The lady with the last name of Singh called herself an “evangelist”; she wrote compulsively on religious matters and claimed to have various “ministries”. On Sundays, she knocked on doors trying to convert people of differing faiths and though most people hid themselves at the sight of her, she still lists “house visitations” as one of her ministries.

Mrs Singh also visited the prisons and yes, you guessed it, she listed a “prison ministry” on her religious resume. Mrs. Singh insisted that her prison ministry was a roaring success because the prisoners always welcomed her visits. She took offense to the suggestion that any male prisoner would welcome even a brief time of companionship with a female. She was adamant that the prisoners sole interest was in Jesus. What was strange is that her church did not have a single ex-convict in their congregation. Apparently, once the guys were released from prison, their interest in Jesus waned.

Mrs Singh’s claim to fame or infamy, depending on how you look at it, came during the funeral of a fellow villager. It was a steaming hot August afternoon, the blue tarpaulin blocked the sun but made the place a sweltering sauna. The smell of perfume and Limacol wafted over the large crowd, even to the outside street where most of the men seem to congregate. Inside, relatives were hugging each other, daubing tears, while the Pandit recited the funerary rites in Hindi.

Suddenly, there was a murmur from outside; Mrs Singh on her red bicycle with a wicker basket attached the front, had just turned the street corner and she was peddling furiously. The righteous lady did not stop on the street; she swerved rapidly onto the bridge as the men hurriedly parted to get out of her way. Mrs Singh did not acknowledge any of them; she flicked her bike stand down, reached into the wicker basket and retrieved a magnificent hat. She marched into the yard as the ladies leaned away from her head so as not to make contact with her hat.

Mrs Singh ignored everyone and strode up confidently to the coffin as if to view the deceased, then suddenly she reached down and grabbed the body by the shoulders and shaking it vigorously she screamed to the top of lungs: “In the name of Jesus I command you to live!”

The silence was deafening, not even a sniffle could be heard; the Pandit was staring at her with his mouth wide open.

It was as if things were moving in slow motion as the deceased’s teenage son slowly rose to his feet, before anyone could fully realize what was happening, the boy grabbed one of the poles holding up the tarpaulin and charged towards Mrs Singh.

She dropped the corpse and putting her hand on her head to hold her hat in place and she bolted with the boy wielding the stave in hot pursuit.

The funeral erupted into chaos.
Mrs Singh didn’t even grab her bike; she just ran with one hand on her head and the other holding up her skirt. Several of the men on the street chased after the pair and caught up with them at the street corner. They held the boy back while Mrs Singh galloped away.

Mrs Singh became scarce around the neighborhood after that episode and some folks say she has since migrated to the United States.

The story of Mrs Singh making claims that she cannot support came to mind because we are now hearing from another evangelical Singh who also is making claims that he cannot support.

I wonder if Daniel Singh is connected to our Mrs Singh? She claimed to be an evangelist and he’s claiming to be a pastor. I suspect he writes from the United States because he says he has squirrels in his backyard. Squirrels do not live in Guyana

Mrs Singh, the potential raiser of the dead, the miracle worker, is a laughing stock. Her story is now told children and repeated at summer BBQ’s about the good times people had growing up in Guyana.

Daniel Singh is showing the same confidence displayed by evangelist Singh. The reason he doesn’t want to give the name of his church is because he doesn’t want his American friends exposed to his claims in the Guyana newspapers.

He can save himself from Mrs Singh’s reputation if he stops insulting those who are skeptical of his claims and just say the name of the church he pastors and tell us from where he got his degree in theology. Why is big secrecy? Why is he afraid to tell the truth?

Mr. Singh can’t complain then if people regard any claims he makes as bogus and maybe who knows, considering the things he says regarding mermaids, and grandfather tree monkeys, he might also become the subject at summer time BBQ tales.
Justin de Freitas.