THIS week, we certainly did not have to search high and low for a village to feature, since, over time, the somewhat alluring village of Versailles, located on the West Bank of Demerara about one mile north of the Demerara Harbour Bridge, had always beckoned with its distinct aura of contentment and ethnic harmony.

Entering the village from the north, we were greeted by cheery fishermen engaged in light conversation liberally interspersed with raucous laughter as they mended their nets and seines a few metres away from the Demerara River, while some sorted out the night’s catch of fish, still flipping about in their desperate attempt to get back into the water and so escape the fishermen’s sharp knives.
These obviously happy-go-lucky fishmongers received us with wide smiles of appreciation, and immediately engaged us in conversation. Whilst some of the older ones  attempted to regale us with long-forgotten tales of violent sea storms and other perils associated with being mariners, the youngest of the lot quickly commended us on the visit as they went on to relate their contentment at being fisherfolk, since they were operating without the customary stress associated with their profession.
Others were so engrossed in merry banter as they played cards and dominoes for fish, and, in some cases, for money, they certainly had no time for our questions, mouthing to us that they had to rake in a quick dollar through the card and domino games.
When we left there, some offered us fish and even a few crabs, but with the tedious task ahead, we certainly had to decline. It was certainly an exhilarating experience.

Buoyancy
The fresh breeze blowing in from the Atlantic Ocean was certainly an invigorating treat as we made our way to the next stop, the Interline Fitness Gym, which reputedly satisfies the health and fitness fantasies of persons from as far away as Georgetown.
Sadly, it was too early in the day to catch the fitness enthusiasts in action, but we were at least informed by folks there that this very popular gym, in operation over ten years now, has been unrivalled by other such entities operating along the West Coast and West Bank of Demerara.
As we moved along, our spirits were certainly buoyed by the warm welcome we received from villagers, who either waved pleasantly from their windows, or readily proffered greetings as we passed each other on the roadside.

This village was predominantly inhabited by descendants of Africans, but the strong bond of filial love, harmony and camaraderie existing between them and the small amount of East Indians and other races living there was palpable, and readily endeared the community to our hearts.

From conversations and interviews with villagers, we learned that Versailles has always been a purely residential community; and that all residents had to do was take a two-mile trip to Vreed-en-Hoop to be able to fill their baskets and closets with purchases from the many dry goods stores and fashion outlets located there.

We were also impressed with the simplicity and contentment of residents, who amply demonstrated that they also possessed the ‘fix-it’ attitude we encountered in a few other villages. We saw residents mixing cement and building their own concrete fences, and one truck driver, Troy Mason, related that this was the norm at Versailles.

“Versailles is a really nice village. I have been living here for over eight years, and I have truly enjoyed my stay so far,” he said. “Here, we would hardly contract outside persons to do cement work and building duties. There are quite a few masons and carpenters in the village, so if you come around often, you would observe that, most times, we engage in… well, let’s say, self-help exercises,” Mason said.

Folks at the R. Sukram Lumber Yard seemed altogether scared of the media, and no amount of urging and prodding could get them to talk about their operations, so we moved on to the very inviting Aracari Resort, owned by businessman, Sase Shewnarain, where we obtained the following information:
Aracari Resort was established in June 2008, and is Guyana’s only destination resort. Scattered across a vast 150,000 square feet of historic Dutch plantation land, the resort has 51 units of various types and sizes, which cater to vacationers, professionals, and budget conscious travellers. Its amenities include a fitness centre, swimming pool, restaurants and bar, and a salon and spa.

The sun-warmed spirit of the tropics combines with the unique style of South American accommodation to produce the outcome of a unique vision, where huggable pillows invite their users to throw themselves into a relaxing stay, away from all of life’s busy details. The facilities at the Aracari offer not only comfortable  accommodation to meet the different needs of travellers, but amenities such as swimming pool and gym, bar and restaurants, salon and spa, and various games and activities are available to entertain guests during their stay.

Camaraderie
The distinctly high level of ethnic harmony and brotherly love existing among the various races (mainly Amerindian, East Indian and African) employed at the resort was readily on display. Those in the restaurants, poolside bar, laundry, front desk, and even the gardeners, all seemed to be engulfed in a truly refreshing aura of ‘brotherly charm’ and delightful fondness of each other that was evidently cultivated over the years.

We chatted a little with Shewnarain and a few others, and before we departed that location, the female bartender at the poolside made sure we were enticed to revisit the place by serving us each a glass of red wine, which she said was her treat.

By now engulfed in a whirlpool of bliss, brought on largely by the abundant outpouring of love, harmony, and simple contentment of the residents, I just wished every village in Guyana was like Versailles.

Worship
We strangely encountered only one church in Versailles — the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses — and I wondered where villagers who are of different religions go to worship. School teacher Michelle Williams explained that several other Christian churches of other denominations exist in nearby villages, as well as mosques and temples for Muslims and Hindus.

The very small health centre in Versailles, from reports garnered, seems to be doing an adequate job of taking care of residents’ health needs.

The people of Versailles are really simple and contented folks, and I could not help admiring their ability to exude such remarkable attributes as I contemplated the apparent discontent of some other villages I had visited.

Employment
Another amazing factor we encountered was the employment means of the residents. We disappointingly found only two gardeners, and one of them was just managing a sizeable kitchen garden, whilst the other was engaged in farming on a wider scale.

That aside, a few persons are engaged in the teaching profession, whilst other some work in administrative offices outside the village. Many others are occupied as drivers of hire cars and mini buses, and a few are self-employed as poultry farmers.

Schools
The Versailles Nursery School is the only school existing in Versailles. Older students attend primary and secondary schools located outside the village, and the top scholars of the area have secured placement in some of the more prestigious schools in the city.

Conclusion
Judging from its sometimes lonely streets; its noisy, bubbling wayside streams and canals; or maybe from its bushy side dams, from whence exultant shouts of merriment emanate from residents, Versailles is one of the communities that will surely impress a positive and exhilarating image on visitors with its aura of contentment and simplicity.