We often take too much for granted in life, and in so doing miss out on the most magnificent of opportunities. We miss out on learning new things or, because of ignoring our basic instincts, miss out on learning the mysteries behind those personalities we often deem as being too simple to even bother with.

But behind every cheery, smiling face is an intriguing story, regardless of how supposedly demeaning or mundane  the profession it is engaged in. And behind the merry laughter, twinkling eyes, and ceaseless, entertaining chatter of Kissoon Lallbeharry, there was quite a story to tell.
Many habitually ignore this seventy-two-year-old man as he sits by the road front ice-cream shop in Pouderoyen Village, West Bank Demerara, creating very durable seines and cast-nets, humming merry tunes and smiling with cheery content. I just marvelled at the sight of his deftly-moving fingers working in unison. In little time, I notice the makings of a very well done seine, or ‘cast-net’, if I waited around to witness the finished product.
In a manner of speaking, I was distinctly blown away by Kissoon’s personality, which oozed pleasant charm strangely fused with merriment,  and such warmth and natural mirth that I knew I was really going to enjoy the interview.
Kissoon has been involved in making seines and cast-nets from the tender age of sixteen, and today produces some of the most durable and quality items of our time. Strangely, this very skilled old man has never receive any training whatsoever in this trade, but has actually learnt from watching an older, skilled individual whilst he had been in his teens.
“Nobody nevah learn me fuh do dis wuk! Me watch otha folks do it when I was ah kid, and me learn de wuk in no time. Now, today, dis is wha me does use tuh survive,” the veteran said.
After watching other experienced individuals work, Kissoon took a swing at the profession while he was sixteen. He felt he had some amount of that talent hidden inside, since the task just came to him naturally, and it was an easy feat to come to grips with the highpoints of starting and completing the quite impressive items he produces now.
He began working from his Lot 17, Bella Street, Pouderoyen home, and soon the neighbourhood was abuzz with news of his good works. Quite naturally, he began displaying his items at home, and many flocked his residence out of mere curiosity; some came to test the authenticity, while some others were there really to make purchases.
Of course, in Guyana, everyone is caught in the tentacles of the ‘spread-the-word syndrome’ and so Kissoon’s versatility with the nets became a topic in several villages.
One remarkable factor about this ‘merry old soul’ is that he is ultimately concerned with delivering “real good stuff” to his customers, and not entertaining the negative thoughts of using cheap, inferior polythene twine to make inferior nets to cut back on costs. This, he notes, is a direct insult to customers, robs them of their money’s worth, and can eventually become bad for business the moment the customers find out.
“I does spend meh money fuh get good material and produce strong seines and cast-nets. Plenty people would buy cheap material and mek nets which dem ah sell to dem people. That is wrong!!! If people ah spend dem money, give them deh money’s worth!”
And, of course, Kissoon’s expertise has been recommended by individuals from Georgetown, Linden, Berbice, Mahaica and even Mahdia (interior location). It is the classic finish to his products that brings the Amerindians from Lethem swarming down on his home to get their share of the ‘real strong and dependable nets’. Kissoon has also netted a large number of customers from the Sophia (Turkeyen) area, ‘the land of the bush fish’.
And his prices, compared to elsewhere, are really affordable. Kissoon sells his hand seines for a mere $3000, while the tangle seines are sold at $500 per yard. Cast-nets would customarily range from $7000 upwards, depending on the size and style. At one time, his clever fingers saw him supplying the GAFOORS Group of Companies with nets and seines, and a few other top-notch companies as well.  And of course he seems to enjoy his job, too, since he works at his own pace and time.
Kissoon works for four hours every day, and puts out a very impacting work load in that limited time. Sometimes he works from his home, if he does not feel like braving the hot tropical sun to trek to the ice-cream shop. When that happens, this music-oriented elderly man can be seen tapping his feet and rolling his belly to reverberating sounds, as his fingers move swiftly to the eventual evolution of his many nets ands seines.
He enjoys his job, and is so dedicated to it that his commitments would make you smile in wonder and amazement. And this guy surely knows how to entertain his clients as they sit and await their orders. You would double over with laughter as he tells ‘old time stories’ that would take you back to the joyful days of your childhood, and yesteryear.
Kissoon Lallbeharry can be contacted on telephone number 622-2117.