Guyanese website exploding on the Internet
Guyana Chronicle
November 4, 2003
CanejuiceStand.com, Guyana's newest and most daring website has been creating quite a stir on the worldwide web. The site, which is only four months old, now boasts 30,000 visits per month since its inception in July of this year and has exceeded the 70,000 mark for total hits.
CanejuiceStand.com counts among its regular visitors individuals from over 150 countries worldwide but the bulk of its visitors are from the USA, Canada and England.
The website which is dedicated to Guyanese writers who mainly write on Guyanese issues has fast developed a reputation for publishing thought-provoking material. All the country's political parties have taken a severe bashing on the pages of the website, particularly the two main political parties the PPP/C and the PNC/R. However both parties have also received praise for work they have done to improve the living conditions of Guyanese.
The website constantly takes jabs at local talk show hosts, professional letter writers and beauty queens. In the current edition of the website (http://www.canejuicestand.com) two former Miss Guyana come in for some harsh criticisms.
The website also carried a ground-breaking exclusive article exposing the sale of University of Guyana certificates on the world wide web and was the first to highlight West Indies cricketer Marlon Samuels' questionable bowling action in the just concluded Red Stripe Bowl.
CanejuiceStand.com is managed by a vibrant editorial team of young Guyanese led by critically acclaimed West Indian cricket writer and Stabroek News columnist Imran Khan and includes a host of UG graduates in a variety of fields.
CanejuiceStand.com's lead columnist is the youngest winner of the Guyana Prize for Literature, Ruel Johnson, who writes the titillating 'Ruel Johnson Column'. Other columnists include local gospel artiste, flutist, poet and writer Ruth Osman, who writes 'Ruth's Reviews' - a column in which she reviews Guyanese literature.
Mark Jacobs, who did the original design for CanejuiceStand.com writes a highly entertaining self-named column, which often throws readers in wild fits of belly aching laughter. Jacobs' awesome witty writing is a huge hit with the readership.
Tamara Evelyn is one of CanejuiceStand.com's more exciting but sober columnists as she writes the enterprising but sometimes controversial 'Prescribed Dose'. Evelyn is a double graduate of UG with a degree in English and a post-graduate diploma in Education and she addresses mostly social issues in Guyana, always with a courageous fervor.
The site also features the poetry of debonair journalist and poet, Mondale Smith.
CanejuiceStand.com is maintained by Devon Retemeyer and his web design team from the local web design firm iConcepts.
For the month of December, the staff of CanejuiceStand.com will donate money to a local charity for every hit it registers. The amount will be decided and announced at a later date.
The editorial team still encourages Guyanese writers and poets, particularly young people, to submit their work for publication and exposure to a global audience.