Story and photos by Joanna Dhanraj
Home to approximately 250 people, Supply, East Bank Demerara is a beautiful, little multi-cultural village. Many of its residents are reserved people who simply enjoy the peacefulness and charm of their community.
The world beyond Georgetown was privileged to have met a lovely couple—Charles and Violet McKinnon who have been living at Supply for 49 of their 65 years of wedded bliss.
Now 92 and 90 years old respectively, Charles and Violet McKinnon are the oldest couple in the village and they’ve spent more than half of their lives there. The couple first met through Charles’s sister-in-law who had gone to Violet to have a dress made (Violet was a seamstress). A year later, they were married. At that time, Charles worked in Administration with the Local Government at Fort Wellington, West Coast Berbice and they lived in the neighbouring village of Hopetown. In 1966, Charles was transferred to Georgetown and they moved to Supply and have been there ever since.
Back in those days, they recalled, there was no tap water; they accessed their water from a well, until eventually stand pipes were set up along the roadway. Violet said they once had a flourishing farm that produced citrus and ground provisions in abundance, but they had to cease farming owing to the floods caused by clogged drains.
“We used to take our goods to Stabroek Market to sell. You got a bus in the morning and another until the afternoon. The bus was for the schoolchildren. It took them to school in the mornings and back home in the afternoons. If they missed it they were forced to walk. Most persons used boats as a mode of transportation,” Charles added.
Violet said although she still considers her village to be wonderful and peaceful, it could never be like the olden days again. “You couldn’t come home at six in the afternoon, you got a thrashing. The older generation had chores to do after school but today’s children don’t seem to have much to do,” she said.
The McKinnons had four children of their own, today only two remain. They lost their 28-year-old son in an accident many years ago and their only daughter to a terminal illness not long after. But they’ve pulled through believing that everyone has to die someday and that the same God that gives also takes away. The McKinnons stay strong in their faith in God by attending the St Jerome Catholic Church situated in the village.
Charles enjoys watching sports on the television now that he can no longer read due to poor eyesight, while Violet enjoys a hobby that many persons would never see as a hobby; she takes pride in doing her household chores and keeping a tidy yard and a beautiful one at that by planting flowering plants. This, she said, keeps her fit. Charles and Violet live in a cosy bottom flat, while their youngest son, his wife and daughter live right upstairs. They told The world beyond Georgetown that they have come to love not just the serene atmosphere of their village but also the cooperation of their neighbours who look out for each other.
Apart from St Jerome’s which villagers say is a chapel, Supply also has an Assembly of God church branch called Eden. There is also a nursery school and a health centre.
Living quietly out of the limelight not far away is Neville Callistro also known as the Mighty Chief from the famous Calibro Band. The calypsonian and former Toshao of Kabakaburi Mission, Upper Pomeroon, moved to Supply three years ago so that his grandchildren could have a better education.
The Mighty Chief has represented Guyana 14 times internationally. The Calibro Band consists of Neville and his sons: Valdaro (band leader), Kennedy, Adam, Clewis and Rabbie; daughter Maccema and their cousin Clive James. Most of the band members and their families also live in Supply.
“Supply is very quiet. We’re living almost by the highway so the traffic is the only noise we get. Other than that it’s quiet, okay,” said Neville.
He, too, mentioned the flooded farms. According to him, even some of the yards flood during the rainy season. “The canals at the back need to be dug,” he said. The Callistros, like a few other villagers, prefer to travel to Georgetown to buy groceries since it’s cheaper. Neville’s wife, Iris Callistro runs her business called ‘The Real Thing’ from home. She sells cassava bread, cassareep, piwari, cassari and fly (potato drink). She also makes crafts which they sell at home and at events such as GuyExpo, Linden Town Week and Essequibo Day.
“Transportation could be difficult sometimes since the buses would have been filled at Timerhi and we would have to wait sometimes an hour,” said Neville. Sometimes they would have to take a taxi. But even with the few challenges they face, they love living at Supply. “The villagers of Supply are friendly,” he concludes.
Close to the end of the village lives a friendly shopkeeper, Hadassha (only name given) with her family. Hadassha has been living in Supply for 19 years. She said she has a thriving business. It has its peak and off-peak times, but she has her faithful customers. The pleasant woman said her children would have benefited from the nearby health centre.
The shopkeeper says two other reasons why she likes her village are because of its crime free nature and the fact that one could have easy access to transportation at any hour day or night.
Apart from her running her shop, she also ices cakes and plaits corn rows.
“I find the neighbours okay. Supply is a very cool area. I like living here. I’m accustomed to here. I won’t leave here for anywhere else. I could never call anywhere else home,” Hadassha said.
