Dear Editor,
In 1972 the then Headmistress of Yupukari Primary School, North Rupununi, Ms Waveney Dryden of Buxton, East Coast Demerara, after perhaps seeing my annual promotional report to standard IV asked me to joined her Common Entrance Examination class of three students, namely, Rodulph Roberts and the late Dolly Lawrence of Yupukari, and Kenrick Blades of Buxton (Ms Dryden’s nehpew). This must have been in September when school reopened for the school year 1972-1973. In April of 1973 she told us the date of our Common Entrance Examination.
During my entire time at Yupukari Primary I would hardly miss church – St.Mary’s Anglican. The original church was a huge cross-shaped thatch-roofed building with adobe walls and cross-shaped, unsealed windows for ventilation. This structure had a very positive effective on me, spiritually speaking.
When I began there it was headed by Father Holding, and then Father Paul Adamson took over as resident priest (he did the sermon on the morning of our exam) and was our external examiner. Another boy named Raynel Laurindo of Katoka and I would attend church on a regular basis. As usual I went to church on the morning of our examination. I didn’t pray (literally) to pass the exam but rather I used the environment to relax and focus on all that had been taught to us by Ms Dryden.
It was interesting to note that in another part of the interior (from reading and looking at Mr Gaulbert Sutherland’s report/photos of Grade 6 students praying before the exam in Arau that was published in SN on 12.8.08) there is a sense of connection to the Supreme Being for guidance.
Anyway when the result came out only three of us – myself, the late Dolly Lawrence and Kenrick Blades – had passed. We all got a place in St Ignatius Secondary School but not all of us stayed. Kenrick Blades went home to Buxton – I have never heard of him since – and Dolly Lawrence also went home to Yupukari. After my stint at St Ignatius I proceeded to the Burrowes School of Art and the University of Guyana. A Big Thank You to you, Ms Dryden.
Our teacher was elevated to Regional Education Officer (I think) years after dedicated service in the Rupununi. I last saw her at Kato walking to Paramakatoi to one of the schools she was in charged of when I was there collecting data on medicinal plants and fauna for the Amerindian Research Unit’s project in relation to Iwokrama.
There were others also who did well at that exam in subsequent years.
Anyway, in 2003 an American woman named Ms Alice Taylor fell in love with Yupukari and its people, and began building a research centre for caiman. She set up a library and an internet service via satellite (www.rupununilearners.org). She also organized the villagers to channel their natural arts and crafts skills. They exhibited their products at the annual Rupununi Expo in the years that followed. God bless her soul. She calls me “cousin” but it’s more than that connection. Yes, I accepted her as my soul sister, but she is a selfless individual who gave away a luxurious lifestyle in America and went there to enlighten my people’s lives. Today through her service to the people, Yupukari is now in touch with the rest of the world. God Bless you and your family Alice! We do not how to thank you.
Recently, during a chat with one of the librarians that Alice trained, Lorrie Laurindo, I was told that this year 4 children passed the Grade 6 exam, the highest number so far. One of the reasons they did well, she added, was because the librarians helped them with their work.
Without Alice’s input of experience, knowledge and expertise to the village, I could not have known about the highest number of passes at Yupukari Primary, nor would I have been in touch with my villagers.
In conclusion I would like to highlight the successful students and their parents: Lily Adolphous, son of Elenora and Lester Adolphous; Marcelina Saviour daughter of Flora and Desmond Saviour); Gordon Mandook son of late Elisech Mandook and Kenneth Mandook and Nafeza Khan daughter of Ivy Augustine (one of my former students at Yupukari Primary) and Hamaza Khan (of East Coast Demerara, now ‘naturalized’ Macushis who can speak fluent Macushi).
I hope that the scholars continue their hard work in their educational career ahead.
Congratulations to all of you. You made Yupukari proud.
Yours faithfully,
Guy Marco
