PEOPLE immortalise their birthplace in various ways. Authors do so through their writing. William N. Arno immortalised Victoria Village in a book titled, ‘History of Victoria Village’.

The book tells the inspiring story of how a group of recently emancipated Africans pooled their resources together in order to make an unprecedented purchase of a sizable village on the East Coast of Demerara.
The purchase was one aspect of that inspiring story. The other aspect was that those ‘intrepid’ ex-slaves were able draft rules and regulations to preserve their investment.
There were twenty articles in that agreement “for the good regulation and general benefit of said estate.” This agreement tells us that the ex-slaves knew what they wanted out of the investment, and two of the first things they wanted were a church and a school house, “which shall be used and devoted to the purposes of Religion as a School House and Church where our children may be taught to read their Bibles and learn their several duties, and where we may …offer up to Almighty God our humble prayers and thanks for the mercies we have received and the benefits we are enjoying.” Education and church worship were given priority in their scheme of plan.
William Nicholas Arno was an educator with a difference. Arno did not only teach, but he fought for systems to be implemented for the better delivery of education. He was very vocal in the cause for the establishment of a ‘Local Training Institution for Teachers’. This came out when he appeared before the ‘Douglas Commission’.  In a way, he also fought for better wages for teachers when he appeared before the ‘Granum Commission’, which dealt with the high cost of living.
Arno also saw the need to have a balance in education when he helped in the inauguration of Interschool Sports. He also appeared before the Education Commission of 1924-25.
William N. Arno was born in Victoria Village on the East Coast of Demerara on December 7, 1878. He lived a long and full life; “a lifespan of 100 years and nine months,” according to his daughter, Elise Arno. His father was a schoolmaster at the Methodist School in the village. Arno followed in his father’s footstep, becoming a headmaster at 24, and retiring after forty years of service, during which time he served as President of the British Guiana Teachers’ Association in the years 1923 and 1924.  .

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING:
•    The Guyana Annual 2012-2013 magazine is now available at Guyenterprise Ltd, and at city bookstores. This issue of the magazine is dedicated to E. R. Braithwaite. The magazine also features articles on copyright, law of intellectual property, creative industries, and the future of books.
•    Coming soon: ‘An Introduction to Guyanese Literature’, by Petamber Persaud.