Arnold Bascom of No 41 Village, West Coast Berbice celebrated his 100th birthday in July but looks more like he was in his 70s.
With no medical complaints and his sight and hearing intact he is quite independent and can travel on his own to take care of his affairs.
He keeps himself active by cleaning his yard where he has a few banana and other fruit trees and can also cook and clean his house. Bascom, the second centenarian in the family said his mother lived up to 110-years-old.
During a visit, the tall, brisk-looking Bascom approached and this newspaper found it hard to believe at first that he was the centenarian.
He not only had a sharp memory but a good sense of humour; he joked with some of his male relatives who had dropped in to keep him company.
His relatives told Stabroek News that he was a talented dominoes player and “would play [dominoes] late at nights.” At that point he started to arrange with them to organize a grand competition.
Bascom who would “read newspapers without his glasses” told this newspaper that his secret to his long and healthy living was not only about eating lots of rice, fish and provision but about being “well-disciplined and kind to people.”
The father of seven was showered with a lot of attention over the past weeks when six of his children, 17 grandchildren and a few great-grand children flew in from North America to celebrate his birthday.
He lived alone for several years but a son, Mortimer has relocated recently from Crabwood Creek to stay with him. A carpenter for most of his life, Bascom who also did “all kinds of work,” served for three years in the army – the South Caribbean Forces in Georgetown.
After six months he was sent to Mackenzie and then to Tacama and had helped to build the Tacama Training Centre.
