THE FUNERAL OF AMARA JOE
(Guyana Chronicle October 2, 1977)
ROOTS: Sunday October 2nd from 6 PM National Sports Hall; Featuring the Funeral of Amara Joe: performers include Yoruba Singers Brass Mechanics; After Dark Movement and Sound Dimension. See and hear for the first time on stage from LINKS, the GT # I singing group; LENNIE D; Haffar Afro Beat Dancers, Aubrey Cummings; Sammy Baksh and others.

MUSEUM TEAM FOR RIO REWA EXPEDITION
(Guyana Chronicle October 18, 1977)
A three man Guyana Museum expeditionary team left Georgetown yesterday for the Rewa river area in the Rupununi District in search of a new collection of swamp and forest birds as well as other mammals and species of fish.
The Rewa expeditionary team as it is called is led by well known naturalist N.O.Poonai and includes Chief Taxidermist Balram Singh and Reynold Benfield of the Taxidermist Department of the Guyana Museum.
The expeditionary team will be based at Apoteri village near the Rewa River, a tributary of the Rupununi River.
Some work will also be done up and down the Essequibo River.
Expedition leader Poonai said that it is the function of all museums to renew and update their collections and to have the latest information on the ecology of different parts of the country.

STUDY-GROUP EMPHASISES VALUE OF ARCHAEOLOGY
(Guyana Chronicle October 20, 1977)
Top local and overseas experts in various related scientific fields Tuesday agreed that there is need for documentation and preservation of archaeological findings especially from the Upper Mazatuni area.
The consensus was as follows: “We must attempt to know more of our past if we are to make rational plans for our future.”
They agreed too that the air of ignorance about the value of archaeology has to be cleared away so that support could be gained from the politicians, government officials and the public at large on something that has national significance.
The experts have been meeting at the Theatre Guild Playhouse in Kingston to discuss topics related to:”Human Ecology and Environmental Management.”
The discussion stemmed from a paper on “Archaeological Salvage on the Mazaruni River” which was presented by Director of Art in the Department of Culture, Dennis Williams .

TEENAGED GIRL DIES A DAY BEFORE HER WEDDING
(Guyana Chronicle October 4, 1977)
A teenage bride-to-be collapsed and died just one day before her wedding.
She is Bibi Halima Ali, 18, of Reliance Settlement East Canje.
Reports stated that Bibi’s parents and other relatives had prepared for the ceremony.
The tent was erected, invitations were sent out and everyone in the family and the neighbourhood looked forward to the wedding.
Last Saturday night just twelve hours prior to the wedding Bibi’s parents held a religious function in her honour.
The young woman was said to be in high spirits welcomed the guests and chatted freely with them.
But around 10 p.m. after the service and while she was sharing sweetmeats to her guests she collapsed.
She was rushed to the New Amsterdam public hospital where she died about one hour later without regaining consciousness.
The Chronicle understands that the would-be husband whose name was given as Boyo Ramdat is also 18 years old and is employed at Rose Hall Estate Canje.
He too had planned a big reception for the occasion.

COURT FINES FIFTEEN JAYWALKERS
(Guyana Chronicle October 7, 1977)
The campaign against careless use of the roads by pedestrians which is being waged by the Police Traffic Department gained momentum when 15 jaywalkers were fined $50 each at a city court on charges of walking carelessly on the roads.
Senior Magistrate Norma Jackman imposed the fines after the defendants had pleaded guilty to a charge of walking in a manner likely to cause obstruction to vehicles using the roadway.
The Magistrate issued arrest warrants for nine other jaywalkers who failed to appear in court to answer the charge.
On the previous day Magistrate Lashley Babb fined seven other jaywalkers $15 each.

FIVE FREAK PUMPKINS
(Guyana Chronicle October 24, 1977)
Five pumpkins weighing 47 lbs each from a single vine were harvested by the farming family of Leslie Babb at Danielstown Essequibo.
Visitors flocked the Babb garden to witness the “freak “ production.
While they had all seen one pumpkin from a vine weighing 47 lbs or more they had never before seen so many big pumpkins all from one vine. Nor does the Agri expert there recall this kind of; production before.
Farmer Babb celebrated his “luck” by giving away his rich haul to residents.
He pointed out that in any case there is no commercial outlet for such a heavy haul in his district.
On the same vine there are half a dozen pumpkinettes.
Villagers are waiting to see if the earlier results will be duplicated.
Farmer Babb does not hazard a guess for his “luck”.
He used no fertiliser beyond manure from his pig run.
One of the biggest pig farmers in the district, he has seventy head which he hopes to market in three batches in the next three months.
Farmer Babb is assisted by his wife and seven children.

“GUIDING” AN AVENUE FOR GIRLS TO DEVELOP MUCH NEEDED ABILITIES- JARVIS
(Guyana Chronicle November 14, 1977)
The Chief Commissioner of Guides Ms Carmen Jarvis has said that Guiding can develop girls into disciplined citizens possessing skills resourcefulness and attitudes needed got the progress of Guyana.
Ms. Jarvis was at the time addressing the Annual General Meeting of the Girl’s Guide Movement at the Brickdam Headquarters of the organization Monday last.
Attending the meeting were Commissioners, Guiders, Rangers, Brownies friends of the Guides and parents.
She said that Guiding’s relevance to the country’s development and its competence in meeting the challenge of change made it indispensable to the needs of young people.
She added though that the organisation’s greatest challenge is still the recruitment of leaders and added that the membership is approximately 1,800 Commissioner Guides, Rangers, Guides and Brownies and remains fairly stable.
These numbers she said could be substantially increased if the organisation could find the leaders in the areas where they are needed especially in the rural areas.
The Commissioner then appealed to members and friends to join movement in its search for leaders who will come forward and help in this “ very worthwhile programme of training” for girls.

(Clifford Stanley can be reached to discuss any of the foregoing articles at cliffantony@gmail.com or cell phone # 657 2043)