A Stewartville, West Coast Demerara woman, will become one of the country’s oldest living citizens when she celebrates her 104th birth anniversary today.

Having so far lived to see four generations of her family, Martina Phoenix, attributes her long life to drinking various herbs and eating ground provisions.

Speaking from her Lot 34 Sarah Lodge home via telephone, a very alert Phoenix, a mother four children, three of whom are still alive, told Stabroek News that a perfect birthday present would be a new house on a plot of land she has at Mocha Arcadia.

The former Danielstown, Essequibo resident said that about three years ago the structure that was there collapsed after it was overrun by termites. But she said that was where she wanted to live.

Martina Phoenix

According to Phoenix, “when I was younger,” I did catering and cane cutting.

According to her great-granddaughter Shellon, Phoenix had resided in New York with her eldest son Rickford for five years before returning home and taking up residence in Mocha Arcadia.
According to Shellon, she married and lived in that East Bank Demerara village up until about three years ago when her husband passed away.

Following the death, she said, her great-grandmother became ill from grief and it was at this point that she was taken to Stewartville, where most of her relatives reside.

Two months ago, she suffered a stoke but is recovering favourably and according to Shellon, she is now moving around with a stick.

She said Phoenix can see objects that are close to her and her hearing and speech are excellent. She ikes to bake, cook, go to the market and watch television.