Book Excerpt
Chapter 2
Early Beginnings:
Life at Bartica
As a Non-Commissioned Police Officer, my father was transferred to several outposts in the nation. He always took his family with him. Relocating for children had its ups and downs. We made new friends at school and lost old ones. In 1934 Dad was transferred from Police Headquarters in Georgetown to Bartica as Officer In Charge of this River-district outpost.
There we took up residence in the Government com pound with my mother and three children—myself 6 years old, my brother Maurice 4 years old and my 2-year old sister, Dorrie. Bartica is approximately 20 miles south, into the Guyana hinterlands by Steamer (ferry-boat) from Georgetown. There were no roads or land transportation between Georgetown and Bartica. A trip to Bartica from Georgetown took approximately 8 to 10 hours by the Steamer along the Essequibo river, the longest and largest river in Guyana.
Golden Fleece, where our grand parents resided, was about 48 miles east, along the Guyana coast line from Georgetown. Transportation by road or rail from George town to Golden Fleece took roughly 4 to 5 hours.
My grand parents were quite sad when Dad was transferred to Bartica. It seemed to them as if he was taking their only daughter and grandchildren to the end of the earth. Therefore, in order to keep in touch, they arranged for my self and my brother Maurice to spend our summer holidays with them at Golden Fleece. In the summer of 1935 Dad and Mother agreed to allow us to go but decided to keep my sister Dorrie and my baby sister Eileen with them. Of course, on occasions during the year Grand-mama or Grand-dad made spot visits to see us in Bartica.
You could imagine the excitement when Papa or Mama were expected. These summer holidays were some of the happiest days of my life as a child, that is, not being required to go to school every day, going to the farm to pick fruit, and playing outdoor games with my cousins and their friends. Because Guyana had no public electricity in those days, moonlight nights were extra special to us as children. I got to know all of my uncles, aunts and cousins from both sides of the family. Mama and Papa also introduced me and my brother to many other relatives. They always had little gifts for us.
Since my grandparents (the Mitchells) had a farm, we learned to milk the cows, catch the chickens, play with other livestock, and assist my uncles in doing the chores. When it was time to return to Bartica at the end of the summer, lots of tears were shed because we did not want to return to the enclosed atmosphere of life in Bartica.
The only reprimand that quieted us came from my grandmother who sternly reminded us that she would not permit us to return to Golden Fleece the following year if the tears did not cease.
My brothers, sisters and I attended the only elementary school at Bartica during my father’s nine-year tenure in this river district. As the Senior Government Official in this village, Dad had to show an example by attending social events held in the District. He also attended the Anglican Church with his family every Sunday. There were no excuses for us as children. Every one had to attend church.
Under British rule, the elementary school was run by the Anglican Church (Church of England) and the Head master, Mr. J. J. Adams, prepared the children for Church during the week by teaching them the Hymns to be sung at Mass the following Sunday. Prayers were memorized and most of the young boys felt honored to be selected as choristers or altar boys. Since I did not have a good singing voice, I was selected as an altar boy or an incense assistant. On Sunday afternoon as children, we went to Sunday-School. We were taught Catechism and the different Orders of the Church in preparation for Confirmation.