By Cecilia McAlmont and Margery Kirkpatrick
Introduction
In the previous article, a brief account of what was called “the Chinese Experiment”, the implications of the immigrants and their descendants becoming Creole, and one female immigrant, Loo Shee, her descendants and their achievements were discussed. Those discussions will continue in this article.
As was mentioned, the path to middle class status for the descendants of the immigrants came through the acquisition of higher education and entering the professions, especially law, medicine and other sciences, accountancy etc. Consequently, given the relatively small percentage of Chinese in the total population their achievements, especially the male descendants in these professions are remarkable. However, as will be demonstrated, like women worldwide, the achievements of the women descended from the immigrants, though very significant, often extraordinary, have tended to be in those professions that are associated with women’s traditional caring and nurturing role – education, nursing, social issues. However, it will also be shown that from as early as the first generation, some women have also made their mark in non- traditional areas.
Luck Khan Hee aka Lok
Ah Me aka Luck Kim Hee
aka Isaac Luck Ah Me
and his descendants
The achievements of the female descendants of this immigrant who arrived on the final ship, the “Darthmouth”, March 17, 1879, amply demonstrate the above. He himself or rather his aka’s demonstrate how the names of the Chinese immigrants either by choice, conversion to Christianity or ignorance of the authorities were changed, shortened or even anglicized over time. This subject is amply dealt with in Trev Sue-A-Quan’s Cane Reapers: Chinese Indentured Immigrants in Guyana. He took the final aka Isaac after his baptism. The surname of his descendants is now simply Luck. More than half a dozen of his sons and grandsons were in the professions of law and medicine. One son, J.C. Luck established Central High School and his grandson, Ray, broke the family tradition by becoming a famous Concert Pianist. His grand daughter, Stella Elisabeth, became principal of Central High School established by her father. His great grand daughter Beverly, obtained the Hilda Serage Medal at Bishops’ High School and was Guyana scholar in 1956. Another great grand daughter Andrea Leslie became a researcher of Chinese families while her sister Denise Elisabeth Lam, lectured at the University of Guyana. Yet another great grand daughter Jennie Victoria Ribeiro, became a social worker in the Pomeroon and has been honoured by the government with a Medal of Service. Breaking out of the mould, on the death of her husband, his daughter Victoria Lam successfully operated a wholesale and retail business in Water Street. His great grand daughter Constance Felicia Kranenberg became an Accountant with the Guyana Bauxite Co. and her daughter Caroline Correia runs her own business.
Wong Yan Cheong and
his descendants
Like Isaac Luck Ah Me, he also arrived on the “Darthmouth” with his three married sons and his five year old daughter Wong in Lan/Leow. His great, great grand daughter, Rose Wong’s great grand daughter, Brenda Felicity Hooper was a Guyana scholar in 1965 while her sister, Janice Elisabeth Shinebourne won the Guyana Prize for Literature for a first Book of Fiction, “Time Piece” in 1987. In the field of sports, his great, great grand daughter, Doreen Chow Wah/Lee became the West Indies Table Tennis champion in 1970 and with Denise Osman won the ladies Doubles Championship 1967-1972.
John Ho a Shoo aka Ho
Shau and his
descendants
He arrived on the “Corona”, February 23, 1874. His eldest daughter, Asin has the distinction of being one of Guyana’s first medical doctors in the first decade of the 20th century. She entered the University of Edinburgh, 1906 to study in the field of Medicine. In 1912 she was a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons at University of Dublin. Her daughter Gem Ho a Hing became a Junior Champion at Wimbledon, the only Guyanese to play there.
Ho Ten Pow and his
descendants
The women descended from immigrant HO TEN POW have achieved much in both traditional and non traditional fields of endeavour. He arrived here on the “Queen of the East”, April 1865 with three young sons. His oldest son, Joseph Ho Chung a Cheung was father of the late President Arthur Chung. One of Joseph’s great, great grand daughters, Safeeda, Nasir/Ali is a Graphic Artist, her sister Aneesha is the PRO for Court’s Guyana Ltd. His great grand daughter, Marlene Kwok/Crawford was Deputy Headmistress of Bishops’ High School and is the author of Scenes from the History of the Chinese in Guyana.
Another great granddaughter, Debbie Fung was not only a lecturer at the University of Guyana but was the Ladies Singles Lawn Tennis Champion in 1984 and with her sister Caryll won the Ladies Doubles Championship in 1974, 1975, 1980 and 1983-1985 while another, Diane Lee was Sportswoman of the year 1986. His grand daughter, Rosalind Fung/Lee was Miss Guyana in 1956 and also won the contest among the three Guianas. This earned her the right to represent the three countries at the Miss Universe contest in Hollywood. His great, great, great grand daughter, Amanda whose mother, Nancy was also a beauty queen won the Miss Guyana contest in 1988.
Chin Chung aka Chau a
Chung and his
descendants.
He arrived on the “Pride of Ganges” July 31, 1863 with three sons, John Chin a Chee aka Archie Chin and two others. Archie is the grand father of the late Viola Burnham nee Harper, First Lady of the Republic of Guyana.
She contributed in the field of education as a Latin teacher at Bishops’ High School for many years and later as one of the Vice Presidents, Education and Social Development in the Desmond Hoyte’s administration.
She also worked tirelessly to improve the situation of women as Chairperson of the WRSM. Both of her daughters have achieved in the non traditional areas. Melanie is a Financial Operations Manager and Ulele is a Barrister.
Kwok A Fuk On aka
Abraham Kwok Fuk On
and his descendants.
He arrived on the “Bucton Castle”, August 1865. His daughter Martha nee Fung Kee Fung was one of the earliest women in the field of business. She became a landed proprietor who owned many businesses including a rice mill. She bought two abandoned sugar estates Waller’s Delight and Ruimzight at Windsor Forest which she rented to tenants to plant rice.
Martha Street in Windsor Forrest is named for her. The descendants of Abraham Kwok (the latter part of the surname was not surprisingly dropped) were often interrelated through marriage. Part of the reason of course was the acute shortage of women. Such unions also helped to cement and build bridges in business and towards the important goal of achieving middle class status. For example Abraham Kwok is the great, grand father of Marlene Kwok/Crawford who, as was earlier mentioned, is the great, great grand daughter of Ho Ten Pow. Three of the grand daughters of Jacob Fung A Pen who arrived on the Dartmouth in 1879 married into the Luck family and were also descendants of Ho Ten Pow. The achievements of some of these women, Jennie Ribeiro, Nancy Ann Lam Jardim and Joan Fung have already been noted.
Ham Smi aka Ham Siow
aka Elizabeth Poon and
her descendants.
She arrived on the “Lady Elmer Bruce” on August 15,1862. Her descendants are also a part of the intermarriages just discussed. She is the maternal great grandmother of Margery Kirkpatrick who is also a descendant of Loo Shee. Her other descendants have also achieved much. Her great grand daughter Eileen Smith Gillette taught mathematics at Bishops’ High School. Her great, great grand daughter, Amanda Richards was a champion swimmer. In 1977, she won two gold medals for Guyana in the Inter Guiana games. She is now an Administrative Manager with Farfan & Mendes and is also on the board of IPED.
Descendants with origins
from other ethnic groups.
However, one cannot conclude this discussion without drawing attention to the fact that there are many men and women who would normally be associated with other ethnic groups but are in fact descendants of these immigrants. The shortage of women initially contributed to this. Some of these women and their achievements have already been discussed. The Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Nasseer and Aneesha Ali, Mrs Viola Burnham and her daughters. One can also add Fashion Designer, Donna James nee Ramsammy whose great grand father Ah Wah was one of the early arrivals. There are also lawyers Anande and Raphael Trotman, Co founder of the Alliance For Change whose great, great grandfather Lai A Poo arrived on the “Whirlwind” in 1860. He married Leung Shi another immigrant who arrived on the “Dartmouth” in 1862.
