The World Beyond Georgetown

For close to seven years now reporters attached to this newspaper have gone to various communities in all ten regions of Guyana, seeking to shed light on their customs, way of life and issues. Recognising that for a very long time, many of the far-to-reach places were out of sight and in several instances out of mind as well.

Shells at the shell mound
Shells at the shell mound

Siriki and New Haven

Story and photos by Gaulbert Sutherland Reaching the shell mound involved stooping through tunnels made by the thick bush, balancing on slippery logs and tramping through thick mud.

Market
Market

Cumberland Village 

Story and photos by Shabna Ullah Residents of the mixed community of Cumberland, East Canje in Berbice have various occupations and some have undertaken businesses ventures which have helped with the development of the village.

Recaldo Williams has been living in the area for the past 22 years.
Recaldo Williams has been living in the area for the past 22 years.

Garden of Eden

Photos by Anjuli Persaud “I born and grew at this place.

Fetching sand to build a house

Nismes

Photos by Anjuli Persaud A twenty-minute drive across the Demerara Harbour Bridge, heading to the West Bank of Demerara, takes you to a small village called Nismes.

Entrance to the village  (Anjuli Persaud photo)

Blankenburg

With a population of around 2000 people of different racial backgrounds, the community of Blankenburg is found on the West Coast of Demerara some 12 km west of the capital city.

The Beterverwagting/Triumph Neighbourhood Democratic Council Market sign

Beterverwagting

By Frances Abraham with photos by Lakhram Bhagirat Located on the East Coast of Demerara is the village of Beterverwagting (BV) (a Dutch name meaning ‘Better Expectation”), better known to residents as ‘Barron.’

The Seventh Day Adventist Church

Kuru Kuru

Located some 8 miles up the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, the sparsely populated community of Kuru Kuru is struggling as residents plead with the authorities to develop the area.

A family relaxing during the afternoon hours

Meten-Meer-Zorg

On entering the village of Meten-Meer-Zorg one encounters a series of canals, a reflection of the grid-like order imposed upon the coastal landscape by the drainage patterns of the sugar plantation.

Some of the younger folks

Hague

Hague is a small West Coast Demerara village located about 12km away from Vreed-en-Hoop.

One resident at work preparing for the Christmas season

Herstelling

Herstelling is located on the East Bank of Demerara and is known not only because of its new housing scheme, Somerset Court, but because its ample size and proximity to Georgetown (7.9 kilometres) notwithstanding, it remains a close-knit country community.

This road was built and is maintained by residents of the community.

Barnwell

“This community future hinge on three things – water, light and roads,” says Vanessa O’Donoghue, a resident of the small community of Barnwell on the East Bank of Demerara.

The now abandoned Jesus Saves Church

Somerset and Berks

The village of Somerset and Berks, located on the Essequibo coast, can be spotted from a distance because of the old rice factory which is located at the entrance to the community.

Jesus Saves Church located opposite Murphy street

Good Intent

Situated on the West Bank Demerara, the village of Good Intent which is sandwiched between Sisters Village to the south and La Retraite to the north is about seven-and-a-half miles from Vreed-en-Hoop.

Apprentices at work at A&R Collison

Amelia’s Ward

Sixty-five miles south from the capital city lies one of the larger housing schemes in Guyana: Amelia’s Ward, Linden.

Sharon’s Creole Corner Restaurant

Springlands

Springlands/Number 78 is known as a business hub in the town of Corriverton, and includes the backtrack crossing which facilitates cross-border trading with Suriname.

Tasha Mohammed tends to her kitchen garden at Enterprise. She says she cultivates mainly cash crops while she also rears chickens in another section of her backyard.

Enterprise

With a contented look on her face Enterprise, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident Lakhraji (only name given) recalls “the long way the community come through“ since she moved to the area more than three decades ago.

The sawmill

Yarrowkabra

By Roxanne Clarke with photos by Anjuli Persaud There is a rural community not far from Georgetown whose peace is only shattered by the whine of vehicles racing on the highway.

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