Latest update February 11th, 2025 2:15 PM
Latest News
- Govt. makes move to cancel CGX, Frontera Corentyne block license in 30 days
- ExxonMobil paying taxes in Bahamas but not a cent to Guyana
- Canadian company completes airstrip, roads to kick off 5.4M ounce gold project in Guyana
- Hamas threatens to postpone next hostage release, claiming Israel has broken terms of ceasefire deal
- Twelve-year-old girl missing for three weeks
Miners, loggers face isolated Christmas season
By Rabindra Rooplall
In the dense jungles, vast savannahs and other remote interior locations, the customary hustle and bustle of the Christmas season takes another shape and experience.
Paul Chow at the camp where it’s business as usual during the season
Today, many loggers and miners would also be trying to enjoy or are enjoying their Christmas.
Such is the life of those who seek precious metals and stones to enhance their existence while leaving families and friends behind for the season.
These men forsake the customary feasts and a sense of togetherness and companionship with family and friends.
For instance, Paul Chow is a gold miner who is today away from the clustered urban life, seeking the hidden treasures of the earth. He insists that the Christmas holiday is made up of sweat, hard work and fond memories which motive him to make it as comfortably as he could through the festive period.
Chow further reflected that the tranquility offered in the interior cannot be compared to any other part of Guyana, which makes the holidays even lonelier.
“Even bachelors who are hardened to the interior miss being with their relatives at Christmastime. Nobody likes to be alone during the holidays…and especially if it’s their first Christmas in here,” Chow said.
Noting that camp mates would sometimes get together and have their own version of a Christmas party, Chow underscored that such actions are a needed distraction, rather than having lonely days and nights throughout in a hammock. “This might not be the best of times for us where the holiday is concerned, but we try to have a big pot of cook-up with rum and other drinks to have our own little Christmas lime.”
However, only if the camp has been doing well with gathering gold and other gems, would the miners be in high spirits to have their own version of that Christmas lime, otherwise it’s just another day of work.
Chow noted that the “holidays” can also be equally great since many persons on Christmas Day would visit the Mahdia Landing where there is little that one would miss.
“Many persons would stay in the back dam to look over their gold operations, especially if they are on a hot string of gold,” he said. “Most persons would want to leave the bush and return home, however, sacrifices must be made in order to provide for themselves and family.”
Christmas, what Christmas? Some other miners
According to one logger who already spent the Christmas season in the jungle, generally the season can be a relaxed one, but if constantly mixed with thoughts of the coastland and urban life, you days in the jungle can quickly develop into a miserable experience.
“Being quite honest, when you think about your family at Christmastime that makes you want to leave the hinterland and head for the coast,” the logger noted thoughtfully.
Similar Articles
THE BLUNT OF THE DAY
Sports
Features/Columnists
Are we better off today than we were before first oil?
Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News-If you had asked me ten years ago what I wanted for Guyana, I would have said a few things:... more
OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus
Antiguan Barbudan Ambassador to the United States, Sir Ronald Sanders By Sir Ronald Sanders Kaieteur News- The upcoming election... more
Weekend Cartoon
