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Search on for first Miss Guyana Earth Queen- Simpli Royal

Miss Earth's Top FourScreening has commenced for the inaugural Miss Guyana Earth pageant says coordinator Pamel Dillon and while six delegates have already made the shortlist from a field of 13 who auditioned. But others who are interested have one week to contact the Simpli-Royal committee before the interviews conclude.

While Guyana has yet to field a finalist at any of the major international pageants Dillon is optimistic that Guyanese beauties can actually bring home a crown and shine some positive pageant light on the country. She said “We are looking for beauties to apply for a chance to represent Guyana at the Miss Earth International pageant.”

Several competitions are carded before the big local night on June 26. as aprelude  and the organisers are looking for a line up of at least ten of the most exciting, personable, beautiful Guyanese women aged 18- 25.

Dillon added that “The ladies we are looking for have to have beauty of face and figure and possess perfect health. They must also never have had a child, never have been married and should have written CXC. They can be of any race and from any cultural background”.

Lester Rauseo of Trinidad’s beauty bank is the trainer and he is expected to arrive in Guyana shortly while the pageant’s artistic Director is Clive Prowel CEO of the Classique dance Company.

This is the inaugural pageant and Pamela Dillon, the Fanschise holder is emphatic that this is not a free for all, any girl and anything goes pageant it’s a serious event that allows beauty ambassadors to be groomed and then sent to represent our Nation. The winner and her runners up after training should be better able to think on their feet and address current affairs as well as environmental issues as spokes persons on environmental issues during and after the year has ended.

Dillon says thus far the Princess Hotel is the main sponsor of the event but the door remains open for other interested sponsors.

Among the many competitions to be staged before a queen is selected is a high fashion show featuring the delegates competing for the ‘Queen of the catwalk’ title.

The committee has employed the resources of international US based Guyanese Designer Roger Gary for that segment. This will feature the delegates showcasing Garry’s Aqua Couture line as well as creations that focus on the five elements earth, fire, wind, water and heart which symbolises love for nature and humanity.

The committee includes Wazim Khan as chairman, Wanita Huburn Public Relations Officer, Gileon James head of wardrobe, Melessa Payne is Delegate Liaison and Lester Rauseo as trainer.

By Mondale Smith

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Introducing: The inspirational Telescope to the world

TelescopeDellon Chichester. aka Telescope, is not yet popular on the local shores but if this Canada-based Guyanese continues on his quest he will soon be known for things positive, musically.

The former Canadian military man who hails from Cottage, Mahaicony, migrated from Guyana at age 17. Having gained knowledge and experiences that have made him a better person he believes that he has what it takes to be an inspiration musically and in the literary arts.

He took on the name Telescope after he started the Telescope Humanity Charity and because people believes that he has been blessed with an analytical mind that allows him to “see things from far”, as well as the righteous songs he sings.

Already to his credit, he has produced one album titled ‘LOOK AGAIN’ that features 13 tracks which are making rotations on radio stations in several countries including Canada. They include No Man’s Puppet, Thanks Mama, What is the Tension, Back Stabbers and amongst others.

At present he is working on a second album titled “SEE NOW”. Already some of the pre-released singles such as Believers, What a blessing, Trust is Hard and Inauguration have been making the rounds with favourable comments.

He fondly recalls that while he fooled around much with lyrics he actually started singing at age 16 at the Pelican Inn Disco, on Hadfield Street. Then when his family migrated he joined the Canadian Military in 1999. He took to singing again professionally in 2008.

But beyond his singing that seems laced with language that does not glorify violence or berate women in any way he’s also a budding writer on the verge of completing a book that he hopes to publish in Canada soon.

“After nine years in the Canadian Army where I used my spare time to write I’m still writing to this day to the point where I have a book coming out soon titled In This World But Not Of This world.”

Though not a major popular artiste just yet he has performed at several shows in Toronto He is set to visit some Caribbean countries before pursuing bookings for a European tour.

His most recent performance was at a Mama J Production in Toronto on Mother’s Day because of his song that celebrates and ‘Thanks Mama’.

“My life’s mission is to insert a love virus within the human race that can only be cured by extreme love”. And he explains that while some might view that as bordering on crazy he said his songs of redemption speak for themselves and can be heard at www.myspace.com/777telescope.

He gets his musical inspiration from day to day “human interaction that comes mainly from how we handle ourselves with the situations we face”.

A taste of his musical abilities will be forthcoming on April 17 at the inaugural Guyana Music Splash carded for the Thirst Park. While he is not among the nominees for the Guyana Artistic Music Awards on April 25 at the National Cultural Centre he will be in the audience cheering on the more than 25 Diaspora-based Guyanese entertainers coming from 14 countries and islands for the event.

He said, “I am coming to Guyana for the show on April 17 and no, I’m not receiving any awards as I’m still young in the game but I’m happy to know that I’ll be among the veterans of Guyanese Music”.
For those attending the April 17 show he says, “Look forward to having a blessed time with Telescope just make sure you come as a child because it’s hard to bend an old tree”.

By Mondale Smith

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Introducing: GT Boy Kapa Shanti

Kapa ShantiBorn 1976 in Georgetown, Guyana, as Jomo Proctor, he attended Craig Nursery School and also had some of his primary schooling at the Houston Community Primary School, East Bank Guyana.

In 1986, he migrated to the USA where he completed his formal education by graduating from Staten Island College, New York, with an Associate Degree in Business Management.

He is at present a licenced carpenter for the Motor Transport Authority in New York.

Also known as Kapa Shanti, through his grandmother who was an active churchgoer, he enjoyed hearing his grandmother singing her song-keys.

While walking home from school he would hear reggae music blasting from music boxes of some his favourite artistes such as Gregory Isaacs, Freddy Mc Greggor, Bob Marley, Yellow-man etc.

But what really inspired him to pick up the microphone and following his dreams as a singer and performer happened one day while he was looking at an underground tape hosted by David Levy from Barbados now a radio DJ on one of the international channels in America (WBLS).

He saw Ninja Man, Lieutenant Stitchie and others performing, but none of them stood out and took him with amazement like Shabba Ranks. To him Shabba was his true inspiration to music.

Kapa Shanti said that his first performance in front of a live crowd was in a five-man competition. He finished fifth place. He felt so cheated although he knew that he was nervous and his legs were shaking like Elvis Presley’s. However, all in all he did not allow that experience to sway his musical desire.

His next big show was at Syracuse University in the USA when he opened for Machel Montano. There he got the confidence booster from the favourable crowd response to his performance. That was followed up by calls from various promoters to open for more and more big name artistes.

That list included Buju Banton, Bounty Killer, Pinchers, Sparrow, and many others among them Guyanese artistes Natural Black, Zebulun, First-Born, Yonnette Hooper, and Redemption.

Kapa Shanti has been recording continuously and recently he collaborated with Pinchers and Keisha Martin from Jamaica to produce a song to help raise funds for Haiti to help with the rebuilding process.

He has recorded several singles including the more popular songs such as Money and No Mata.
You can find Kapa Shanti at www.myspace.com/kapashantigt, and also on www.facebook.com/kapashanti. As he prepares to head Guyana’s way for the upcoming   Guyanese Music Splash on April 19 at Thirst Park and the Guyana Artistic Music awards on April 25 at the National Cultural Centre he is encouraging Guyanese to look out for his soon to be released album titled ‘Pressure DI Poor.’

By Mondale Smith