Each week we post an article or paper submitted by a member or "silent participant" of Guyana Caribbean Network. The featured article runs from Monday to Sunday each week. To submit an article for feature of the week contact us at admin@guyanacaribbeannetwork.com This week's feature is brought to you by "John Blue".

I cannot forget Bartica
by John Blue

When I was in Guyana I was well acquainted with Bartica. Professionally I was associated with a government program known as Teperu Quarry which by land was a 20 minute drive from Bartica.

I was involved in both the installation and operation of the three stage Quarry. I said three stage because the granite was sized by a primary, secondary and tertiary crushers.

A housing complex was constructed to accommodate upper management and their families. Having been seconded to the Quarry I maintained residence in Georgetown.

It was customary for me to leave Timheri/Atkinson every Monday morning at 8am and arrive at Bartica at 8:20am where transportation was waiting to take me to the Quarry. Leaving Bartica on Saturday morning at 8:30 am I arrived at Timheri at 8:50am.

If it was necessary for me to travel to Georgetown urgently there was a cabin cruiser at my disposal. Travelling by the cabin cruiser gave me a memorable experience. I clearly noticed the line of demarcation where the fresh water (from the Essequibo river) met the salt water from the Atlantic ocean. This line will shift with the tide but the waters never mix. While at Teperu the place for recreation was Bartica and the children living at Teperu were bused to Bartica for schooling. Bartica and the Mazaruni have made such an impression on me that I now take any tour going into that area. I was impressed to see the Mazaruni and Cayuni Rivers coming from different directions and flowing into the Essequibo river.

Three years ago I called my tour guide aside and corrected her as she showed us Sybil Hall. She explained that she was repeating what she was told. In fact she was referring to Sibly Hall which was built on the Mazaruni Prison settlement. This building which was erected to house young offenders and first offenders was used at one stage to confine political detainees.

Travelling to this area is much safer and more pleasant than 15 years ago. I visited Guyana at that time and insisted on taking my family to Bartica and Teperu. I chartered a vehicle to take us to Parika. Joining a launch/speed boat we left Parika for Bartica. We were all covered with a tarpaulin to prevent us from being drenched by the splashing water. My granddaughter saw her grandmother with her eyes closed so she said to her mother "Nana is sleeping" her mother replied "no Nana is praying". We eventually ran out of gas and the boat has to be paddled to an inlet where it was refueled. Arriving at Bartica I approached Mr. Smart a local businessman to hire transportation to go to Teperu. He told me the road was impassable but the sight of US dollars convinced him to make the trip. The road was really bad and when we arrived at the quarry it was abandoned and some National Service Guards were posted. We were prohibited from taking pictures. This project Teperu Quarry was financed by a loan from an international monetary fund. This heavily politicized project was expected to run Tolsie Persaud and his Saint Mary Quarry out of business. It never happened even though the adjoining Quarry Itabu was acquired by Government. Teperu quarry has a history of changing hands and on my last visit to the area was owned by Guyana Granite.

While I was at Teperu the place for entertainment was Bartica. I had a motor cycle at Teperu and that facilitated my visits to Bartica. Strange but true, when I look back at entertainment in the mining town it amounted to music, rum, some food and women.

I have two children and one is now deceased and they travelled extensively in Guyana but Bartica and the Mazaruni area have made an impression on them. They experienced going to Ruimveldt to take a plane to go to Bartica. That was an amphibian grumman (sea plane) flown by Art Williams. We landed in the Essequibo river just off Bartica and row boats ferried us to shore. In later years an air strip was built at Bartica. I recall having my two children at ages 7 and 10 with me in the Bartica Mazaruni area while their mother was in England. We were returning to Georgetown using the MV Powis to Parika. I was on board with my two children when they requested something to drink. I left them on the boat and went ashore to shop. When I returned to the stelling/wharf the gate was locked and I was not allowed to enter. The stage was removed and the boat departed without me while the children were crying. This is the same area where the recent killings took place. I entered the police compound and went to the riverside/ bank where some launches were moored. I chartered a launch to take me to Makouria which was the next stop for the river boat. When we were about five minutes away from Makouria we were waving and persons on board the MV Powis told the captain that I was spotted and asked him to wait for me.

Captain Tom refused to wait stating that he had a schedule to keep and departed from Makouria. Arriving at Makouria I proceeded up the hill to my friend and colleague Neil Semple who was Manager of Makouria Quarry. I told him about my situation and while we had a drink and some old talk he ordered that the speed boat be filled with gas to take me to catch the steamer. The word steamer is still used even though they were no longer steam ships but motor vessels.

We caught up with the MV Powis around Stampa Island amidst tumultuous cheering by the passengers. My two children were smiling to see their father as he definitely beat the odds of people offering to take care of them. They saw me as a hero.

How can I forget Bartica. I offer my condolence to all those who have lost love ones during the recent carnage.