Ten-year-old Drucilla Richardson and Kwesi Richardson, 17, are cousins living in Riverview, Ruimveldt. They spent many Christmas holidays together and decided to share their memories and wishes for this festive season.

Drucilla enjoys this special time of year for two reasons, plenty of gifts and her birthday also falls in the month of December.
“I get plenty of gifts on both days. Christmas is all about fun.”
She has fond memories of delicious Guyanese cuisine: Pepper pot, Black Cake, Ham and Baked Chicken. Her fun consists of games with her cousin e.g. Skipping, Ketcher and Hide and Seek. They hold singing competitions of which she always emerges as the top artiste.
Her presents of dolls, doll houses & guitar, gave her many enjoyable moments. “It’s the most beautiful time of the year because you get nice things.”
Clean up, decorating and fixing up for the holidays gives her a thrill. She goes to parties and has visits Santa.
“What I want for Christmas is a computer, a bicycle (this was my 2013 wish but I did not get it), a Tablet and some money. Whenever I get goodies I always share with my friends and family. This Christmas I will eat, watch Christmas movies and play Christmas CDs.
Kwesi on the other hand feels it’s a time of love and sharing.
“I get the Christmas feeling when the house is cleaned, painted, lit up and decorated. I start to save up in early December so that I have some money for the holidays.”
He sings a lot and thinks this is a way he helps to spread joy. He loves family get together and relishes the fact that for the season he is allowed to stay out late at night.
“Christmas morning it’s Pepper Pot, home-made bread and Milo. Then I’m off to hang out with friends. We sometimes pool money to buy drinks but there is always plenty of food to go around.”
He is very excited when searching for his presents on Christmas morning. Sometimes he even tries to locate them before December 25, without any luck.
“Christmas Night or Boxing Night I take my girlfriend out.”
He remembers years gone by when he received toy trucks, a Robot, a remote control car, a basketball and hoop and plenty of money. I also remember working hard to clean up and waiting up Christmas Eve to see Santa,”
“One of my best Christmas memories was attending the village get together. There was music, food and dancing of course.”
Kwesi wants to wish everyone joy and happiness and hopes we could all come together and give thanks. His fervent hope is for all Guyanese to love each other and be generous to the needy.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL

(by Neil Primus)