(A look at some of the stories that made the news ‘back-in-the-day’ with CLIFFORD STANLEY)

Geologists start shell reef survey
(The Guyana Chronicle: July 6, 1976)

TEAMS from the Geological Survey, under Geologists N. Singh and N. Persaud, last week began a detailed survey of shell reefs along Guyana’s coastlands.
The surveys are expected to take the teams, in some cases, as far as four miles inland where famers have indicated that they have seen shell reefs, particularly in the vicinity of Victoria and Hope, East Coast Demerara.
Shell reefs have been reported at Moruca and Waini, in the Northwest Region. Guyana’s shell reefs are believed to have their origin thousands of years ago, when the sea swept  several miles inland.
It later regressed, leaving deposits of seashells in its trail.
It is believed that the shells, when processed, would produce limestone, a soil conditioner which assists in the control of soil acidity.
The shells may also produce quicklime, a major component for cement manufacture.
The current surveys are concentrated in the Demerara-Corentyne areas  where transportation costs would be at the minimum.
Guyana spends nearly a quarter of a million dollars on limestone annually.

GDF officers injured in copter accident
(The Guyana Chronicle: July 7, 1976)

THREE Officers of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were injured in an accident during a routine helicopter flight near the Linden-Timehri Highway yesterday afternoon.
The officers, who were air-dashed from the scene to the Camp Ayanghanna Headquarters of the GDF, were admitted to the Georgetown Hospital around 5.30 o’clock yesterday afternoon.
They are the pilot, Major Anthony Mekdeci, Lieut-Col. Vernon St. A. Williams, and Captain Clarence Gordon.
A report from Army Headquarters said last night that the officers were on a routine flight in the helicopter when the accident occurred near Low Creek, about a mile from the highway.
Though the GDF spokesman could not say how serious were the injuries, it was reported that the Air Arm Officers were flown from the crash scene to Camp Ayanghanna, and transferred to the Georgetown Hospital.

The Equals are coming
(The Guyana Chronicle: July 9, 1976)

THE Equals group, led by Guyanese Eddy Grant and one of the most rhythmic bands to have come on the scene, will be coming to Guyana in August.
The Equals have often been placed upon that pedestal with the Beatles and the Rolling Stones for dynamism and creating such an intensifying impact in the realms of truly ingenuous music, so much so that they have been awarded 12 coveted Gold Records for their achievements of producing records which have commanded sales of over a million copies.
The group has continued to grow into a force to be reckoned with for their late releases ‘Hello Africa’  and ‘Georgetown Girl’  have literally ripped the scene  in the last couple of months, with sheer driving force and avant garde approach to modern musical representation and meaning.
Their tour will commence on August 27th through to the 30th in Trinidad , thence to Barbados on September 1 to 4.
Guyanese audiences will   appreciate the fact that Eddy will be coming with his full complement  of musicians.
Added to all this will be Eddy’s famous synthesizer and the guitar which helped him carve his image in musical accomplishments  today — the Gibson.
Of course, Guyanese will remember that Eddy visited  in April, and a spate of publicity followed the release of his ‘Hello Africa’  L.P.
Since he has been returning home, he has always come alone.
This is the first time that patrons and aficionados will see live a group of The Equals status throughout the entire Caribbean, though the group has toured extensively in Europe.
We will again be on time to see yet another launching of another Eddy Grant and The Equals masterpiece on wax, ‘SOUL PEPPER’ as the LP is entitled.
This record will be coming, and will be getting down strong to highlight the fact that The Equals are possibly the funkiest, grooviest and the baddest, hottest musicians today.
The LP will be released in time for the tour. (Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043)