–‘Golden Memories of Guyana, 1940-1980
CAN YOU imagine a time in Guyana when people thronged a certain building in order to buy books to read? ‘To read’ at the end of that rhetoric question is not an afterthought. Godfrey Chin recorded such a time and event in his monumental book, ‘Nostalgias’, thus: “The initial paperback book sale outside Bookers Universal drew throngs of would-be readers. Bookstores were hastily opened in New Amsterdam, Linden, Bartica and Suddie, and every nationwide newspaper vendor became a magazine/paper back distributor.”
How heartening, then, to have experienced and lived through such a memorable occasion, and how heart-wrenching now to read of such a time!
I would like to repeat that report again, but, more importantly, I would like to repeat that event of getting people to read more; getting more bookstores to open and people to throng bookstores and libraries again.
In the book, ‘Nostalgia’, the late Godfrey Chin had utilised a different form of writing to record his story, a form that is highly entertaining and participatory. ‘Participatory’, according to Vibert Cambridge in his foreword to the book, “in that they trigger memories from his readers, and sets in train conversation and debate that is invigorating and invaluable.” Further, his story —  a colourful story — is told unedited and unabridged.
When last have you encountered a book that is unedited and unabridged; where the story unfolds in a language that flows and overflows and rambles on, commanding your interest all the way, propelling you to turn the pages, hankering for more, engaging your response.
And Chin’s canvas was immense and all encompassing. For instance, in the chapter, ‘Memory of my father’, we would encounter ‘Swift ham in tar paper’,  ‘Edam Dutchman head cheese’, ‘mauby, the  poor man’s pint’. We would be advised on how to throw into the pot a nail to ‘soften the meat’, and ‘dessert was ice cream with KOO canned grapes, imported from South Africa’; and for your further edification, how this was ‘later banned after Apartheid’.
In writing about Smith Church Congregational School: 1942-1948, Chin revealed that Hadfield Street was resurfaced with white coral imported from Barbados; vats became extinct after piped water was introduced in 1949; and he wondered whatever happened to that tribe of sanitary inspectors who visited monthly and added guppy fish to the vat to eat the mosquito larvae. So many issues are packed into those snippets. Whatever happened to the Sanitary Inspectors! Why is mosquito plaguing the city and its environs!
In this same section, he wrote that for his eighth birthday, his gift was a whole boiled egg, all to myself, no sharing… Ya tink it easy! Nowadays, you would get a thrown tray of rotten eggs if you don’t come right with a proper gift. Also in this section, which I must quote verbatim: “There were reading periods each week when reading was encouraged in the classroom, as books from the school’s library were made available. At that time, the popular daily comic strips were Phantom, Mandrake, and Orphan Annie. On Sunday it was Tarzan and Prince Valiant, while the Classics Illustrated comics were collector’s items. The free Public Library encouraged our literary yearning with the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew, Biggles, and Billy Bunter.” Oh, what a time that was!
Then we are forced to remember our “swimming pools were the Lama, Forty-feet, Punt Trench, South Road and East Street canals, and the Demerara River off Fort Groyne Sea Wall.”
Then emotional trips blended with history. “Luckhoo Public Pool opened in the early sixties.” And so it goes… the recorded story of the life Godfrey Chin, emotional trips blended with history, all through the table of contents. ‘Growing Up in Tenement Yards’, ‘Movies in Guyana, 1945 to 19 82’, ‘Gaiety Cinema – Silent Days’, ‘Remembering the Coast Railways, 1846 to 1970’,  ‘Chinese in Sports’, ‘Easter at Home’, ‘Georgetown, the Garden City’, ‘Guyana Rum Shops’, ‘Discos – Saturday Night Fever’, ‘Guyana’s Blackest Friday, 16 February 1962’, ’60 Years of  Social Dancing in Guyana, 1945 – 2005’, ‘Golden Age of British Movies in Guyana’, ‘Remembering Theatre Guild’,  ‘Learning the 3Rs in Guyana’, ‘Comic Books in Guyana’, ‘A Tribute to Guyana’s Newspaper Vendors’, ‘Guyana’s Stealbands, 1947-2007’.
The book, ‘Nostalgias’, is but 48 pieces of recollections out of more than 300 pieces Godfrey Chin had written and shared since 2000. Ian McDonald describes the book thus: “It is truly a classic of its kind — a recapturing of vivid memories, bringing the past astonishingly to life again in a way which will delight those who knew those days, instruct future generations, and also enlighten serious scholars of social history, and preserve forever the wonderful days and exploits and fun and excitement and humour and games and more of a whole era in a country’s life.”
But the book does not end here. A ‘Creolese Glossary of Common Words’ at the back of the book will delight you while adding importance to the role of Creolese in effective communication. Listen to the sound of the following words, and try to come up with English equivalents: Bambye, bannah, binnie, brigah, bun-bun, chiffonier, cochore, cogue, goadee, hungish, jook, kangalang, lamata, pias, rice eater,  titivate and wabbin.
My autographed copy of the book, ‘Nostalgias’, dated Xmas 2007, reads: “Carry on the Traditions.” It is hoped that with this rereading of ‘Nostalgias’, the memories and work of Godfrey Chin will live on.

What’s Happening
•    Upscale ‘Open Mic’ Poetry is celebrating its tenth anniversary with a series of literary events. Check press or call Upscale for further information.
•    ‘Literature on Television’ is celebrating ten years of service to the nation, the region and the world. ‘Literature on Television’ is a first for Guyana, comprising two programmes, namely, ‘Oral Tradition’ and ‘Between the Lines’, both aired on National Communication Network (NCN).

(To respond to this author, either call him on (592) 226-0065 or send him an email: oraltradition2002@yahoo.com)