Rockstone, a place synonymous with sport fishing and fun is a picturesque little village located on the right bank of the mighty Essequibo River in Upper Demerara-Berbice. It is home to about 200 residents of all races, and is just 14 miles by road from Linden.

[box type=”shadow” align=”alignleft” width=”300px” ] Scenes and people of Rockstone (Photos by Michel Outridge)[/box]Rockstone is Guyana’s Sport Fishing Destination, and every year during October thousands of Guyanese, some of them coming from overseas especially for this occasion, descend on the normally quiet little village to catch fish, renew old acquaintances and to just have fun. This year was no exception.

Many of those who come to Rockstone prefer to camp out next to the river. However for those who prefer to enjoy some of the conveniences of home, there are establishments such as the Arawana Lodge.
Apart from fishing, which is the main activity, Rockstone offers a variety of other activities. This includes exploring Gluck Island and its environs, going for a nature walk enjoying the beautiful scenery, picnicking, and swimming.
During a recent visit, I befriended a young resident of the village who is familiar with the area, and proceeded to give me a tour. He was one of several children who were swinging from a thick rope tied to a huge tree at the edge of the river. He told me that he enjoys living in the village.
From my experience, almost everyone in Rockstone wears a smile. Even the dogs, it appears, are friendly, and welcome strangers.
I also met several other residents, and in talking with them, discovered that there is no phone network in the area. This state of affairs makes communication with the outside non existent. Most of those I spoke with decried this situation, and called for the development of at least a cell-phone network that would allow them to communicate with the outside world.
The road, which deteriorates during rainy weather, also needs upgrading to allow easy passage to all vehicles, irrespective of the weather, as the villagers use different modes of transport, which include includes passenger vehicles, 4x4s, all terrain vehicles (ATV) and motorcycles.
Rockstone has a quiet, quaint ambience that is refreshing, especially for those of us who want to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. It is perfect for camping and exploration.