Black Immigrant Daily News

By Andrew Carmichael

The Sunshine Garden, which is situated at Now or Never, Mahaicony, Region Five (Mahaica-Berbice), and known as the Fairy House, is the ideal place for beautiful nature photographs without going to an expensive faraway resort.

Known for its serenity, the Sunshine Garden combines tropical flowers with exotic shrubs and displays them in the most attractive way.

It is equipped with a chapel and is quite suitable for weddings, as it also carries a “Just Married” sign with an extended nature background.

The Sunshine Garden is a must see, even if it is just for five minutes on a trip to Berbice or from Berbice to the capital, Georgetown.

It might just be the only tourist destination that is free, or still free.

Owner and operator Nadira Pooran said she did not set out to have a tourist site, noting that most persons are initially attracted by the ‘Fairy House’ which is a unique house now filled with storybooks for kids and other items for them to play with.

These only came into being after the house started getting so much of attention.

“It is what the people make it,” Pooran said with a chuckle when this publication asked what Sunshine Garden was all about.

“Whatever you see here I always loved but it seems like people love it more than me,” the chuckle continued.

The building was constructed as a prayer house and initially used for that purpose.

The 55-year-old farmer said while moving the house from its former location at De Kinderen to its current location at Now or Never, persons were taking pictures of it as they had it on a truck along the road.

When the house was set up at its new location, people just started visiting to take pictures as they were fascinated with it.

Pooran said while it was not her intention to have it as a tourist attraction, she is not disappointed that it turned out this way.

“I make new friends every day.”

While it is not a business venture, Pooran said she is thinking about making it one.

“It needs maintenance so I am thinking about turning it into a business.”

The facility, apart from having a corner for weddings, is also equipped with a changing room and washroom.

Unfortunately, many times when people go, Pooran and her husband are at the farm and not available to entertain them.

Speaking on the investment needed to take the facility where she now wants it to be, Pooran said she needs to provide a better washroom and a cafeteria. She said she would also like to upgrade the walkway around the facility.

“But we can’t afford it right now and nobody don’t really help you. The Government never really help me or give me anything. I would like them to help me to get a little walkway, a washroom and a cafeteria…”

She said she once approached the Government seeking assistance but was denied.“One time they were giving money to small businesses but when I approached them, they said that it is closed, so I didn’t get anything.”

That was earlier this year, Pooran added, while noting that First Lady Arya Ali also visited the facility.

“She came to visit but she didn’t offer anything.”

“I would be happy if we can get a little help from anybody because we can’t really afford to maintain this place.”

Pooran said she would be willing to enter into a partnership with businesspersons who are willing to assist.

Meanwhile, Acting Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority, Kamrul Baksh when asked by this publication of plans to aid in the development of that tourist facility said he is unaware of any plans to try to assist that facility.

“It would certainly do well if we can meet with the facility owner to share some ideas to enhance the area. It is certainly one of the more popular stops on the route (referring to tourist destinations the media was taken to). There are others on the route. In fact, we are exploring other areas that we can work on; for example, there is an owner with several ranches that we want to work with and to open the area up.”

He said there are many attractions that are not as popular as the Fairy House and the role of the GTA is to ensure that those come to light.

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Hosts Qatar opened the 2022 FIFA World Cup in calamitous fashion, easily beaten by Ecuador in a humbling defeat at Al Bayt.

Qatar’s erratic goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb brought Valencia down in the box and the ex-West Ham forward stepped up to convert the spot-kick.

It got worse for the hosts as Valencia powered in another header before half-time to leave the Al Bayt Stadium silenced at the break.

Many supporters who had left the stadium at the interval did not return, leaving the ground around half empty for much of the second period.

It contributed to a flat atmosphere both off and on the pitch, with Romario Ibarra’s curling shot being pushed out by Al-Sheeb.

Star men Almoez Ali and captain Hassan Al Haydos were both substituted with 20 minutes remaining, and the side were unable to muster a shot on target.

Ecuador, meanwhile, have set themselves up in a superb position to progress, extending their excellent recent form to one defeat in 16 games and keeping a clean sheet in their last seven.

They were clearly the better side and had the ball in the back of the net after 160 seconds, but Valencia’s close range header was ruled for offside by VAR.

There was confusion as to why the goal did not stand, but Felix Torres’ initial challenge with the goalkeeper fell to Michael Estrada in an offside position.

Ecuador were all over Qatar, whose goalkeeper Al Sheeb was particularly shaky and he brought down Valencia, who coolly rolled in the penalty.

Qatar barely had a sniff and their first shot came in anger when defender Abdelkarim Hassan strode forward but his effort from range was blazed wildly over.

Star man Ali, who scored nine goals in the Asian Cup triumph, struggled to get into the game and headed wide, while Pedro Miguel headed did the same in the second half.

With much of the crowd already leaving to go home, Akram Afif and substitute Mohammed Muntari both smashed over to bring to an end a disappointing opening evening for Qatar. [Extracted from BBC Sport]

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Black Immigrant Daily News

Récolte abondante, millésime “exceptionnel” et demande toujours en hausse: l’édition 2022 de la vente des vins des Hospices de Beaune, les plus anciennes enchères caritatives au monde…

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Black Immigrant Daily News

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Black Immigrant Daily News

There is an adage which says, “ya can find a Bajan anywhere,” and this winter in Qatar at the FIFA World Cup(TM), you will find sports enthusiast and Black Rock resident, Pedro McClean.

McClean has been selected from amongst 500,000 applicants to be an international volunteer for the biggest show on the sports calendar.

The avid Manchester United and Empire Sports Club fan said he was initially doing research to attend the FIFA World Cup(TM) as a spectator but came across information which requested competent personnel to assist at the tournament in Qatar.

“I’m looking forward to meeting people to be honest, and it is the FIFA World Cup(TM). This is the largest sporting event in the world and the stadium I am registered to will be hosting the final”

“Originally, I was looking for tickets for the games and one of the sections marked volunteer, so I clicked on it, found out what was the procedure, and it was basically a step-by-step process of seven steps.

You had to be fully vaccinated for sure, have some sort of experience and after they read your application, you had to do an interview, which was done in June”, McClean explained.

McClean was deemed the ideal candidate due to his domestic and international experience.

Firstly, as a Concacaf licensed coach, an active member of the Empire Sports Club technical team, and most significantly his tenure in a similar volunteer position at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) games in Mexico and Taiwan in 2017 and 2017 respectively.

“During my internship I had worked with the social media team (of FISU), and I was an attach? responsible for team China and it wasn’t even a familiar sport to me, it was actually American football”.

McClean emphasized that one important thing his experiences has taught him, is to always be prepared.

McClean commutes via train to rehearsals ahead of the start of the tournament

“I try to do a lot more research when I get involved. Before I went to Taiwan, I even went and learn a bit of Chinese at UWI every week.

Mexico was a bit shaky because I didn’t know what I was doing until I got there and then I did a bit of everything, even announcing sometimes”, said McClean.

The Sports Management graduate lauded tutors Ms Marcia Oxley and Dr June Caddle for their tutelage and guidance, which he believes has equipped him for this life-changing experience in the Middle East.

A socialite in the sporting industry, McClean said he is looking forward to experiencing new relationships the most, during his tenure in Qatar.

This is his highlight, even though he is deployed to the largest stadium in the tournament; the Lusail Iconic Stadium, which has a capacity of 80,000 and will be the venue for the tournament final.

“I’m looking forward to meeting people to be honest, and it is the . This is the FIFA World Cup(TM) largest sporting event in the world and the stadium I am registered to will be hosting the final.

I will be working with spectator services, basically making sure that all spectators are comfortable, and anything relating to the fans.”

According to McClean’s knowledge, he is the only representative Barbados who will be at the World Cup in this capacity, and he believes it due to a lack of information.

“I believe the majority of the time, it’s not knowing.

I did tell a few persons when I found out that I will be doing it and I tried to encourage them, but sometimes people aren’t ready to take that leap of faith”, he said.

McClean advised persons who are sports fanatics like himself and want to contribute to sports at a global level, while enjoying the experience, to do their research, trust the process, have faith, just make that first step.

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