Good Success

Alana Rampher and son Anthony with her shop in the background

Photos by Joanna Dhanraj

 

Success was nearly not had in locating Good Success on the East Bank Demerara. Although a huge signboard wedged into the ground bears the name Good Success, many drivers do not know where it is. The trick is to ask to be taken to Craig; you’ll be dropped off in Good Success.

What was once Craig has been divided into two parts. The first section, as far as Busbee Dam is now called Good Success. Beyond that is Craig.

In naming this village, someone went to great lengths to ensure its positivity. Success on its own, it seems, was not good enough.

Alana Rampher and son Anthony with her shop in the background
Alana Rampher and son Anthony with her shop in the background

When the World Beyond Georgetown visited, Good Success seemed devoid of people, apart from the busy public road and a few guys gathered around a car parked on a government reserve. But just obliquely opposite, we found Alana Rampher, a shopkeeper, who moved from Company Path (Yarrow Dam), Georgetown to Good Success over 14 years ago after getting married.

Her little shop has just about everything except for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. Two times a week, she travels to Georgetown to purchase stock. The Banks DIH truck would pass by during the week. Her son, Anthony Junior (AJ) keeps an eye on the shop for her to see when customers arrive and sonetimes to sell.

“The wash bay nearby is a nuisance but you have to abide by it,” she said, referring to the noise. This keeps them from hearing when customers call. Apart from the noise the wash bay also contributes to the flooding in the area.

“First when I had come it was hard; with the trucks passing on the road at one/two o’clock in the morning to go for sand. It used to affect me,” Rampher said. She has now grown accustomed to it.

“Houses develop more, more businesses, street lights and better road,” said the resident speaking of developments since her arrival.

Nonetheless not much has been done concerning drainage. “The NDC don’t do nothing for us.