Vilvoorden

One of the silk cotton trees growing in the Sea Rice Mill Compound that was said to be used as a landmark for the Dutch port

Vilvoorden, Essequibo Coast is a small community of just more than 100 people, approximately nine kilometres from the Supenaam Jetty and between Middlesex and Fairfield. The name Vilvoorden is said to be of Dutch origin. The village was once called Plantation Vilvoorden, and it was a sugar cane estate that thrived where rice grows today.

The rains had been visiting every day, sometimes all day but on this day the sun overcame its rival with the dark clouds hanging in its path.

Latchman Bhodnarine was relaxing in his hammock with his parrots nearby as he waited for his chicken curry, which was on the stove, to finish cooking. He had just returned from Diamond, East Bank Demerara where a relative of his wife had died. Bhodnarine left his family behind as he needed to return to his work. The contractor said that usually this time of the year is his busiest.

We had barely begun when