TALES FROM WAY BACK WHEN (a look at some of the stories that made the news “back-in-the-day with Clifford Stanley)

DOROTHY BAYLEY IS DEAD
(Guyana Chronicle January 3, 1979)
Guyana’s first woman Lord Mayor Mrs. Dorothy Bayley M.B.E died at the Georgetown Hospital on Monday after a long illness. She was 65.Described as one of the pioneers of what is now known as the “Women’s Lib” movement, Mrs. Bayley entered the City Council in 1957 as a nominated member and served as a Deputy Mayor in 1965 and 1966.
She was elected Lord Mayor in 1967.
Despite her charming personality, Mrs. Bayley was always able to stand up to her opponents at Council meetings and was always able to hold her own ground with dignity.
As a leading Councillor, social and church worker for many years, Mrs. Bayley served on the Perogative of Mercy Committee for some time and held top posts in the Catholic Church.
Mrs. Bayley led Guyana’s team at the inaugural flight between Guyana and Venezuela in 1967 and was awarded the “Freedom of Caracas.”
Her death came a few months after that of her husband the late Dr. R.T.Bayley.
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BABIES GOING METRIC
(Guyana Chronicle January 1, 1979)
The Guyana Metrication Board (GMB) is to publicise the birth weights and other relevant statistics of the first male and female babies on New Year’s Day at four hospitals in the country.
The GMB in collaboration with the International Year of the Child Commission (IYCC) Research Committee has decided as part of its public awareness programme to make public these information of children born at public hospitals in Georgetown, Linden, New Amsterdam and Suddie.
The GMB as a continuing exercise will continue to monitor and publish every six months the growth and development of these infants.
It is hoped that this exercise would closely assist in promoting metrication within the hospitals and maternity and child welfare clinics and at national levels.
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GUYANA’S SKYLINE DISCO
(Guyana Chronicle January 6th 1979)
The Penthouse presents for your entertainment the sounds of the INNER CIRCLE. Skyline Disco is Air Cooled with comfortable seating accommodation. Elevator service is available for your comfort. Dancing on two floors. It is nice to be at Skyline Disco.
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DESERTED JONESTOWN BLESSED
(Guyana Chronicle January 15, 1979)
Just 50 days after the tragedy which claimed the lives of 911 members of the People’s Temple, including 284 children, the lands and deserted buildings at Jonestown were blessed by Roman Catholic Priest Fr. Alan Fortune.
Fr. Fortune was accompanied at the blessing ceremony by Cadet Officer Rampersaud and Sergeant Hercules of the Guyana Police Force and representatives of the Port Kaituma and Matthews Ridge communities.
Prayers were offered at the newly established Jonestown Police Station for the members of the Force now entrusted with the security of the site.
Earlier the same day a simple blessing ceremony was also conducted at the Port Kaituma airstrip where the incident involving US Congressman Leo Ryan took place.
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TAILOR’S BODY FREED OF NEEDLE AFTER FIVE YEARS
(Guyana Chronicle January 23, 1979)
Thirty-one year old tailor Balram Ramnarine walked into the Chronicle Editorial Offices last week and said: ”Thank God the needle is out . I am happy and relieved.”
In his hand was a sewing needle without the eye.
It was darkish in colour and had been in his body for five years, paining him, causing him downright misery, then “giving me an ease” as he put it ”only to stab me with pain afterwards.
Balram who resides at Angoy’s Avenue New Amsterdam, eventually went to the New Amsterdam Hospital for help..
X-Rays were taken and showed the needle was lodged in his body far away from where it went in his mouth.
Dr. Trilokie Seth, resident surgeon, performed an operation and extracted the needle.
Balram, rated as a good tailor by his customers, was sewing a pair of trousers with a needle in his mouth as tailors do when “basing garments.”
The needle slipped down his throat while he was gaffing with friends.
“Sometimes I could not work,” he related.
“You talk about pain?”
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BEGGAR JAILED FOR A MONTH
(Guyana Chronicle January 13, 1979)
A 50-year old man who was caught by a member of the City Constabulary begging for alms in a public place was sentenced to a month’s imprisonment by City Magistrate Haroon Bacchus.
The Court was told that Kunjan of Annandale Squatting area , at about 8 a.m on July 25 was seen sitting on the northern pavement of Church Street in front of Guyana Stores Ltd. with an infant child in his arms begging members of the public for money.
The man was warned to remove from the pavement but when the Constable returned about half an hour later, he found him still sitting there begging.
He was arrested and charged with placing himself in a public way to solicit alms.
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GUYANA GETS FIIRST FOLKLORE MANUAL
(Guyana Chronicle January 3, 1979)
Guyana’s first folklore manual “Oooiy” has just had its initial printing run and went on sale last weekend to a public long starved for such reading materials.
Called Oooiy after the popular creolese salutation, the manual is a small but attractive affair designed by folkloris Wordsworth McAndrew and backed by the Chase Manhattan Bank.
As with the programme “What Else” in which the Bank and McAndrew teamed up to give radio listeners an enjoyable yet informative folklore package every Wednesday night , Oooiy aims at increasing knowledge and love of things Guyanese including our native language creolese.
Striking pictures of Kali Mai Puja rituals adorn the front and inside pages and there are articles on Kali Mai, Typee ( a special Guyanese form of lovesickness) and the creolese word “Oooiy” from which the manual takes its name.
Also included is an illustrated Guyanese proverb done in pen and ink by artist Stanley Greaves who also designed the manual’s unusual name plate.
Because it aims mainly at folk reading, “Oooiy” will be sold at such grassroots places as Big Market in Georgetown and cake-shops in New Amsterdam, but would be readers in the country can order post-paid copies by writing to the editor and enclosing a postal order
Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043.

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