‘Giglioli in Guyana, 1922 – 1972’
By Denis Williams
IN THE book, ‘Giglioli in Guyana’, the writer, Denis Williams, examined the life and work of George Giglioli, likening each crucial event in the doctor’s life to an ‘ambush’. The most significant ambush was the one leading to the eradication of the dreaded malaria disease in Guyana, resulting in increased production in all sectors of industry, especially in the sugar industry.
The malaria scourge was wreaking havoc in the sugar industry due to loss of working hours caused by absence from duty, prolonged hospitalisation, and frequent deaths in the labour population.
Other ambushes in Giglioli’s life were also vital to the economic, social and political wellbeing of Guyana. During the long haul towards the eradication of malaria in Guyana, Giglioli made other medical and healthcare breakthroughs in filaria, Blackwater fever, yellow fever, enteric, chronic nephritis (Bright’s Desease), megalo-cytic anaemia and hookworm.
Two other ambushes of note were, firstly, that the man destined to save Guyana at one time interned at His Majesty’s Penal Settlement at Mazaruni as an enemy alien; and, secondly,  he was jobless after his release from prison. These two ambushes offered him greater mobility to pursue his life’s passion – the eradication of malaria.
George Giglioli was born in Naples, Italy, in 1897. He “graduated from the Royal University of  Pisa in 1921 as a Doctor of Medicine. In 1922, he obtained a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from London, and in 1925, a Diploma in Dermatology and Venereology from Paris. In 1932, he got a Diploma of the Superior School of Malariology.”
The story of Giglioli is an absorbing read enhanced by the beautiful prose writing of Denis Williams. (Williams authored two published novels: ‘Other Leopards’ and ‘The Third Temptation’, among other academic literature.)

‘British policy towards the Amerindians in British Guiana: 1803-1873’
By Mary N. Menezes, RSM
THE BOOK, ‘British Policy Towards the Amerindians in British Guiana, 1803-1873’, gives a background to European’s interest in British Guiana, starting with the magnetic pull of El Dorado; colonisation by the Dutch, Spanish, English; the changing fortunes of the country; the story of sugar and slavery; and indentured labour and the role of missionaries.
This background information was necessary in order for the writer to put her issue into perspective.
The book, ‘British Policy Towards the Amerindians in British Guiana, 1803-1873’ covers 70 years of British colonial rule of British Guiana and what transpired during those significant dates, 1803 and 1873.
1803 was the year when the Dutch handed over the colony to the British, and 1873  the year when there was a major policy change — the abolition of the post, Superintendents of Rivers and Creeks, described as a “pivotal moment” in the history of Guyana.
The book ‘British Policy Towards the Amerindians in British Guiana, 1803-1873’ is significant, in that it fills a gap in the history of Guyana by highlighting a previously unexplored issue.
Previous scholarships on Guyana focused mainly on sugar, slave and indentured labour with cursory references to the welfare of the First Peoples of this country. This slight was due mainly to the fact that the Amerindian was, “from time immemorial, a rover, a wanderer through his forest home.”
Before 1803, the Dutch had cemented a good working relationship with the Amerindians. The two parties started off on a good note, which was described as “mutually beneficial trade.” This relationship moved to another level when the Amerindians were employed in the internal defence (policing of runaway slaves) and external defence of the country – “keeping the Spanish at bay.”
The Dutch also bestowed gifts upon the native and appointed post-holders who were the “key players in the implementation of the Dutch policy towards the Amerindian population.”
When the British took over in 1803, they continued in the same vein until things fell apart. There were many reasons for this, including the promised (gifts) were “often tardy and inconsistent,” and the Amerindians considered themselves free people, making British law incompatible with the law of the jungle. So, the administration of the Amerindian by the British was a work-in-progress, rule-of-thumb attitude. Stretch this attitude over 70 years, and imagine the damage done to the First Peoples of Guyana.
So, ‘British Policy Towards the Amerindians in British Guiana, 1803-1873’ is an important handbook on how to treat the Amerindian as real human beings.

WHAT’S HAPPENING:
•    THE JOURNEY: An Evening of Literature (Part XIII) is coming your way soon.
•    Look out Region Seven, the Guyana Book Foundation’s Annual National Book Fair is coming your way on November 2, and 3, 2011, at the Bartica Resource Centre. The theme: ‘Books: A key to our growth and development’.
(To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)