A ‘Ghost Town’ is always a very sad sight. In most cases, it is a stark reminder of past glories. There will be an increasingly large number of potential ‘Ghost Towns’ in the United States as a consequence of the current economic crunch that is rapidly enveloping the world. Businesses are putting up shutters, banks have run bankrupt, foreclosures are escalating and several thousands are added to the ‘breadline’ daily. In small communities, this situation could be extremely vulnerable as alternative opportunities are invariably limited. Ituni, a small community located on the long trail from Linden to Kwakwani may be classified as one of our many ‘Ghost Towns’ that will surely have a worse plight as a consequence of the present economic situation worldwide.

As recent as the seventies, Ituni was known as a bustling small bauxite township connected by railway to the main bauxite operations at Linden. It had been a thriving location for well over 30 years and had been made famous for its night life and excellent entertainment as the community was known for its spontaneous hospitality. It comprised an admixture of all races and, as a consequence, there was absolutely no discrimination. There was much inter-breeding and to this day you will find a truly mixed population of all the races.

Ituni still has an abundance of bauxite but there is only periodic talk about resuscitation. As a consequence, the men-folk have to resort to cutting timber for survival of the community as the only available option. But very hard times continue to exist and it is claimed that the Guyana Forestry Commission is not making things easier with its regulatory measures, the cost of which the community’s limited financial resources could ill afford. It does not appear that consideration is given to the fact that most of the people already live at bare subsistence level; they are at times obliged to send their children as far away as Linden and Kwakwani for Secondary education and pay for their support to boot. No consideration is given to the poor maintenance of the lone trail that forces minibus operators to charge as much as $1,000 or more for a one-way trip to Linden in order to maintain their vehicles.

In a previous article some years ago, I had made the point that Ituni is a place where some of the most beautiful girls in Guyana could be found and we were making little girls mothers at the tender age of 14 or even less because of financial circumstances. There is an endless trek to Aroaima, Kwakwani, Linden, the Gold Bush and even as far away as the Caribbean to earn a living through the most devious means. And yet there is an over-abundance of lip service about HIV/AIDS prevention. Obviously not enough thought is being given to the basic causation which is associated with severe poverty.

There is no need to bring rocket scientists to Ituni for a solution. All that is necessary is a little bit of common sense coupled with on-the-spot leadership and an eagerness for self-help on the part of the community. There is an abundance of forestry so a sawmill and a Lumber yard could be established. There is always need for furniture, so a Furniture Factory could be erected. While I was studying in England, I had to tour a lovely place called High Wycombe which bordered a river and an abundance of forestry. This little town had at the time over two thousand furniture factories manufacturing and supplying furniture to Europe and North America. Ituni could certainly supply local demands for school furniture as a ready example. There is also excellent sand and clay around Ituni that could sustain a viable ceramic Industry. Here the irony is that we import ceramic ware and ornaments from all over the world when we could produce them right here at Ituni and elsewhere. There is also good terrain around for farming. I have eaten some of the largest and sweetest avocado pears and pineapples grown at Ituni. There could be room for canning and, also, the exportation of fresh fruit.

Around the bend from Ituni is a place called the ‘Goat Farm’ which had some of the largest goats and turkeys in Guyana. The place borders a creek filled with abundant fish. It ought not to be too difficult to harness these few resources and others which could make Ituni a ‘Boom Town’ once again. On a very conservative estimate, these few ventures as pioneer projects ought not to cost in excess of $300 million – less than the cost of building a single school in some cases. We need pocket micro-development and not questionable macro-development where foreign experts consume forty percent of the project cost.

This type of development will attract people back to their home-towns and re-populate rural areas that have been depressed by migration due to limited job opportunities.