What strikes the first-time visitor to Wakenaam are essentially the wide expanse of verdant spaces and the simple friendliness of residents: and oh, the fruits, every variety of fruit peculiar to Guyana, and then some – abundantly adorn branches of trees that are surely the largest that any part of Guyana can boast.

Food for the Gods lovingly cooked and proffered to visitors by Auntie Daisy and her team with such old world charm that one is beguiled into eating like a glutton; and no epicurean can taste better fare anywhere in the world, because the cooks had excelled themselves to gourmet standards, with the peculiar urban flavour reminiscent of olden days.

A medical outreach and provision of food hampers organised by the Guyana Sevashram Sangha of Cove and John in its continuing calendar programme of providing service and aid to vulnerable members of communities, was undertaken last Sunday in collaborative efforts with the Ministry of Health. Dr. Mohanlall spearheaded the medical team, which comprised specialists and aides, who conducted examinations, did testing and provided prescriptions and/or referrals according to diagnoses. Medication and vitamins, along with other health boosters were provided by New GPC Inc., while Food for the Poor donated food hampers.

Wakenaam is an emerald diadem in the jeweled circlet crowning the glorious beauty that is Guyana; and the Essequibo is the most exquisite and richest of all her adornments; not least is the lushness of her bountiful harvests, because the soil is so productive and fertile the trees grow like towering skyscrapers, reaching out its bountifully laden arms to touch the skies. Essequibo is no longer the Cinderella of the three Guyanese sister counties, but a majestic crown princess of grandeur and magnificence, and the Essequibo Islands are her children of wondrous glory. Truly Guyana is wonderfully created with God’s own hands.

[box type=”shadow” align=”alignright” ]Wakenaam is an emerald diadem in the jeweled circlet crowning the glorious beauty that is Guyana; and the Essequibo is the most exquisite and richest of all her adornments; not least is the lushness of her bountiful harvests, because the soil is so productive and fertile the trees grow like towering skyscrapers, reaching out its bountifully laden arms to touch the skies. Essequibo is no longer the Cinderella of the three Guyanese sister counties, but a majestic crown princess of grandeur and magnificence, and the Essequibo Islands are her children of wondrous glory. Truly Guyana is wonderfully created with God’s own hands.[/box]

While Dr. Phil laments the fact that in the great USA in excess of sixteen million children are in danger of starvation every day, with food banks having to provide meals for the destitute; in Guyana, evident in Wakenaam alone, the harvests are of amazing bounty, so much so that much produce falls from the trees to generate mulch that enriches and nurtures the soil in an endless cycle of natural, organic, completely healthy food production, making this nation absolutely food secure.
But of course Paradise has its serpent, and Wakenaam is no exception. In this instance it is a rice miller and exporter, who has reportedly owed rice farmers millions of dollars for years, with no redress provided to the farmers, who have to bear the loss despite their hard work and investment of millions into rice crops. The alleged exploiter continues his merry way, exploiting new victims every year.
Another bugbear is the long distances the children of the island have to walk to reach schools; and this should be addressed by the Government, with a couple of buses provided for their transportation to their respective schools, without their starting their school day physically fatigued and drained of energy.
A plus to the transportation woes is that the need to walk and/or ride long distances to reach destinations, along with the healthy food so abundant on the island, is the fact that people well into senior age are amazingly healthy and look extremely well, with their looks generally belying their ages.
As one departs Wakenaam, even after a first-time visit, it does not seem that one is any longer a stranger, because the warmth and hospitality of the residents gives one such a sense of belonging that even if there is never a return visit, this wondrous slice of Guyana that is Wakenaam remains like a precious pearl in one’s treasury of memories.
Written By Parvati Persaud-Edwards