Moruca-born sisters Stephanie Wall and Jean Rodrigues travelled from their Canadian homes in the heart of winter to traverse their beloved Guyana with one hope: to bring joy to the hearts of Guyanese children.
For over a decade the retired sisters have raised money in North America to import toys and other goodies for kids in development-starved hinterland communities.
On this month-long trip they shipped half a dozen barrels loaded with toys for kids in Moruca. They also committed to raise funds and other resources to restore the church building at Santa Rosa, which was in an awful state of disrepair.
They also saw to it that the community come together to build a house for an elderly Moruca resident, a wonderful cooperative effort that saw the men volunteer on a rainy day to build a wooden house for this lonely old lady.
Jean and Steph inspire people with their zeal, their zest for life and their commitment to make a difference for future generations.
Though they migrated from Guyana to Canada several decades ago, they maintain a close tie to their homeland.
They travel to Pomeroon, Moruca and Rupununi (where they maintain a house and have family in ranching) every year. They spend little time in Georgetown.
The hinterland’s sprawling green beauty is rugged but beautiful. With huge rivers and massive forests, the hinterland really is a daunting and imposing landscape. These ladies have no qualms about tackling its challenges. They love the lifestyle, and plan to one day move back home.
Born in Moruca, their parents moved them early to Rupununi, where their Mom was a teacher. Steph won a scholarship in the ‘60’s to study at a high school in Georgetown, and moved away for school.
But the love for Moruca, Rupununi and other hinterland communities stayed with them to this day.
They have both retired from successful careers in Canada. Now they dedicate their days to make a difference for these marginalized communities.
They operate a couple of Facebook pages, titled ‘Moruca’ and ‘Santa Rosa – White Chapel On A Hill’, and blogs and newsletters, with the simple goal of networking people from the hinterland through the Internet.
The Internet is bringing together Amerindians from all over the world, who were born in this country. Many have migrated and done quite well. But even in local communities like Moruca, the young people are networking online with these overseas communities.
Moruca’s beauty queen Simone Fredericks and her father, a well-known local leader, both frequently post pictures and news from the Moruca community. Through their Digicel Blackberries, they post instant pictures, videos and news.
The Internet is in fact bringing the world to these once remote, inaccessible hinterland communities, circumventing the harsh, undeveloped landscape.
US-based Donna Stoll also plays a key role online to network this country’s hinterland with the global village.
Stoll, Wall and Rodrigues, though working on separate projects, have grandiose dreams for projects in these remote communities.
This writer toured many of these communities a couple months ago, and people everywhere complained about poor living conditions, lack of development and of scarce State input in their lives.
Complaints about the government not caring for these communities ring across the hinterland. People everywhere feel left out of their governance, and even local government officials are distrusted and accused of corrupt practices.
Many of our hinterland residents rely on trade with Brazil and Venezuela to survive.
One man told this writer that fuel boats traverse the Barima River frequently bringing in fuel from Venezuela, which is way cheaper than locally purchased fuel shipped in from the coastal area.
These communities have learned to survive with little or no input from Central Government. Even in mining communities such as Port Kaituma, the town looks like an ancient village caught in an 18th century time warp.
Pure water is shipped in from Georgetown to Port Kaituma, as the heavily populated town never got potable water development.
Who cares about the human capital development of the hinterland? People who go on to higher education either leave for the coast or migrate.
Even Mabaruma, which was once identified as a possible town, lacks any paved road, and its development seems ad hoc and unplanned. Yet, this community boasts a stunning landscape, with spectacular scenery.
Who cares for these communities?
Through the Internet, a global network of Amerindians, and others who care, are coming together to play a dynamic role, and to make a difference. They work quietly, not sounding any drumbeat about their work.
Generation after generation of people in these communities were lost to gross poverty, poor education systems, lack of even the rudiments of basic society. Today, the younger generation look outside of their country, to those who have migrated and can afford to lend a helping hand from overseas, and to Venezuela and Brazil, for their sustenance and hope.
Despite the Government’s Amerindian Affairs Ministry, many Amerindians feel Government plays politics with them rather than commit with serious plans to develop their communities.
Land in many of these communities remain under collective ownership, and Amerindians are denied the ability of owning private titles so they could access banking capital to develop their communities. This policy of communal land ownership undermines the development of our hinterland and Amerindian people. For folks like Steph and Jean, there is a lot of work to be done.
They could easily enjoy their comfortable life in developed Canada.
Instead they leave their posh homes to travel through some of the roughest terrain in this country, to bring hope and joy to the hearts of our nation’s kids, the future generation.
Their commitment, their belief, their humility, their graciousness come out of hearts that care. They don’t seek anything in return – just to give. Blessed, they feel they can be a blessing.
The hinterland communities are starting to wake up to see the potential inherent in a global network of Amerindian people, with Steph Wall and Jean Rodrigues pioneering a new path to development, outside of dependence on a foul State structure.
In connecting with the global village, our hinterland communities may very well find their future.
