AMA Christmas show will be on December 18 at 7 pm

The school's Christmas presentation will be held in our gym next Wednesday at 7pm.
It will be an evening of outstanding drama, music, song and dance from all  sections of the school from Kindergarten to Grade 13.
Do come and join us in ushering a season of love and joy in Suriname.
May we, at the end of this year forgive ourselves and others for past trauma. May we express our gratitude for our beautiful country and for the gifts it has given to us.

Nelson Mandela & Suriname’s “Portrait of Hope & Peace”

Nelson Mandela, the fourth and last-living icon on Professor Ruben Karsters’ renowned “Portrait of Hope of Peace:  The Four Ms”, passed away on Friday, December 5th, 2013, in the land of his birth, South Africa.  Mr Mandela was 95 years of age.

His Excellency, Desire D. Bouterse, the President of the Republic of Suriname and a long-time admirer of the former President of South Africa, joined scores of other heads of state from around the world – all of whom converged on the southernmost nation-state on the horn of Africa, to pay their last respects to  the legendary African leader who following incarceration for over two decades emerged triumphant, vindicated, to lead his oppressors and fellow-black and non-black supporters as the era of Boer-instigated apartheid was finally brought to a close in dramatic peace, reconciliation, and harmony in the mid-1990s.

Suriname’s First Lady, Ingrid Bouterse-Waldring, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs also attended the funeral ceremonies which drew billions of sympathetic television viewers worldwide – the likes of which mirrored the farewell rite and service for Mother Theresa of Calcutta.

Nelson Mandela’s rise to political prominence and world respect in the 1990s spanned a struggle of more than four decades.  The village boy from Qunu became an international symbol and icon of protracted struggle and hope that finally yielded the once-impossible, triumphant victory.

In 2006-2007, Suriname’s Professor Ruben Karsters captured on canvas four icons from the 20th century with the specific purpose of inspiring through visual imagery young people and future leaders of the 21st century.  In his portrait, “The Four Ms”, Karsters chose to portray Mahatma Gandhi of India, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X of the United States of America, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa.

There are historic, geographic and natural connections between all four iconic freedom-fighters:  Gandhi’s rise to political prominence began in the country of Mandela’s birth and struggle, South Africa.  Although the two men never met, they both faced on African soil the same monstrosity, ‘aparthied’.  All four men were considered ‘dangerous’ by the status quo and faced incarceration for their outspoken moral stand on the issues of their day.  And in the process of taking clear, unflinching, moral stands – what Mahatma Gandhi termed ‘satyagraha’ (truth-force), they galvanized not just people in their immediate locales, but hundreds of millions worldwide.  Given the fear they generated and the ‘urgency’ of their specific moments in the 20th century, three were assassinated at the hands of their own countrymen - Gandhi in 1948, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X in 1968.

Ironically, of the four, after decades of protests which had spread across the earth – becoming even an international embarrassment as the incessant rumble rose clarion-strong in the United Nations, only Nelson Mandela came to full bloom, democratically elected as President from 1994 - 1999, before his retirement from public life, and acquiescence at the ripe old age of 95.  Finally, the souls of all four men chose bodies of ‘color’ and the soles of their feet trod the soil of the oft-despised continent, Africa.

Little wonder, Ruben Karsters’ portrayed these four iconic men who symbolized sacrifice and personal self-transformation by ordinary folk amidst the angst, struggle and undying quest for betterment, not just for themselves but future generations, regardless of color, clime, or creed.

Upon completion, Professor Karster’s Portrait of the Four Ms, first went on public display at Suriname’s Fort Zeelandia Museum & Art Gallery.  It was part of an exhibition sponsored by the Embassy of India entitled “Indian Resonances in Suriname” – and precisely because the Mahatma was among the 4Ms, there was logical reason for its inclusion.

In October 2007, the Karsters’ Portrait journeyed to India where – sponsored by the Indian Council of Cultural Relations (ICCR) – it was on display for about eight weeks in New Delhi.  There were numerous anecdotes and accolades on the sub-continent about the unusually unique Portrait which for the first time suggested a metaphoric connection between the four freedom fighters – two from the new world and two from the ancient world.  One wealthy admirer was so enamored in India that he offered Karsters ‘any price’ for the painting.  The latter, however, perceiving a greater purpose beyond that of the Portrait gracing one person’s private collection, returned to Suriname with the masterpiece.

In 2010, when Suriname’s freedom fighter and nationalist, Desire D. Bouterse, finally came to power, through free and fair democratic elections, President Bouterse took the bold decision to adopt Ruben Karsters’ “Portrait of Hope & Peace:  the Four Ms” as his official state gift.

The Presidential Gift achieved a rare amplitude in November 2010 when President Bouterse presented the Karsters’ Portrait in person to the President of Venezuela, the late Hugo Frias Chavez.  The significance of the gift was reflected in an independent MSNBC poll which selected the Bouterse-Chavez gift as one of the top three best and most appropriate gifts from one head of state to another in 2010.  Karsters’ life-like and brilliantly executed “Four Ms” portrait was selected above gifts from heads of state in the U.S., Russia, U.K., Middle East, and elsewhere.

Undoubtedly the “Four Ms” was the highlight of the Karsters artistic career which began for the autodidact at the age of seven.  However, the sudden passing of Professor Ruben Karsters on March 5th, 2013, following a brief illness, gave some admirers cause for reflection because the artistic genius died on the same day as Hugo Frias Chavez, the Bolivarian freedom-fighter from Venezuela.

Prior to his own demise, on the occasion of an earlier meeting, Ruben Karsters had requested that the President of Suriname also present the painting to Nelson Mandela.  Sources close to the President indicated that he had hoped to do so in person.   However, on account of Mandela’s sustained illness and convalescence, a likely meeting between the two freedom-fighters did not take place.

 Nelson Mandela, the South African boxer, lawyer, freedom-fighter and Marxist, who joyfully triumphed over adversity, and like Jesus and Gandhi magnanimously forgave his jailors and oppressors, to become an international icon, has been captured in inimitable joyful form on a canvas that is undoubtedly Suriname’s most famous painting to date, “The Portrait of Hope & Peace: the 4 Ms.”

A Caribbean poet, resident in Suriname, memorialized his first encounter with the Karsters’ art-piece in verse that reflects the essence of the painting

One Shakti
One century
One trajectory

Seamlessly staged
Meteoric rocket fired forth
Morphing the old in the new

One world of Gaea
Rta, the goal, Ananda
Shanti Om!
                    Ivan A. Khayiat © 2007

Thus, as the eternal flame, honoring the world-renowned fallen South African statesman and hero of struggling people, burns bright on a hillside in Mandela’s boyhood village in Qunu, South Africa, it will do likewise in Suriname and the Caribbean for generations to come.

Remembering Mandela in his words

Presidents Bouterse and Chavez with Portrait of Hope and Peace 

Nelson Mandela, the revered statesman who emerged from prison after 27 years to lead South Africa out of decades of apartheid, died on December 5, 2013.

In a nation healing from the scars of apartheid, Mandela became a moral compass. His defiance of white minority rule and incarceration for fighting against segregation focused the world's attention on apartheid, the legalized racial segregation enforced by the South African government until 1994.

In this Note we will remember Nelson Mandela by some of his quotes.

"Difficulties break some men but make others."

"I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles."

"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people."

"A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of."

"Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do."

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."

"For to be free is not merely to cast off one's chains, but to live in a way that respects and enhances the freedom of others."

"Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies."

"Lead from the back - and let others believe they are in front."

"I hate race discrimination most intensely and in all its manifestations."

"A good head and a good heart are always a formidable combination."

"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart."

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children."

"We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right."

"A good leader can engage in a debate frankly and thoroughly, knowing that at the end he and the other side must be closer, and thus emerge stronger. You don't have that idea when you are arrogant, superficial, and uninformed."

"If there are dreams about a beautiful South Africa, there are also roads that lead to their goal. Two of these roads could be named Goodness and Forgiveness."

Mandela and Fidel Castro

Nelson Mandela with Mohammed Ali

Zwemmers Presteren sterk in Noord-Amerika

26/11/2013

ONTARIO - Surinaamse zwemmers hebben het goed gedaan in Noord-Amerika. Rafaël van Leeuwaarde won tijdens de Canada Swim Cup 2013 in Ontario, Toronto de zilveren plak op de 50 meter schoolslag. Hij verscherpte daarbij het nationaal record naar 28,27 seconden. Hij had zich voor de finale geplaatst in een tijd van 28,59.

Op de dubbele afstand werd Van Leeuwaarde zesde in 1:02,34, nadat hij zich als tweede voor de finale had geplaatst in 1:02,32. Op de 200 meter schoolslag zette de Surinamer een tijd neer van 2:20,81. Van Leeuwaarde toont zich tevreden met de 'in-season swims'.  De Surinamer studeert vanaf volgend jaar aan de Florida State University.

Broer en Zus Getrouw

In Potsdam, New York, wist de Surinaamse zwemster, Xiomara Getrouw, zilver te winnen op de 100m rugslag tijdens de jaarlijkse North Country Invitational. Ze tikte aan met een tijd van 1:02,99 en ging haast twee seconden sneller dan haar inschrijftijd van 1:04,98. Alleen Stephanie Nadow was beter met een tijd van 1:02,10.

Getrouw zit sinds enkele maanden op de Monroe Community College, die ook door haar broer, Tariq, wordt bezocht. Over de wedstrijd in Potsdam is de zwemster niet ontevreden. "They were pretty good. Ik ben ook dichterbij het record", aldus Getrouw.

Tariq behaalde brons op de 100 yard school in 1:02,49 (1:04,44 inschrijftijd). Op de 200 yard eindigde hij op een gedeelde vierde plaats in 2:19,77 (2:30,00).

Op de 200 yard rugslag werd Xiomara negende in 2:27,65, langzamer dan haar inschrijftijd van 2:21,50. Ze werd achttiende op de 200 yard IM in 3:03,18. Ze ging langzamer dan haar inschrijftijd van 2:29,15. Tariq werd zesde in 2:11,44 en bleef onder zijn inschrijftijd van 2:13,16.

Op de 200 yard wisselslagestafette werd Xiomara vierde (2:01,05) en Tariq vijfde (1:45,55). Xiomara behaalde op de 400 yard wissel-

slagestafette de vierde plek in 4:24,84 en Tariq de derde met een tijd van 3:50,36. De 400 yard vrijeslagestafette leverde Xiomara de vijfde plaats op met een tijd van 3:54,42 en Tariq de bronzen plak in 3:21,37.

Bronzen Pigot

In Virginia behaalde Chinyère Pigot twee bronzen medailles tijdens de Hokie Fall Invitational. De eerste kwam op de 50 yard vrije slag. De Surinaamse derdejaarsstudente aan de University of Connecticut klokte in het Christiansburg Aquatic Center 23,08 seconden. Ze ging daarmee sneller dan de series (23,52) en haar inschrijftijd (23,77). Megan Howard van William & Mary (22,43) en Karatin Filova van Virginia Tech (23,06) wonnen goud en zilver.

Ook op de dubbele afstand veroverde Pigot brons in 50,11. Hoewel ze opnieuw sneller ging dan de series (50,70) en haar inschrijftijd (51,63), moest ze opnieuw Howard (49.83) en Filova (49,91) voor zich dulden.

De Surinaamse eindigde op de 200 yard vrije slag als achtste in de finale in 1:53,59. Ze ging langzamer dan de series toen ze 1:52,11 klokte. Op de 400 yard wisselslagestafette werd Connecticut achtste in 3:49,95. Pigot was laatste zwemster in het kwartet. Ze dook op de 400 yard vrijeslagestafette als eerste in het water en leidde haar universiteit naar de vierde plek in 3:27,65.-. 

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 [N/A1]I would recommend using the word “Goed”, or even beter “Heel Goed”. And capitalize since it is a title.

Brian Tracy ---‪#‎MorningMotivation‬

 Your values in life determine your beliefs, about yourself
Your values in life determine your beliefs, about yourself and the world around you. If you have positive values, such as love, compassion, and generosity, you will believe that people in your world are deserving of these values and you will treat them accordingly. When you believe in yourself and chose to be a good person you will find yourself to be more positive and successful in life.

Make a list of your three to five most important values in life today. What do you really believe in and stand for? What are your values in life? What qualities are you best known for among the people who know you? What do you consider the most important values guiding your relationships with others in your life?
Brian Tracy

Click here for a Free Goals ebook: http://budurl.com/kjhd871

Xiomara Getrouw helps her college to 5th place in Swim Tournament

The Monroe Community College women's swimming and diving team placed fifth out of seven colleges at the annual North Country Invitational hosted by SUNY Potsdam.

The MCC Tribunes were the only two-year school in the field. SUNY Oneonta won the overall women's title.

Caroline Gardner starred for Monroe, winning the 1-meter (219.90) and the 3-meter (256.45) diving events. The sophomore has won both events in each of MCC's four meets this season.

Rose Louk also had a great meet with a number of high finishes. She was third in the 1,650 free (19:22.61), fourth in the 100 free (56.50), and fourth in the 200 free (2:03.85).

Xiomara Getrouw ,a fresman from Suriname, had a strong finish in the 100 back, taking second place in a time of 1:02.99.

Liz Maier contributed three fifth-place finishes: in the 50 free (26.32), 100 free (57.31) and the 100 fly (1:05.07).