Latest update April 24th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 09, 2019 News
By Alex Wayne
Even though I was anticipating my visit to Charity, in the Pomeroon and although many believe it is on the Essequibo Coast, in Region Two, I dreaded having to get there by speedboat. I have to admit that I am a little scared of water. The great expanses of rolling waves (with no land in sight) certainly give me the creeps.
Charity is located on the Pomeroon River, which provides a gateway to this part of Guyana’s interior and Venezuela. Many Guyanese use this waterway to travel back and forth between Guyana and Venezuela where they work. It is a central focus for the farmers who live in this area.
These farmers bring their produce to this location and from here, it is transshipped to other townships such as Anna Regina and Parika, and to the capital city of Georgetown.
So there I was walking along the Parika Stelling with my heart in my hands, certainly getting goose pimples as I approached the area where the Supenaam/ Parika speedboats were moored.
Gingerly, I stepped into the vessel, strapped in life jacket, and in about another fifteen minutes we were off to the Supenaam Stelling several miles away.
It was about a forty-five minute boat ride, but I have got to admit it was maybe one of the worst experiences of my life.
Being the second to last passenger to enter the boat, I had to occupy the very first seat closest to the bow of the vessel. I was wondering why the bow of the vessel was created to point skyward until someone explained that the vessels were built that way to allow them to ride large waves, since they travel at great speeds.
Well as you can imagine, that information almost sent me into a coma, causing me to dread the impending boat ride even more. Offering prayers to the Creator, I sat back and braced myself for what was to come.
The boat captain revved the engines and my heart lurched in my stomach. Soon we were on the water and all seemed well for a bit, so for distraction sake, I focused on the arresting blur of sun tinted waves, and mangroves trees flying by, until we were in the centre of the Essequibo River, where the waves were larger and choppier.
The somewhat smooth ride changed then, and soon the vessel seemed to be bucking like a wild horse. I was not conscious that I was gripping the end of my seat for dear life until we hit a smooth spot, and I became conscious of the pain in my knuckles.
Larger waves rolled in thereafter, and soon the boat was again doing a dance of its own. It seemed to fly above the wave and landed on the other side with a deafening sound. The impact sent painful jolts up my back, and I swore in frustration.
To take my mind away from all this, I jabbed my elbows into the back of my seat and hoisted my body as the boat landed on the other side of the rolling waves. This lessened the impact and created the sensation of soaring.
Soon after, we rolled into the Supenaam Boat Stelling, with hire car drivers jostling each other to be the first to obtain passengers. A very polite driver approached me and pleasantly enquired if I were heading to Charity. He directed me to his waiting car, and about twenty minutes later, we were off to Charity.
As we wound our way between twists and turns in the countryside roadway, I marvelled at the picturesque fusion of abundant fruit trees (laden with fruits of their kind), lush green rice fields, and quaint little cottages.
What I noticed as well is that several villages on the Essequibo Coast had the very same names like many on the East Coast of Demerara, West Demerara , and Berbice. For example, while there is a Golden Fleece in Essequibo, there is one also in Berbice. The Airy Hall in Essequibo, mirrors the one in East Coast Demerara. And there is also an Onderneeming there, just like we have one in the West Demerara District.
Touching Down in Charity
I have got to agree that of all the Village Focus trips I have made, coming to Charity was going to be made easy when it came to sourcing persons for interviews. The minute I landed on the car park and the drivers saw my camera, they began taunting me about taking their photos. And of course I used this to my best advantage.
Soon I was chatting with them, many of whom lived in Charity for a number of years. In no time, too, curious vendors drew near, all were ready to talk about issues affecting them in the village.
Cecilia Williams was adamant that there was need for better market facilities in the village.
“Charity is a very nice place with really good people, but while a section of the market is acceptable, there is need for more works so that vendors who have to sell at the roadside can be made more comfortable.
“Vendors who sell close to the riverside market area have makeshift stalls. In some cases, they are not safe from the elements. Some persons in that area managed to get good stalls, but others have to use structures made from a few wooden beams and tarpaulin.”
Parbattie Poonam, another vendor, felt that repairs were indeed needed to some areas of the Charity Boat Stelling, while the riverside market area needed upgrading.
“I don’t know what the NDC is doing here because persons there letting politics get into everything. If you ain’t for a certain Government, you can’t enjoy certain privileges. There are repairs to be done to this stelling but them ain’t interested in that.
“And we need better stalls for vendors but when yuh mek representation, some ah dem bold enough to tell yuh nonsense about which party yuh backing and all dem nonsense.”
The taxi and hire car drivers are certainly displeased about the state of roads in some areas in Charity and blamed the NDC there for failing to address the issue.
Clairmonte Bacchus, who led a certain group of hire car drivers, was of the opinion that not much attention is paid to the maintenance and upgrading of roads in the area.
“ Boss Man, we need something to be done to the roads in Charity. Persons at the NDC are not fair at all… In the areas where the big businesses are located, the roads are okay. But in the areas where poor people and the ‘regular man’ reside, the roads are just terrible.
The big boys at the NDC are looking at face and position when it comes to making representation for the roads to be fixed. Imagine the road is okay, where it starts from the car/bus park, but it stops before it meets the section where poor people are living.
We have to walk on the sand and mud and when rain fall, the area is in a terrible state. When we approach the NDC to make representation for us, there is a guy there who is rude and always saying that we should let the party of our favour take care of us.
In some areas of the village, persons are still living without electricity and potable water supply, especially in the backland areas. Many have to pool monies to purchase generators to get electricity.”
Infrastructure
Charity has great potential, and with much room for infrastructural development, if fully developed, can become one of the many possible budding tourists highpoint in Guyana. Some areas of Charity still have the old work aura, but sections have been mitigating towards promising heights of development.
The presence of the impressive Purple Heart International Hotel, Restaurant and Bar lends a certain modern air to the location. This is further accentuated by the existence of the Big Bird & Sons Meat Centre, Alphonso Supermarket and General Store, WD’s Hotel & Mall and the Xenon Hotel & Bar.
The Eureka Medical Lab allows scope for special medical services, while the Diosan Marine Centre for Diesel meets the needs of almost every rice farmer or infrastructural contractor.
Delip Singh’s Shopping Mall is also another entity that satisfies the kitchen and household cravings of villagers.
The Squatters speak
Persons occupying a location referred to as the ‘Squatting Area’ were lamenting some ten years ago about the state of things there. From all accounts, it appears as if not much has been done around there as well.
Today, they are still lamenting the lack of streetlights and potable water supply. Some persons indicate that cases of rape (of young girls), are on the rise, especially since this area is now occupied by many Amerindians, who have relocated there from various hinterland locations.
Some mothers indicated that drunken men who are seen at rum shops often lie in wait for unsuspecting females walking late at nights. The lack of streetlights makes some areas the perfect haven for rapists to pounce on their prey.
There are reports that several years ago, an intoxicated male villager was traversing the area and became the targets of bandits who robbed and murdered him. It is said that the robbers thought that the man had his salary on his person, but instead he had left it at another location.
Most residents living around this area are using generators, which they claim is very expensive to fuel continuously. Flooding during the rainy season keeps persons there at risk of contracting water borne diseases from faeces that float about from ‘latrine styled’ toilet facilities.
Employment
Villagers are engaged in farming, fishing and crab catching as some main sources of employment, but several businesses erected along the area have been great in providing employment for residents. That aside, Alfro Alphonso and Son’s Enterprise provides employment opportunities for villagers at its many branch outlets in Charity.
The Big Bird Supermarket, Zenon and Purple Heart hotels, WD Shopping Mall, and Alfro Alphonso Fish Complex are facilities that have somewhat heightened the scope for employment opportunities in Charity as well. Other residents are gainfully employed in schools and other academic institutions, or by building boats as well.
With its many beautiful waterways, amazing river transport, and simplicity of its residents, Charity is indeed a location that will be arresting when it is fully groomed and molded with the correct hearts and hands, and of course by the soothing hands of time.
Join us next Sunday when we take our cameras to the alluring valleys and undulating hills of Bartica.
LISTEN HOW JAGDEO WILL MAKE ALL GUYANESE RICH!!!
Apr 24, 2024
Round 2 GFF Women’s League Division One Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Police Force FC on Saturday last demolished Pakuri Jaguars FC with a 17 – 0 goal blitz at the Guyana Football...Kaieteur News – Just recently, the PPC determined that it does not have the authority to vitiate a contract which was... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]