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musings strayed to a location somewhere on the East Coast of Demerara which I could not quite place.
Then it hit me with startling clarity that I was actually thinking of what overtime has become the very impressive Belfield Village.
Background
Belfield is a village located on the East Coast of Demerara approximately three kilometres west of the now well-developed community of Enmore. While the first section of the Demerara-Berbice Railway — from Georgetown to Plaisance — was opened on November 03, 1848, the extension to Belfield was completed in 1854.
At one time the village that accommodated the Belfield Girls’ School, an institution for delinquent girls founded in 1949, a certain sprawling house with lush grounds that still stands at Belfield as an historical landmark was also once residence of the late President Linden Forbes Sampson Burnham. That residence is now, sadly, a reflection of poor maintenance and a graveyard to lots of vehicles that are left to rot from exposure to the natural elements.
In years gone by, Belfield was just a smattering of houses, since people seemed to be more prone to settle in the nearby village of Victoria, which was more popular and allowed for extensive farming by its inhabitants. Today, Belfield has a very impressive housing scheme, showcasing some of the more modern and almost exotic-looking buildings; and development seems to be progressing at a rapid pace. Moreover, residents there join forces in conducting several exercises to ensure their village is kept clean and residents reside comfortably.
On entering the very breezy village, we encountered an aged and very cheery farmer named William Forde, who took us in his farm, and even allowed us to sit in his car as he told his tale on issues surrounding the village. His lush looking farm is just by the roadside, and all seems to be well with his vegetables and plantain suckers.
Forde told a stirring narrative of toiling in the broiling sun to develop and level his land in order to make it fit for farming purposes. He said that since drainage still bothers the villagers from time to time, his feat of raising the farm above flood level was not easy.
He cultivates a wide variety of vegetables and ground provisions for home consumption and for sale in the city.
One who traversed the area will certainly remember the days when most of Belfield comprised wide pastures, dense foliage, and the many farms and gardens owned by the few settlers and persons from outside the village.
Persons controlling the Victoria Co-op Society made claims to the pasture lands of Belfield in 1999, and began distributing plots of land to those desirous of receiving. Soon after, several small houses and shacks sprang up, until Government intervened and took control of the area that was said to be ‘government property’.
The many shacks built on the land were demolished, but not long after, under proper governmental supervision, the land was plotted out and sold to the residents of what is now called the Belfield Housing Scheme. In 1997, houses began to go up in a flash, as persons readily built on their plots, not waiting for further urging.
Self Help
What struck me as very pleasing and deeply gratifying was the manner in which villagers exuded a ‘ready-to-go’ attitude, and seemed ready to ‘fix things’ in the village and not wait on the relative authorities, who sometimes seem to drag their feet on issues.
As we walked about the village, young men could be seen weeding drains and yards overgrown with bushes, while others were observed mixing cement by the roadside to make repairs and alterations to their homes.
We were very surprised to be told that some of the more magnificent buildings in the housing scheme were actually built through combined family efforts. It certainly seemed like villagers in Belfield are actually gifted tradesmen.
Speaking to grocery store proprietress Jacqueline Charles, we received information that on weekends, mothers, housewives and a few males join forces to clean and upgrade the ballfield, and are attempting to create a venue for proper recreation for the youths of Belfield. While they seemed to be making headway with their positive exploits, Charles noted that they faced a major problem which, over time, has grown into a very serious issue for them to deal with. “Belfield (comprises) many families and households, and we need a proper playfield for the children. A special group here came together and we are working very hard to build a recreation area for the children. I am very angry that a special group of villagers here are dumping garbage on the ball field as we attempt to clean and develop the place”.
Charles explained that she has made several complaints to the Victoria/Belfield NDC body, but nothing has so far been done about the situation. Villagers are appealing to possible donors to help with the provision of recreational equipment for the young children.
Charles herself also tries her hand at entertainment to keep villagers lively, and normally hosts karaoke sessions and ‘oldies dance parties’ on weekends at her mini-night club and bar.
Rapid development
The pace of development in Belfield is mostly prompted by the efforts of residents. To date, the village has four street lights and certainly needs more; but villagers are laid back awaiting a miracle.
Actually, under the auspices of businesswoman Jacqueline Charles, efforts are underway to raise funds to make more street lights possible in the village.
Belfield has truly evolved from underdevelopment evident in 1999, and is indeed one of the very classy villages on the East Coast of Demerara. Through commercial loans and some family funding fro overseas, many shops, variety stores and grocery outlets are appearing in Belfield. Villagers enjoy the ease and comfort of threading on foot to Carla’s Grocery, Baby’s Variety Store, Jacqueline’s Supplies, and the many other small shops in Belfield.
Added to that, villagers now enjoy well asphalted access roads for ultimate comfort, with just a few to be completed.
Enticing harmony
Belfield has historically been a place where harmony and mutual respect flows naturally amongst dwellers. As we traversed sandy streets and passed animals grazing lazily in the hot sun, housewives could be seen chatting from their bedroom windows, peals of feminine laughter rending the air as they mirthfully enjoyed their conversations and girlish gossips.
With chiseled bodies glistening in the hot sun, the menfolks bellowed at each other in mock wrath and anger, as they argued and chided each other over games of cards and dominoes under dunks or golden apple trees.
Youngsters hopped about gleefully in open yards, tumbling over each other as they engaged in games of circle tennis, hop-scotch or marbles.
Conversations in the grocery outlets were jovial, as mothers stocked up on their kitchen supplies and goodies for the kids. Young girls going on errands were in pleasant conversation, pausing every now and then to gesticulate as they discussed topics of mutual interest with typical youthful intensity.
All around the village, little kids chased after us, giggling in starry-eyed wonder at our flashing cameras and the swiftly moving pen as it recorded information about the village on a writing pad.
Employment
This village is seemingly not affected by unemployment, since its inhabitants were either working in other areas or gainfully employed as shop owners, farmers, or mini-bus drivers.
It was a pleasurable sight to watch mothers watering young vegetable plants as their kids trailed after them, trying to be of some assistance in one way or the other. In some homes, mothers were busy cooking up a banquet, and the delicious aroma of polouri, egg balls, dhal puri and fried chicken permeated the air. These items would be displayed in tidy little glass cases later in the afternoon for sale to villagers and school children trekking home from school or lessons.
And some seemed to be making quite a fortune on the sale of custard blocks, icicles, cubed ice, and cool down (local fruit juice in plastic bags). I almost laughed aloud at the amusing sight of little boys attempting to lick the apparently delicious trails that ran down their wrists and elbows as the custard blocks melted in the sun.
The ambience of this village is simply adorable, and the way in which residents attempt to meet their needs through self-orchestrated means is truly amazing. If one does not possess a curious or investigative mind, one might be quick to treat Belville as just another village.
But I urge readers to hop into a bus or car and take a relaxing and invigorating drive to the impressive village of Belfield to enjoy the story of its birth and continuous evolution. You would be amazed at how sprawling pastures and wild foliage have been transformed into one of the more spectacular locations on the Demerara East Coast.
