Guava Bush Village is on the Corentyne. It is located aback of Albion, between Sand Reef and Toopoo, and has one main road with about five cross streets. The village is a close-knit one with kind, older residents who mostly spend their days tending to their kitchen gardens and relaxing in their hammocks enjoying the Corentyne breeze.
According to 60-year-old Bibi Hasra in ancient times, the village was packed with guava trees, hence the name Guava Bush. Hasra explained that she enjoys living in the village because the residents are very friendly and helpful.
She grew up in the village and now resides alone, but her neighbour’s young daughter would visit and assist her.
The village is home to mostly teachers and estate workers.
Hasra recalled that as a young girl she and her friends would run barefooted on the “mud road”. Although she is happy that a proper road was constructed many years ago, she is grateful for the memories her and her friends made on the mud road.
The woman who suffers from knee pain said she spends most of her day relaxing in her hammock. Her son or her 11-year-old grandson would visit her every day and take food for her. She added that she was asked to move in with her family, but she refuses to leave the village.
Guava Bush does not have a health centre or community centre, it also does not have a mosque or church. It’s sole place of worship, the Guava Bush Shivala Mandir, is popularly known throughout the Corentyne.
Twenty-three-year-old Karishma Ramnauth explained that they suffered tremendously for many years with a pothole-filled main access road, but a few years ago a brand-new road was constructed which has improved their daily lives. “We have lights and water,” she added.
According to Ramnauth, the village was more populated but like many others in Guyana residents have migrated over the years, leaving their houses empty or on sale. “The people are good, some of them,” she joked.
She said she mostly spends her afternoon at the mandir which is located directly opposite her house.
Ramnauth also said that persons in the village have invested in poultry farming, which has offered employment to some of the youths.
As I traversed the streets of Guava Bush, I could not help but notice how joyful and welcoming the residents were. Located in almost the centre of the village is an older couple, Isaac Sackawat, 73, and Ameena Sackawat, 59, whose kindness knows no boundary. The couple told me their story of how they were matched by their parents and they then fell in love. They also gave me bananas and mangoes when it was time for me to leave.
Isaac said he was from further up the Corentyne and after marrying Ameena he ventured to Guava Bush in 1972 where together they built their lives. He joked that although he never knew his wife before her parents “asked home for him” that she immediately said yes after seeing him. “Quick time she say yes! Quick time she say yes!” Isaac joked as he looked lovingly at his wife.
According to the Sackawats, residents would spend their days doing household chores and tending to their gardens.
Isaac advised young persons who are thinking of about getting married to, “be honest to yourself, be hardworking and get understanding”.
He said his marriage was successful because both he and his wife Ameena “work together” throughout the years. “We get understanding,” he added.
He also said that young couples today have a different idea of marriage and its value. He said this plays a major role in marriages not working out these days. “Nowadays children you can’t tell them nothing,” he said.
Another resident also noted that the residents are very friendly, “but baba lot of people gone outside and nuff house vacant.” She said she would be glad for persons to move into the village, “abie go glad for company”. However, she said, more job opportunities are needed in the village. “People a work a estate, and when crop done, people go start catch fish and so,” she added.
Twenty-year-old Navita Goberdhan spoke of her inability to secure a job since she graduated from Berbice High School. The young woman who passed eight subjects at the Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate level said that she has written over 30 applications so far.
She believes that she has gotten lost in the system, since she has written to the Ministry of Education, the Regional Administration of Region Six, the Albion Estate and private companies in Berbice. She said persons who wrote applications after her have secured employment and it was likely a case of “who knows who”.
The young woman, who said she does not want to give up hope, plans to continue to hunt for a job.
She also said that she believes the authorities need to look into truancy in the village.
Meanwhile, other residents also spoke of the lack of transportation in the village. Since the village is located at the back of the Albion Estate Road persons would either have to walk out the lengthy road or “bum a drop”, one resident said.
In January this year, Guava Bush resident Jasmatttie Pooran, 70, was found bound, gagged and dead in her home. Residents recalled the experience to be one of the most horrifying. Some said that for nights they would not sleep, as they had lost their sense of security and feared they could meet the same fate. However, two perpetrators were nabbed and residents said that gave them some peace of mind.
