It is always such a pleasure to explore the exotic locations in Guyana that are most times either forgotten by time or are not given the deserved exposure to display their pristine beauty or appealing potentials.

Just recently I had the rare pleasure of visiting the village called Dantzig located about 44 kilometres from Georgetown.
Dantzig is actually one of the most quiet villages I have ever visited and it is said by many that this village is actually one forgotten by time and is hardly ever visited by personalities of major importance.
The village is nestled between the more vibrant Columbia to the East and the somewhat economically oriented village of Content to the West, on the East Coast of Demerara.
This village is occupied by residents of both East Indian and African descent and does not have more than fifteen households, with a population that has not yet reached two hundred according to residents.

A Memorable Touchdown
I arrived in the village just a few minutes after the twelve ‘o’ clock hour and was taken aback by its seemingly almost eerie quietness.
There was not the noisy chatter of kids associated with many other villages, and the stillness was broken occasionally by the few vehicles that were traversing the well maintained main road. To one section of the village there was just a buzz of activity created by several men who were conducting works there as they prepared to install GWI water lines for villagers.
That aside, the only other form of activity was a few horses that galloped quite excitedly in the vast wide open pastures there.
Despite this somewhat unnerving quietness, my initial disappointment was quickly turned to adventurous bliss as my gaze took in the arresting appearance of this village.
I had only walked a short distance before I was enveloped in the noisy cackle of rebellious hens as they were chased about yards by sturdy looking roosters as they desperately tried to appease their sensual desires. From makeshift pens, the sudden quacks of ducks rented the air as a few intolerant housewives forcefully removed them from their cozy nest to gather their

eggs.
In wide, sprawling pastures herds of cattle grazed lustily, mindless of the scorching midday sun. They of course were surrounded by flocks of sheep bleating their protests as a few young boys attempted to mischievously disturb them from their happy munching.
Healthy looking coconut palms swayed luxuriously in the brisk cool breeze flowing in from the nearby Atlantic Ocean, and I gulped it in with glee as it seemed to purify the very soul.
All around me were flowing waterways and small ponds where patwah, sunfish and hurri (bush fish) flipped about and somersaulted gleefully, their shiny scales glistening like diamonds in the tropical sunshine.

The abundant foliage and large cascading shady trees created a forest-like appearance on the village that fused ever so nicely with the few appealing ‘countryside cottage houses.’ In almost every yard was a kitchen garden where vegetables bloomed, allowing villagers to obtain their ready supply of fresh vegetables.
In some homes pots gurgled and bubbled on ‘firesides’ made from clay as the tantalising aroma of mouth-watering stews filled the air.
Above me dragonflies and butterflies danced about in the air as if jubilant about the fact that they were indeed inhabitants of this merry little village, not known to many.

Chatting With Residents
At a loss as to where I should get started I approached a small cottage in a well kept yard that was filled with ochro and boulanger plants.
As I called out to the dwellers I was caught up in waves of ready delight as I was greeted by Shamdai Heernandan, who was actually one of my class mates at the

Mahaicony Secondary School. In no time after hugs and happy peals of laughter we were catching up on the good old school days before she began to enlighten me on the makings of the village.
She explained that the village was most often referred to as they ‘little nook on the prairie’ since hardly anyone visited the few residents, and also since there was nothing really for them to do there than to sit and watch television for those who can afford such luxuries.
“Bai Alex, this village is simple and nice, but there is not much going on here for us at all. As a matter of fact people seem to pass through this village with an attitude as if it is not of much importance or as if we do not exist here at all. We don’t have no sporting facilities here and not even a ball field to play games. There are no hospitals, no schools, and no factory or anything like that here. To access such necessities of life we have to travel miles away to place like Highdam (some four villages away) or even to the distant Mahaica or Central Mahaicony. Boy sometimes this place does be suh dead that I does wonder if we in de middle of ah dessert by ourselves.”

According to Miss Heernandan, (who has been residing there for over seven years), residents survive by cultivating rice and cash crops in the backlands which is transported to rice mills to outside villages after harvesting or to the Mahaicony, Mahaica or Stabroek Market for sale.
She related that at times they would go for days without potable water and would be forced to seek the life-saving liquid from great distances to quench their thirst. But she was in high praise for efforts that were presently being made by the relevant authorities to have new water mains laid in the village to ensure proper water supply for residents.
My next stop was at the home of ‘Maniram’ a self-employed male who tries to fend for his family of three by repairing damaged televisions, irons, DVD Players and other household appliances. While he is a contented soul however he had his ‘bad days’ and a few concerns of his own which he eagerly shared with us.
“Bass me is farty two years and me ah live hea since as ah young bai. And it appear tuh me that this village deh de same way… It ain’t move farward at all and somebady need fuh

recognize us and do something positive fuh we. We nah even get wan health centah and when a pregnant woman tek in, or ah chile get sick we gat fuh travel miles fuh get attention. And we ah poor people and we nah get we own vehicle suh we got fuh wait fuh hours pon dis lonely road fuh get transportation… People can die out hea budday. Ah know we ain’t get plenty people in dis village but we ain’t get no prappah scope fuh employment hea. Dis village need ah factory or some people that can provide employment fuh de youths living hea. Me does try with meh repair shap he, but de village small and is nat every day meh does get wuk fuh put fooid pon de table. We need help hea bass man… Dem ain’tr get no jabs he fuh we and de bills piling up and everybody getting frustrated.”
Maniram noted that for several months now the village has also been targeted by criminal elements that are making good use of the fact that there is hardly any police presence there. He said that if an incident occurs in the village, the police at Mahaica Police Station take quite a long time to arrive on the scene.

The man is requesting frequent police patrols around the village especially in the late night hours to ensure security and proper protection for residents.

Rising Crime Rate
In several areas of this small village residents affirmed the fact that they were rapidly the target of criminal elements who were taking advantage of the fact that the houses in the village are far apart, in most cases and also there is really no police presence there.
Lucille Gonsalves, 66, is a poultry farmer who lives alone with her two-year-old grandson and had been the target of criminals just Sunday last.
The still obviously traumatized woman said that she became uneasy when just last week she began to get several anonymous phone calls in which persons were making threats and using obscenities.
This she reported escalated to a point where the suspected callers entered her home via a open bathroom window last Sunday night and turned off the lights in her home with intent to carry out their intentions. It was her desperate screams that alerted neighbours and the arrival of her son that scared the hooligans off.
“My husband died two years ago and most of my kids are overseas… As such, I live here alone with my little grandson, ‘Sunny Boy.’ On Sunday night about 10 p.m after I received several threatening calls earlier, the phone began ringing again. I refused to answer it and must have dozed off but was strangely awoken about 11 p:m to find out that the lights in the kitchen and hall were turned off. I could feel the presence of persons in the home and since my bedroom door was locked I pushed my head

through a window and began screaming for help. I screamed for about an hour and was getting hoarse, but no one came to my rescue. I was so scared that I was getting difficulties in dialing my son’s number who live a short distance from me. When I finally managed to do that he did not arrive almost an hour after. Meanwhile, I could hear a lot of tumbling in the house. When he came through the gate I could hear the sounds of persons hurriedly leaving my home, maybe through the bathroom window from where several glass panes were missing.”
The woman said that since then she has been forced to have persons sleep with her in the nights for fear of the perpetrators returning to do her harm.
Another female resident who wants to remain anonymous for fear of attracting more attention has been robbed twice by unknown assailants and also fears deeply for her safety. Residents are calling for a police outpost to be erected in the village, or for constant police patrols to frequent the village, especially in the nights and early morning hours.

That aside some residents are of the view that not much is done in terms of maintenance in the village since large sections are taken over by weeds and thick foliage and irrigation drains and trenches in many areas are all ‘clogged up’ and overgrown with grass and other plant species.

Worship and Employment
While all the villagers are not religiously oriented, there are however a large amount of Christians there and a smaller percentage of the inhabitants are Hindus and Muslims.
There are no mosques or temples in the village, so it is apparent that the few Muslims and Hindus would worship outside of the small village. However, the Christians would normally worship at the lone Lady of Mercy Catholic Church.
Many villagers lament the days when the White Gate Dairy Milk Processing Facility was in operation since it afforded ready employment for villagers. This facility is now ‘out of order’ thus upping the level of unemployment in the village. There are plans for a grand reopening by its management sometime soon according to villagers.

Dantzig In Times Gone By
In days gone by Dantzig was not much different from what it is today and to shed light on this was the very camera shy Liloutie Ramchand who protested loudly the moment the camera was pointed in her direction.
“Look mistah… Hear nah….. Me gon talk but me nah want me pictcha in de papaers at al, at all…. Me nah want nobady cum look fuh me…. Well leh me see…. As a lil gyal Dantiz was a very bushy place. We had nuff, nuff land space and dem same big, wide open pastcha. But de land bin low bad in plenty areas, and it use to field bad, especially when the sea wata come in. Dem people who live pon de seas side was de one who suffah real bad. And de area bin swampy tun and nuff time dem cow an harse would stick up in ah mud and if dem ownah can’t get dem out. Dem bin ah die right deh.”
In those days according to Mrs. Ramchand, they acquired water from just two stand pipes in the village while in some instances they were forced to use the water from trenches which was boiled before drinking.
In those days the more popular forms of public transportation were donkey and horse drawn carts and later the bicycle, before the appearance of buses and cars that are prevalent today.
A few posh houses have popped up in the village and there is a lone grocery shop there. However residents are complaining that because of this fact, the proprietors are hiking prices on household good because there is no competition.

Conclusion
Nevertheless, Dantiz certainly has great scope for improvement. And with the right hands and minds put to the test, this village can soon evolve into one of the most remarkable features on the countryside.

(By Alex Wayne)