Belladrum Village: a close knitted community in the grips of transcending times

May 12, 2019 News

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By Alex Wayne

The prospects of taking a trip to Belladrum Village were indeed many…Come to think of it, it is a village I know well. I was once a teacher at the primary school there.

So there was just a lot of reuniting to do, there were certainly going to be many hugs and kisses from friends and associates, and I certainly had every intention of visiting teachers at the primary school, whom I knew were going to be very elated at my sudden arrival.
Belladrum is a small community in the Mahaica-Berbice Region of Guyana, on the Atlantic coast, about 15 kilometers (9 miles) east of Mahaicony, and about 68.8 kilometers from Georgetown. The bus ride was certainly going to be relaxing and already I was craving for the refreshing country breeze and lush, green scenery.
But I was in for some disappointment… The buses on the East Coast Demerara Bus Park weren’t even half filled and time was against me. Frantically, I went in search of one of the hire cars that plied the Georgetown/New Amsterdam route and luckily there was one that needed two more passengers before taking off.
I attempted to enter the vehicle from the left hand side, and this buxom woman in a leotard of almost a thousand colours glared up at me and with a scowl, said, “You gah fe guh around the next side Mista. This side done tek up already”.
Wondering what in heaven’s name I had done to her to spoil her day, I walked around to the right hand door of the car and got in. I looked at her and she glowered at me fiercely. Then she kept making annoying sounds with her mouth, eating what appeared to be fried chicken and potato fries.
I was thinking to myself, “Look at she size, and at the amount of calories she was consuming”, when she interrupted my reverie.

“Wait man, you ain’t see somebody trying to get in the car?”
I jerked out of my reverie and look up into the face of a pretty young lady smiling down at me. From all indications, she preferred to be seated between ‘this supposed hater of a woman’, so I got out and she slid in.
Was this for real? There I was looking at the very small space left for me, and wondering if my day was going to get any worse. My lips trembled with many rude things to say to the fat woman, but I held my peace.
I literally stuffed myself into whatever seat space was left for me. Folks, I got to admit, this was the most uncomfortable car ride ever. By the time we arrived at the Ogle Railway Road, I couldn’t take it anymore and leaning over politely asked the woman to the far left, “Mom, excuse me, but can you at least move over a little to the left? I can hardly feel my legs right now”
The response was like a volcano exploding. She swung around with fruit juice dripping from her chin and hollered, “Move ovah to go where? Like yuh crazy or what? You ain’t see I can’t move a muscle over here? Well eh eh…Look at you… Look mista, don’t upset me dis day”.
The young girl in the middle rolled her eyes heavenwards, and I was just fuming on the other side.

I looked over again and the rude woman had deliberately spread her legs wider, taking up even more space in the car, and ignoring us both, began chomping even louder on her meal. I grew hot with rage, and could barely resist grabbing a handful of her weave, and tugging for all I was worth. But with great effort I suppressed the urge and just prayed to arrive in Belladrum.
My Arrival and Interaction with Villagers
The car driver apparently sensed my fury and he did everything he could verbally to make the ride what I had anticipated, so finally I tried to relax and focused my attention on the arresting scenery that flew by on both sides of the car.
In no time, we rolled into Belladrum, and I heaved a sign of great relief. As I disembarked, I again felt the urge to ‘tell this woman piece of my mind’, but I reminded myself how important it was to be professional, and after paying the driver, began my trek round the village.

Belladrum is a rural area close to the sea wall on the northern coast of Guyana. It is below sea level and is rich with lush vegetation, rice fields, and wildlife. The fertility of the soil there allows for large-scale farming and the cultivation of rice as well.
I approached vegetable farmer, Keith Johnson, 52, and he was at that hour of the afternoon digging in on some good ole Eldorado 5-Year Old Rum with his friend Roland Jacobs. They were very happy it seems and were in the process of extending a vegetable stall belonging to Johnson.
I introduced myself and immediately Johnson exclaimed, “Thank God yuh come…You from Kaieteur…Me glad alyuh come hea. We have nuff things as villagers fuh discuss with you, boss man.”
He said that for almost ten years villagers have been lamenting the deplorable state of a main access road used by farmers, but to no avail. They complained to the Berbice Regional Democratic Council, or by the Mahaica Mahaicony Abary/Agricultural Development Council (MMA/ADA) which Johnson said, spearheads repairs to bridges, dams and other locations in the village.
“For years, we have been calling out for assistance with fixing this road in Belladrum. Many farmers cultivate crops close to the sea dam and use this dam to transport their produce. When it rains, it’s almost impossible to traverse the area. The potholes are getting bigger and bigger, and not one is doing anything about it, despite our pleas.

“Our vehicles cannot traverse this road in the rainy season, making it quite a task to fetch our crops from the sea dam area to retailers or to close by markets.”
Some farmers also complained of losing hundreds of thousands of dollars when the Atlantic overflows its dams and floods their gardens.
Watermelon, pumpkins, ground provision and vegetables have been lost because of destruction by salt water, and farmers have been most times lamenting their losses.
Farmers in some sections of the village complained of the harrowing experiences they face during the rainy weather since and caused by a main dam providing access to their farm.
Speaking on their behalf, Clairmonte Wilson was adamant that repairs to the dam were an urgent issue that needs to be addressed.
“This is something that needs to be addressed immediately. Farmers use this dam to get to their farms and rice lands. Now look at the state of it, presently. The May/June rains are already here and quite soon, it will be almost impossible to get into the backlands.

“And these villagers who have cattle need to find alternate routes to get their cattle to feeding grounds. They too are destroying the dam when they allow cattle to traverse on it when the rain is falling.”
Some villagers also lamented the state of a roadside irrigation trench, which was clogged with weeds and silt, emphasising that an adequate water supply is not circulated around the village, because of its present state.
Belladrum Today and in times of Ole
Belladrum presently is the total opposite of what it was in years gone by. Today, there are posh houses and businesses, nightclubs and avenues for sport and recreation. The village has taken on a modern aura with the introduction of stylish houses.
Belladrum can be no longer remembered as the land of mud huts and wide open pastures.
Making the comparisons was village elder, Emelda Wilson, who plunged into a tale that saw a girlish smiles tugging at her mouth corners.
“I could remember my days as a young girl, how we would run almost butt naked in the wide open pastures, with our hair flying.
“When the rain came down, we would splash and play in the muddy waters. But many times our mothers came after us with tamarind whips and there goes all the fun.
“Then in the afternoon, we would go down to about two standpipes in the village, and many time fights broke out over whose turn it was to draw water. As young girls or boys clash in battle, a large crowd would quickly gather, each chanting for the person they supported.
“It was a sight to see them roll around like pigs in the mud, flinging cuffs, pulling hair, or digging faces. The crowd would scatter in all directions when village elders arrived, parting the fights with slaps and whip lashes.
“In those days there was no electricity and the ‘flambeau lamps’ was the going thing. You had to cook with it, do your school work with it and to save the cooking oil or kerosene, blow out the lamps before going to bed.
“Many families lived in mud huts and only the wealthy were living in cottages. Mosquitoes were always a problem, but we used to light dried ‘cow dung’ and make smoke to chase them away.
“The best time we had is waiting for moonlight so we could head out to the sea beach to catch crabs as they marched. Around this time, the mouth watering aroma of curried crabs came from every home and bare backed children could be seen in the yards fighting over the ‘crab bungie’ (claws).
“Everyone always anticipated the May Fairs, and we would try to look our best in our white stockings and little frilled skirts. In those days, our foreparents told stories around bonfires and many times we would shudder in terror, when they told tales of the Baccoo, and the Ol’ higue”.
Today things have changed. While the Annual Harvest Dance has been introduced (at the Belladrum Primary School), the May Fair is still a popular feature.
Today entertainment has been much modernised with the arrival of the spanking new ‘Club Expo’ nightclub.
The traditional Coco-cabana Disco known for its many Soirees, domino matches and excursions is still standing, but it has now been renovated. It also caters for weddings, birthdays and such.
At present, villagers are already raving about the upcoming May 18, ‘Give Away Extravaganza’, and the ‘Walking Trophy Part 2’ showcase set for later this month.
During the midday, the village is very quiet to the point of almost dismal. However, it comes alive in the cool of the evening, with the cheery chatter of schoolchildren, making their way to their various destinations.
Screaming and yelling over the rights to monkey apples picked from trees would bring laughter bubbling to the surface just by watching this spectacle.
There is at least one very talented African Drum group in the village, which still ties villagers to their ancestral roots.

 

Village Gossip and other issues
Well every village has its ‘ups and downs’ and Belladrum was certainly not to be left out. At least in three sections of the village, residents seemed very disgruntled about the issue of who owned and controlled the committee that promoted the much anticipated Harvest Dance in the village.
One villager noted, “The committee that controlled the Harvest Dance in times gone by is hardly even functional any more. Persons have taken it over and have diplomatically removed former members and have placed family members and friends on the board.
“This has angered many villagers, because the seasoned persons with knowledge of promoting events have been removed. A body of friends and relatives cannot function in the best interest of the village.”
Some villagers are of the opinion that police in the area are very biased, and would allow their associates to hold entertainment events until the wee hours in the morning, while fund raisers for others are brought to an abrupt halt even before midnight. One promoter was furious as he related his alleged experience.
“This nonsense needs to stop!!! The police here are very biased and unfair. They would allow their relatives and friends to host parties way after the curfew hours, making a lot of noise that disturbs the residents.
“On the other hand, when a small man attempts a simple event like a bar-b-que, the police come and stop the event way before midnight. I have suffered great losses as a result of this practice by the police. What goes for one is supposed to go for all, and somebody needs to look into this nonsense the police are doing.”
The Belladrum Community Centre and Playfield is located in the neighbouring Eldorado Village, but youths in the village are arguing that persons placed to manage the facility are not allowing talented athletes, and sportsmen to access the ground freely for training and practice sessions.
Some have even hinted that they will be taking their complaints to higher authorises, alleging that persons managing the playfield, keep its chained and locked up most of the times.

Employment
To some extent, the village seems to have an unemployment issue. In years gone by, residents were employed at the Burma Rice Milling Complex, but with that company going out of operation, villagers are now fending for themselves on their farmlands.
Many have opened stalls at which they trade in vegetables and groceries. The village now has an ice-cream parlour, and other entities that afford recreation for children.
In many homes however, mothers are beating the times by erecting stalls to sell snacks and food items, and from all accounts, they seem to be doing well with the crowds that gather to make purchases.
Some men still try their luck in the hinterland regions for gold and diamond to sustain their families.

Village Highpoints
The village is still transcending with the changes of time, and as such, it features are ever evolving. The village has an administrative office, headed by an overseer, as well as Health Centre that caters for villagers.
That aside the Seventh-day Adventist Church and the landmark St. Alban’s Anglican Church still remain standing. The Belladrum Primary School is also housed in the same compound with the Anglican Church. This school many years ago was governed by the Anglican Church, and was named the St Alban’s School.
The Belladrum Nursery School which was formerly housed in the same building is now located in another part of the village, while the Belladrum Secondary School, is located in neighbouring village of Eldorado village.
The secondary school was previously known as the Belladrum (Government) Community High School.
Come soak up the sun and fun in Belladrum. Join us next Sunday when we take you on a journey to Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

 

 

 

 

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