THE villages I have visited thus far are mostly characterised by their infrastructural beauty, vibrant commerce, robust citizenry and sporting or recreational popularity; or they may be oases of serene ambience and tourism potential. Each village has some distinct characteristic that sets it apart from the rest.

But there is a village which radiates with extra exuberance, occasioned by a lone personality who just simply lights up the life of everyone with whom she comes into contact.

To meet such an individual is a rare treat, but I was especially lucky to have my first such experience recently; and I must say that, after my interaction with this sweet elderly woman, I have learnt to love, appreciate, and be kinder and more considerate to my fellow men in my every deed.

When I parted company with the 66-year-old Dhanandei Ramrattan, aka ‘Auntie Bootie’, of Unity Village, East Coast Demerara, all I could think of with relish was the natural warmth, palpable love for humanity, and comforting solace that oozed from her person.

If there were more sweet personalities like hers, Guyana would be a positively different place and one that is much improved from what obtains today.

A radiant beam of Heavenly light brightens up Unity village on a daily basis, and even I was taken aback and had to marvel at its intensity. Folks, I am talking of the endearing, contented, mirthful and peaceful soul named Dhanandei Ramrattan, but called ‘Auntie Bootie’, who is loved by villagers young and old.

When I bumped into her selling confectionery, egg balls, polouri and lemonade outside the Gibson Primary School, I liked her deeply on sight. When I told her my business in the village, she girlishly insisted that I first sat down and sample some of her delicious polouri.
She begged me for a lengthy period to put my money back into my pocket, and accepted payment only when I hugged her and informed her that I am aware of her struggles to make a living.

The moment you meet her, you would recognise her as a bubbly bundle of joy and a beacon of hope for those in need. She has no reservation in sharing her sisterly love and natural affection with any and all members of the human race. Her blessed love knows no boundaries, and is not influenced by race or creed.

After meeting her, I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I shamelessly shed a few tears because of the raw emotion her sisterly love had evoked in me.

When one pauses to think of the majority of people who are so engulfed in the flood tide of ethnic differences, hatreds, malice and unkindness, one recognises this woman as a stark reminder that the Creator placed us here to love each other unconditionally, and of course to live as one, as He would have it be.

We had never previously met, but I could feel her sisterly love and concern for my wellbeing deep down in the recesses of my soul. The experience was like magic to me. I, in reciprocation, was forcefully drawn to her personality. I liked the way her innocent eyes danced with a strange merry light when I approached her. I was soon lost in her smiles and girlish giggles as she moved her many bags to allow me to sit and sample some of the snack items she sold to make a living daily outside the Gibson Primary School.

We were soon chatting merrily like old chums, and joking about hard times, the high cost of living, and ways and means to make an honest living. The demeanour of this woman really melted my heart and stirred up the very depths of my soul.

She has taught me to live everyday as if it were my last, and to make room in my busy life to ponder on the makings of people who had suffered immensely but still could muster the strength and courage to come up with honest means of survival.

‘Auntie Bootie’ was one simple and contented soul, at peace with God and Man despite the hardships she had faced in life. Her humble existence is a lesson well taught to me, and it’s one I will never forget.

Villagers swarmed her makeshift stall from far and near to savour her items, and her channa was the best I had ever tasted. The school children hugged her and flocked her like she was an angel, and many of them succeeded in getting ‘freebees’ from her, much to their childish delight. And grown men and women were all smiles when they gathered at her stall. I simply had to marvel at the warmth and pure love she exuded.

This sixty-six-year-old woman has been making a living by selling snack items in the village for the past forty-seven years. Her ailing husband is a pensioner with impaired vision. However he ensures she gets up at 01:30 am every day to prepare her items for sale, which she said is most times gruelling.

She sells to put food on the table and to pay her husband’s medical bills.

At about 05:00 hrs, she bathes and prepares her husband’s breakfast, before heading out to the school compound at 07:00 hrs.

HUMANITARIAN APPEAL
Aunty Bootie is appealing for someone to build her a proper structure to sell in, since strong gusts of wind would blow apart sections of the crazy makeshift contraption of old wood, mesh and pieces of rusted zinc sheets she uses as her selling point.

My sincerest wish is that someone with a little money to spare would kindly heed the language of love and rush down to the Gibson Primary School to give Aunty Bootie the help she so richly deserves.

By Alex Wayne