11432 to finalize reunion plans.  Present were: Ashook Ramsaran ’64; Rodney Gocool ’64; Martin Lalsingh ’67; Netram Rambudhan ’69; Rishi Singh ’71; and Mrs. Bibi Farina Hydar ’77.