MONROE, La. - Some area beekeepers spent an unusual two weeks in Guyana, South America recently.

Through the sponsorship of Partners of the Americas and the Farmer to Farmer Program, the group was involved in Project Beehive Management and Queen Bee Raising, in which they provided beekeeping training to the members of Trafalgar Union, a women's agricultural cooperative looking to expand their beekeeping operation.

In Guiana there is a little insect in the grass and on the shrubs which the French call bête-rouge. It is of a beautiful scarlet colour, and so minute that you must bring your eye close to it before you can perceive it.

It is most numerous in the rainy season. Its bite causes an intolerable itching.

Great Britain grouped several of their colonies in what is now the Caribbean Sea and northern South America for coinage purposes. The annotation 'British Guiana and West Indies' applies to today's Guyana and several islands in the Caribbean.

Linden’s Lester ‘De Professor’ Charles won the 2013 Mash Calypso Crown with a song titled "God nah Sleep" backed by Mingles Sound Machine at Demerara Park.

Sadly, I am told that the Benedictine monastery near Bartica (Guyana) has now closed. A few years ago, it was a memorable stay.

Before long, I was part of the clockwork of monastery life. There were only two brothers, Pascal and Matthias, and an elderly abbot called Hildebrand (see photo).

Hotels you'll never forget, good or bad. Here are five of my favourites:

1. The Amanjiwo, Borobudur (see photo). I stayed here whilst doing an article on Java for The Daily Telegraph. It was probably the most luxurious billet I've ever been given. This room had its own pool, and all sorts of gizmos. There was ever a set of watercolours in case the mood took you.

The government of Guyana seeks bids to construct the 330-kW Kato micro-hydro project and its related irrigation system on Guyana's Chiung River.

Registration is due March 1 for a March 19 bidders meeting and a March 20 mandatory site visit. Questions must be submitted by April 2, with bids due April 23.

You might think it odd to describe a bridge as an object. However, the pontoon bridge over the Demerara River (Guyana) is just than: a moveable, detachable thing. In fact, it's said to be the longest pontoon bridge in the world.

Message To Mark The 43rd Anniversary of The Achievement of Republican Status

The People’s National Congress Reform is pleased to extend greetings and good wishes to all of the people of Guyana as we celebrate the 43rd Anniversary of our Republican status.

Telecom Lead Asia: Guyana Telephone & Telegraph (GT&T) has tapped Mahindra Comviva to offer mobile financial services.

Mahindra Comviva is offering its mobiquity mobile financial solution to enable GT&T to offer mWallet services in Guyana.

READ Mobile World Congress 2013 HERE