In last week’s offering, I made the point that if we want Guyanese to move beyond their ethnic positions to be comfortable under the wider umbrella of a bona fide nation, we need to work to ensure that the populace knows of the achievements and successes behind that national entity. Today, I am following my own mouth, to coin a phrase, by identifying some persons in this country who, by their actions or from positions they take, make me proud.
One of those stalwarts is an unusual lady named Philomena D’Andrade, introduced to me as Auntie Phil, who has been involved in farming in the Waini for years. After she and her husband separated, Auntie Phil, amazingly, continued to run the family farm, of many acres – doing all the planning and management, and using hired day-time help. If you know anything about farm life you know how hard that is for a man, never mind a woman, but she has kept to the task for years without a murmur. I first met her about 6 years ago when my wife Annette took me on a North West trip, and we stopped in at Auntie Phil’s farm reached by a short cut in the river bank. It was the middle of the day, but this middle-aged lady found time to stop and fry moracut for us in this house where she lived alone, with the kitchen at the front, and the storage area for produce at the rear. I was staggered to look around this agricultural layout of many acres and realize she was running the whole deal, serenely ignoring the numerous marabuntas flitting in her kitchen. On her occasional trips to town we would sometimes meet up, and I was always astounded at how this quiet, soft-spoken woman, who had previously been a teacher, was making a hard life work purely on her will and her strength.
Of a different age and in a different field, I am proud of Ruel Johnson whom I have come to know largely from his writings in the press, and in brief conversations in town. In person, Ruel is a self-effacing individual, often speaking in low tones, and always with a twinkle in his eye. In his writing in the press, however, he takes on important subjects, particularly in the fields of literature and culture, and he often presents complicated issues in scholarly but plainly-worded pieces where important information is the order of the day and a passion for the subject is evident. Although not essential for his work, a bonus in Ruel’s writing is his facility with the language and the use of graceful expression. In a time when the media with its unending platforms brings us an abundance of drivel, Ruel Johnson is always worth reading, whether you’re sitting in Bahrain or Queenstown.
Every weekend, motorists in Georgetown are aware of what I call “the fighters on crutches” who stand in the middle of slower daytime traffic, close to junctions, politely requesting donations from drivers going by. Many of these Guyanese are quite young men who are clearly not giving in to the unfortunate accidents they have suffered. Instead of sitting home immobilized, or leaning on charitable relatives, they are out there, in difficult circumstances, often on a blazing hot day, trying to do what they can to help improve their financial situations. To me, who complains if I have even a slight BBQ coal burn under my foot (as was recently the case), the positive demeanour of these young men is an inspiration.
I am proud of them for not giving in but for standing up, even on one leg, in such a positive way.
Changing gears again, I have to point to the print media, in which I am partly involved, and mention Freddie Kissoon who often comes across as one of the foremost columnists in this country aiming his arrows at the biggest targets. In the first place, to be able to produce a column of sense or relevance every day of the week is a feat in itself and, while Freddie’s aim varies, the key is that he is almost always addressing relevant topics or incidents in his Kaieteur News column that catch our attention, and I know without asking that the two most-read columns in the publication will be those of Freddie and the more vernacular deliveries from Adam Harris. Certainly Freddie will ramble, as does Dem Boys Seh – if you had to come up with a column every day you would ramble, too –but even in the ramblings, gems emerge and Freddie manages to do that. We may not always agree with the brother, but we’re usually inclined to tune in.
In a Stabroek News letter from some months back, the way a man named Cedric Joseph deals with his topic provides considerable information about the writer – the quality of the man is there on the page. From the style of the writing and from the opinions expressed, and the manner of their expression, one can tell immediately that Cedric Joseph is a man of grace and balance; he shows a consideration of ideas and influences. Even in the very choice of the words he uses, and in the form he expresses them, Mr. Joseph tells you he is a man of substance and one who makes measured conclusions. From his writing, there are intimations that the qualities of a statesman are in him. I don’t know the man – he may even be using a pseudonym – but his writing tells us clearly he’s a Guyanese to be proud of.
Finally, as space contracts, in my 7-plus years living in Guyana, there is a multi-talented gentleman whose birth certificate says Hemraj Bramdeo but whom I officially know as Sohan. A quiet self-effacing individual, Sohan is the person who comes to the rescue when your wife’s car has a flat tyre and the rain is bucketing. When the timing motor on our washing machine burns out (thanks to GPL) and the store where I bought it has no such part in stock, Sohan guides me in person to an unheard of location near the river to find the unit, bingo. When the leather strap on my watch gives out, I’m not travelling soon, and none of the usual outlets (including Regent Street) have a replacement, Sohan directs me to a back-o-wall crevice on Water Street where they fix you in five minutes. When our fresh water cistern needs pumping out, Sohan appears on his motor-cycle (fully equipped with what to do). If you want an ackee seed planted while you’re away, Sohan. (The tree is actually bearing right now.) In short, this unheralded son among us, a man of modest demeanour, is also a man of many accomplishments; as a Guyanese I am proud of him.
So, the next time some cynic in the diaspora in a Gucci tie, regales you with “Guyana is a nothing place”, show them this column for a start.
