Skilled Electrician, Carol Hyacinth Johnson, is ‘Special Person’

Mar 08, 2026 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine, Xtra Entertainment

---

Shattering the stereotype in a male dominated profession…

Kaieteur Sports – It more than three decades ago, that Carol Hyacinth Johnson made an unlikely decision to become an electrician and tradeswoman.

That decision was possibly out of necessity but as the old adage goes necessity is the mother of inventions—it led her to more than a lifelong career, but to finding her husband and later becoming a mother of her three treasured children, Brook, Simon and Carrie.

She told this publication that her husband Patrick was a former supervisor with whom she had worked at GuyMine. In 1987, when she lost her job with the company, she decided to join Patrick, certified in general electrical works, a/c installation, and refrigeration among other things.

The two started doing odd jobs together but subsequently began a serious relationship and eventually they got married. That marriage and work led her to accomplishing a simple life and a distinguished career, where she is respected and recognised for her excellent craftsmanship and skill.

Today, Mrs. Johnson’s work is held in such high regard that now though she is partially retired, she is still being sought out for advice even by her male counterparts. This tradeswoman is not only a skilled electrician but she also does plumbing, masonry, tiling and is an excellent landscaper.

“As a female in a male dominated role, I have had to prove myself, as males often look down on me. However, when my worth is proven, those same males would come and seek my advice. I am skilled at my job and when I start working the men does try to match up with me because I never back down from a challenge,” she said.

This week’s Special Person has not only shattered stereotypes but has charted the course for other women to follow in a male dominated profession.  She admits however while the work can be tough, dedication, grit, and love for what she does has caused her to make a decent living for herself and her family.

Johnson asserted “When they need someone to go into the ceiling I’m there, they need someone to climb the ladder and go high places, I go. When nobody wants to do the hard job, I do it without fear because a blind man once told me ‘can’t is the big son of never try’ so, I’ve always kept that in my head, if a blind man can think like that then so could I.”

She told this newspaper that as she steps away from her chosen vocation, she hopes to inspire a new generation to choose career technical and vocational skills.

“My advice to young people out there is to grab any meaningful opportunity that comes your way; there is always something good about learning a trade,” she asserted.

RURAL ROOTS

Perhaps she learnt the values of hard work and determination as a young girl growing up in Number Trafalgar Village better known as Number #28 Village, West Coast Berbice (WCB).

Born to a father Alton Carmichael, who was a farmer/sea defence worker and mother, Eileen a housewife and colporteur, Johnson learnt to fend for herself from a tender age. Johnson was the 7^th child of 10 children and the family eked out a simple living in rural Guyana.

She recalled her mother used to make and sell cassava bread, quinches, buns and other pastries and sometimes she even accompanied her husband to plant and cut rice. She said “My upbringing has shaped my life tremendously, because of how hard life was for me. I am able to adjust in any situation. I can function and thrive in the best and worst situation.”

She reflected that growing was hard as she would have to wake up at 4 in the morning to fetch water on her head a mile and a half away from home to use in the household and to feed the animals on the farm; a task she never liked. She also recounted her long walks to and from #29 Government School, and having to leave school at midday to head home for lunch and while heading back she would have to take the container to bring home water for her evening chores. Of course, she couldn’t take the saucepans into the classroom, so she and her siblings would hide them in the burial ground near the school.

Johnson’s life as she knew it in Number 28Village WCB suddenly changed when her sister Joyce Nicholson got married and moved to Linden.

YOUNG TALENT

Johnson was 9 years old when she moved to Linden to live with her older sister Joyce Nicholson and her husband, Michael. She was then enrolled into St. Adians Primary School where she thrived until one day her mother travelled from Berbice and took her back home.

She was then enrolled into Latchman Singh Primary there she wrote the Preliminary Exam after which she wrote the College of Preceptors Exam a London Based exam before transitioning to Bush Lot High School, she later went on to do the General Certificate of Examination (GCE) after which she joined Guyana National Service as a pioneer.  After six months of exemplary efforts, she was selected to become a junior leader where she was entrusted with the task of training new recruits to march and other tasks.

During that time Johnson was transferred to Kimbia miles up the Berbice River and other locations before her passing off ceremony. After graduation, she was sent to Guyana Garage Limited to do a six months course in Automotive Electrical. However, after the course instead of returning to National Service, she absconded and went back to Linden.

ESTABLISHED TRADESWOMAN

As a young tradeswoman, she later applied for an adult evening course at trade school in Linden and was awarded a place to learn electrical work. That’s where she blossomed. She sat the City and Gills Exam A and B and was later employed by GuyMine. After her successful completion, she was attached to the mills and was later transferred to the machine shop section for eight years. During that time, Johnson was assigned to different projects where her skills further expanded.

But after eight years she was let go from GuyMine; as she was a staunch union representative who participated in every strike action and stood up for her rights and that of her colleagues.

As a result, Johnson returned to Berbice and started a job at the Mahaica- Mahaicony- Abary Conservancy and that is where she met her now husband Patrick Johnson.

After a few years of courting, they were married. Life started at Tiger Bay, they decided to open a small shop and work together fixing AC units, refrigerators, washing machines etc.

During that time, she gave birth to their three children. After a few years of life in Georgetown they made the decision to move back to Number#28 Village and lived there for a few years before settling at their current home on the East Coast of Demerara.

Asked what she likes best about her field of work, Johnson said, “My work as an electrician is my safe space.”

“That’s where I am most comfortable; as I can control my environment through planning and utilising every safety precautions. I am always open to learning. As much as I am in the profession for years things are changing. So, I’m not afraid or ashamed to ask questions for clarity. I don’t know everything, nobody does,” she posited.

She noted nonetheless that the work comes with complexities.

“One of my best experiences is interacting with the people I work for and figuring out complex jobs,” Johnson noted adding that her biggest motivation comes from being able to help others in any way possible.

Since retirement, Johnson spends her days tending to her plants beautifying her home. Yet, she never turn anyone away as many persons would still reach out to her asking advice and for her to share her knowledge and expertise on whatever challenge they are facing.

Johnson balances her life well. She said it is something she learnt from a tender age. “Growing up the way I did I watch my mother navigate that life and it was from her that I drew my inspiration and patterned my life. So, navigating that came easy to me. Of course, it came with its challenges but life and the examples I had to follow helped me to pull through,” she reflected.

And while she has many things to be grateful for, Johnson said her greatest accomplishments are her children, “because they make me proud every day.”

She also said to know that “I came from hardship but I was able to push them into thriving people is a blessing.”

Furthermore, that tradeswoman she is favored by God that “he continues to bless me with health and strength that at 69 years/ post retirement, I am still able to do all that I can do.”

---

• Carol Hyacinth Johnson, electrician, Special Person

---