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Ashraf ‘River Conqueror’ Ali swims the Essequibo
By Samuel Whyte
Overseas based Guyanese, Ashraf the ‘River Conqueror’ Ali, the 70 year old former school teacher
Ali about to enter the water of the Essequibo River.
of Canefield East Canje, Berbice, Guyana, on Monday defied the odds an undertook the rigid task of swimming the Essequibo River. A task he easily accomplished despite a number of obstacles.
At 70 a lot of persons would be at home retired in a rocking chair or caring for grands or great grands. However, Ali who wears many hats including being a preacher in the Christadelphian Church is on another mission, which is to swim the three main rivers in Guyana within a few weeks. Having already swam the Berbice and Demerara Rivers on more than one occasion. His main trust this time was to conquer the Mighty and Majestic Essequibo River.
As a warm up he swam the Berbice River for the third time on Saturday which he did in 40 minutes. One of his main aims to undertake the feat was in observance of the Guyana celebrating its Golden Jubilee Independence Anniversary and Berbice High School, his Alma Mata, Centenary Anniversary. He also timed his swim in the Essequibo on the day that BHS was celebrating its Centenary.
Ali and his team made up of Manager Leon Farrier, assistant Kim Forde, his nephew Roshan Ali who flew in from Texas, a few supporters and family set out on the over 150 miles journey to Rockstone on Sunday. Arriving in Linden in the dead of Night, the team stayed over in the mining town before undertaking the bumpy ride into Rockstone early on Monday morning. Although the accommodation and atmosphere at the resort was not too welcoming, Ali stuck it out in order to accomplish his mission. He began his almost two miles swim in the hot midday sun around 13:10 hrs and completed the mission in 1hr: 10 minutes. Members of his management team joined him in the Essequibo River as he completed his task. It was minutes after the adventure was done that the rain came in full force.
Ali has been busy since arriving in Guyana. He met with Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports Nicolette Henry on Friday. He will continue to be busy as he aims to swim the Demerara River in a few days. He hopes to meet with his Excellency President David Granger before returning to the USA.
Ali during his swim of the Essequibo River Monday.
Speaking on the swim, he said it was simple. He was not troubled at all. The river current and temperature would change at times. The current would pull you away from your intended destination and you would have to battle to get back in line. “The only scary part was before the swim where people say the river is dangerous to swim in. People talk about the river being full of reptiles and other dangerous creatures such as Anacondas, Electric Ells, Sting Rays, Caimans, Piranhas and Alligators and I should swim with protective gear. There was no danger no treat. It was a simple swim.”
Among Ali’s achievements since leaving Guyana are graduating from the DeVry University in the USA with a degree in Electronics and Computer Technology. He got an A in Television repairs. He is also a qualified Television Producer and produces a popular Television programme in the Queens area called “The Best Things in Life are Free.”
Ali graduated from BHS in 1967. A trained teacher, he taught Science and mathematics at a number of Secondary and Primary Schools in the Berbice area. He also lectured at The New Amsterdam Technical Institute. He was also head of the Science Department of the Canje Secondary.
He started swimming over the Canje River as a youth. He first swam the Berbice River in 1979. In 1998 he swam the Suriname River, swimming from Skeldon to Stratt in Nickerie, Suriname.
In 1999 he swam the Demerara River. He has also swum Lake Mainstay twice.
He stated that by the will of God, he plans to swim the Berbice River every year and undertake to swim into the Atlantic Ocean as far out as possible. He says that he has a passion for swimming.
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