Homage to John Peter Bennett

Scenes from the exhibition of art at Castellani House yesterday in honour of Arawak Anglican priest John Peter Bennettwho was known for his compilation of an Arawak/English dictionary.Bennett was born to Jacob and Elsie Bennett at Cabacaburi Anglican mission on the Pomeroon River on November 30, 1914. He attended the St Matthias’ Primary school and by the age of 12, he had completed his schooling. With a smattering of English, he advanced himself by reading “anything that had writing on it.” As a young man, Bennett was employed as a driver for the outboard engine on the mission boat belonging to the Reverend Hirst because, as he put it, “Father Hirst had a lot of books and that was the attraction.”