UPON the request and earnest pleading of residents, we decided to visit the very alluring and somewhat bustling village of Bath Settlement on the West Coast of Berbice.

You see, folks, the residents of this village are actually followers of this publication, and they have become great fans of our village focus treks since we began in early 2013.

While we had visited briefly in July 2013, I was on a recent trip there to conduct personal business, and was flocked by groups who all lamented that it’s high time we give them a detailed interview on the makings of the location and the positive characteristics of the people.

Heeding the requests of the villagers, who are envious of the fact that other villages were given lengthy, detailed and colourful features, I placed myself on a mini-bus that seemed to almost fly off the road as it sped its way determinedly to my destination.

I was not one bit pleased with the way the driver was cavorting recklessly along the East Coast Highway, darting in and out of traffic like a crazy maniac. His constant squeal of tires and raucous, filthy conversation was also doing a number on my nerves to such an extent that, when I disembarked at my destination, I was swearing under my breath at the callousness and reckless demeanour of this driver, who just laughed off my muffled protests with an exclamation of “Bassman, speed can’t kill yuh!. We gaffa deh pon we medie pon dis road because times hard and we always looking fuh it…”

With those unpleasantries put aside, I took the luxury of enjoying the somewhat soothing spectacle of the village with its quaint little cottage houses (in some places mansions), well-kept roads and thriving businesses, all projecting a picture of escalating economic enterprise and the presence of rich agriculture potential.

Bath Settlement, West Coast Berbice is a well-populated community which has seen considerable development over the years, what with the establishment of several large-scale businesses and a new housing scheme in one section. It is said that before the transformation of the village, persons were poor and struggled to make ends meet, with many working at the Blairmont sugar estate and as farmers and fisher-folk. The sugar estate still provides the main means of livelihood for many people, but there are others who work as teachers, photographers, accountants, clerks, sales persons, mechanics and a doctor, among other professions.

Bath Settlement is also popular for its large-scale eschallot farming; and because of its rich soil, almost every resident has a small portion of their yards cultivated. Some also cultivate large kitchen gardens and some engage in poultry businesses and fishing.

This quaint little village is located just over seventy miles east of the city of Georgetown, and is located in the West Berbice (Region Five) district. This village had its origin not along the Highway where it currently is, but in the lands aback of the village, four miles inland, around the now defunct Bath Estate, which had been in operation during the mid-1800s.
In those days, many resided in cottages and some in logies (thatched roof houses with mud walls). In the 1930s, the Bath Sugar Estate was owned by the Davson’s Company. It was a very big village back then, and the name of the school in those days was the St. Nicholas Anglican Primary School. Today the village is still large, and measures two miles in length.

Some say the village began to grow at its current location in the late 1950s, when management began giving the workers lands out on the roadside. Many of the people in this village continued to work with the sugar industry after the exodus to the roadside, and after the Bath Estate closed down operations in the early 1970s.

Friday afternoon market is held at Bath Settlement near to the pay office, and is a weekly event. It is the place where sugar workers, just having drawn their wages, can get bargains on clothing, fresh fruits, jewellery, vegetables and other foodstuff. ‘In crop’, that is when the cane is being harvested and milled, the market is a very busy and lively place; but ‘out of crop’ time, when there is little or no activity in the industry, the market is not that bright. The long in-crop season, in most cases, runs from February to August; while the shorter ‘out of crop’ period extends from December to January.

During the out-of-crop periods, the estate offers time-work employment to its workers. This work comprises routine maintenance on the estate, such as weeding fields, cleaning drains, and catching rats. This work is, most times, limited to two or three days a week; and that is when most workers resort to other activities, such as fishing, carpentry, planting rice, and engaging in eschallot and other cash crop cultivation. Some also undertake retail businesses to upkeep their families.

Many have found these other activities so rewarding that they have become full time farmers and businessmen, many of them successfully so, judging from the many beautiful homes and other trappings of wealth which are obvious in various parts of the village. There are also many public servants, such as teachers and nurses, who serve the community and other parts of West Berbice.

This well-populated community of Bath Settlement has seen considerable development over the years, with the establishment of several large-scale businesses and a new housing scheme in one section. The village benefits from the operation of the Bath GuySuCo Health Centre, which is affiliated to the Blairmonth Sugar Estate.

Two large business places at Bath Settlement are Double R Hardware Store and Katcha, both of which supply building and construction materials to customers throughout West Coast and West Bank Berbice.
Other businesses include Ram’s Jewellery, Spare Parts and Pawn Shop; Len’s Optical; Bunny & Sons Furniture Store; Kushi’s Beauty Salon; Love’s Variety Store; and there are still many other businesses.

There is no nightclub in the village, but friends would congregate on the roadsides for a lime that lasts up to about 20:00 hours, or they would take a “few tupps” (glasses of rum) before going to bed. Others less socially inclined stay at home and watch TV or movies.

The majority of the people at Bath Settlement are peaceful and God-fearing. Some people may drink and get intoxicated, but most of the time they go their way peacefully, without interfering with others.

People go in substantial numbers to the masjids, the mandirs and the churches (established ones and bottom house innovations); but that aside, the village is very quiet and peaceful, with hardly any criminal elements or activities.

A WARM WELCOME
To be honest, folks, I was not expecting the warmth and welcoming smiles that engulfed me when I entered this village.
I was first greeted with smiles by an elderly gentleman who was seated under a small wooden shed, where he tried to best secure himself from the sun’s scorching rays. In no time at all, we were engaged in merry conversation like good old friends, and it was this dude who enlightened me that the village was one where all the ethnic races lived as one happy family, sharing and indulging delightfully in their various customs and cultures. The presence of rich and stirring camaraderie was evident in this village, judging from the manner in which folks of both African and East Indian descent were chatting in the streets, even giggling and heckling as they discussed the transcending times, current affairs, and simple little ‘country ways’ of maximizing their present earnings.

I could remember distinctly, when I first visited this village some time ago, an incident that had remained etched in my memory for a very long time. At that time I had enjoyed the pleasure of bumping into a family who received me with wide open arms, and certainly made my day for the two hours I had spent there.
Of course I am referring to the folks at the ‘Green to Life Chemical and Plant Shop, who had welcomed me into their home and had serviced me an exciting array of snacks, laced with their overpowering politeness, charm and kindness.

You see, folks, I thought that with the outcome of the recent elections, their attitude may have become different towards me. No way folks! As a matter of fact, the mistress of the home received me with pleasant laughter and exclamations of happiness. Although her husband was out of town and could not meet me, she hurriedly ensured that she telephoned him; and there he was, chatting with me like old school chums, instructing his wife to make sure I consumed two towering glasses of the cool coconut water and jelly they always ensured they kept for me.

Her two female employees were quite happy to see me, and did not hesitate to give me the grand tour of the sizeable plant nursery they operate in the backyard.

That aside, the manner in which the races seemed naturally bonded in tightly-knitted friendship and jovial banter really stirred the deep recesses of my mind.

Young men were chatting amicably in the streets, while in some areas others were rushing off to the nearby Blairmont Sugar Estate to tend to their various jobs. Mothers were rushing in and out of variety stores, stocking up on their household supplies; while, under some houses, husbands and grandparents relaxed in hammocks after spending a tedious early morning on many kitchen gardens or large farms.

FROM RAGS TO RICHES
I certainly did not regret visiting the home of the Ramcharrans, since their story would always motivate me to maintain my natural humble demeanour, work even harder, and set my dreams even higher on my goals.

My dear readers, while this family now enjoys the luxuries of a comfortable life and quite a lavish and impressive home, their fortunes were not fed to them on a golden spoon, but instead were the well-deserved results of a hard, life, much suffering, and a relentless determination to work their way up a ladder of tumultuous success.

This extended family reside in an impressive four-bedroom house, and were ready to relate that poverty in years gone by had propelled them to work tirelessly on their large cash crop farm, which eventually afforded them a comfortable home and pleasant means of living.

The family had begun by planting eschallot on a large scale. They would harvest the eschallot and sell in the village and on a wholesale basis in Georgetown.
In a very brief but interesting conversation not so long ago, I was fortunate to have an insight into the struggles of the family; but this time around, I was able to get lost in the emotion exuded by this happy and contented soul as he related the struggles and the eventual achievements of the family.

“Eschallot made me what I am today. Many years ago, we used to plant the eschallot, and it was really hard work. The entire family would leave from our one-bedroom flat house early in the morning with just light snacks of roti and pumpkin, which we used to wash down with swank (drink made with lime juice).Whole day we ah wuk like donkey in de hot sun, and when we get hungry dem young bai would climb the wata coconut tree. We would full we belly and then guh back in the sun and wuk till aftanoon. We gon then wata dem eschallot and lef de backdam, sometime when night almost fall.

“Then we guh come home and cook dinnah, and if yuh see how dem pickney tired, dem can hardly eat dem food. When dem hit dah bed, is sleep and snoring till five a clack next marning. Then is time fuh guh again!
“Then selling de eschallot was annadda story. Because sometimes competition and suh much eschallot deh bout dat de price always ah drap. But we endure we struggles and save we money and build ah nice house fuh de family, as yuh see today”.

Bombshell met with similar tales from other villagers, since almost everyone had started from humble beginnings and has worked their way up the ladder of success. This was evident in the many posh houses and businesses that now proudly display the makings of Bath Settlement.

THEN AND NOW
Like always, every village would have had to be moulded and shaped by the hands of those concerned before it could have attained the features that put it on par with the transcending wheel of modernization. Bath Settlement is no exception, since it had once bore the makings of a very underdeveloped village before unfurling into its present picturesque appearance.

The elderly camera shy Lilawattie Rampersaud, a merry old woman who was ready to talk but avoided the cameras with exclamations of “Meh guh talk to you sar, but me nah want me pictcha in no newspapha”, said: “When me was wan lil gyal, this was nevah de Bath Settlement wha yuh ah see here today. This place was sheer bush! De Bath Estate in de 1930s was surrounded by plenty bush, and it wasn’t a bright place either! Dem time dat we had to fetch wata from stand pipes far from we home, and dem nah been get current all ovah. One rich man in de village used to provide current through wire from he house to people who can afford it, suh many people used to use dem lantern and flambeau fuh move about and cook at night.

“Dem time dah was coal pat and fyah side fuh cooking, and we used to bake bread in open oven outside in de yard. De roads was not good as today, and we nah bin get prapah drains and canals like today. Things bin really hard in dem times, but Bath Settlement always get hard-wukking people who know ‘bout suffering and saving, suh today almost everybady ah live aff ah dem blood, sweat and tears.

“But me gah fuh thank de PPP Govament fuh mekking thinks easiah fuh we, because today we ah enjoy good good wata, current, street lights and prapa drainage. Dem need fuh send betta contractas fuh mek dem road prapally though, because dem people ah mek road heah and in no time de road ah bruk up”.

Aunty Euna related that life is beautiful in the village today. She credited the efforts of Government as responsible for residents of the village enjoying “pleasant and comfortable lives”.

MINOR CHALLENGES
Every village has its ups and downs, and Bath Settlement is certainly no exception. But one striking factor there is that the residents are hard-working and strive for the best for their families.

Bath settlement is now a village that is quite popular for it rich economic diversity and splendid agricultural potential. However, a few cash crop farmers there are requesting that more lands be made available to them to extend their farms, or for the introduction of poultry cultivation.

Some farmers are already in the cultivation of cash crops and rice, but are faced with the problem of inadequate land space to extend and intensify their already thriving operations.

Chatting with a few self-employed males, many related that they have splendid ideas for village development and are pleading with the present Government to provide them affordable land space to increase their farming, poultry rearing, and other agriculture-oriented activities.

Youths advised that employment was somewhat improved for some persons in the village, since, over the years, several business have sprung up, paving the way for gainful employment.

However, there are still a few who mentioned that they were qualified in various fields of work, but are unable to utilize their expertise inside the village and in certain surrounding locations.

POSITIVE CHANGE
Some persons in Bath Settlement are indeed creating wonders for their colleagues, and amongst them is the very talented Dhaniram Ramchand, who manages the Green to Life Chemical and Plant Shop.

Ramchand manages an extensive nursery in which he cultivates various types of seedlings for sale to farmers. Farmers were loud in their praise for his efforts, since they claim they have ready access to seedlings and chemicals which are much-needed to cultivate their crops.
Ramchand started his business some eight years ago, and he is also attached to the Guyana Agricultural Producers Association (GAPA) as regional representative.

He has certainly taken agriculture to the next level in the village, and he is highly respected for his exploits.

He is also promoting the greenhouse and shadehouse initiatives, which are positives for agriculture and the impending issue of climate change. Mr. Ramchand is also spearheading sporting activities, and has raised the bar on cricket activities in the area.

GREAT CAMARADERIE
All rumours of ethnic differences existing in Bath Settlement should be treated as nonsense, and be crushed underfoot. Actually, residents share an almost divine ‘racial harmony’ that is so rich in its intensity that it awakened my very being and sent joyful tremors up my spine.

The Bath Settlement Primary School was just closing shop for the day, and the noisy chatter of students could be heard from a great distance away, as they conversed on the ‘happenings of the day’ or on possible methods of effectively completing assignments.

They spilled into the streets in a pleasurable ethnic fusion of both Indo- and Afro-Guyanese buddies and school chums, laughing their heads off at the comical jokes of each other, and in process creating a beautiful vision of the future Guyanese nation. The same could be said of the men chatting in the streets, and of the housewives catching up on the latest news in the shops before hurrying off to their homes to get the lunch table ready.

This village was certainly the location any sane person would want to be.

CONCLUSION
Let’s salute a village where unity boils over from a scalding cauldron where love, unity, harmony and intense camaraderie bubble enticingly like an intoxicating brew laced with merry laughter, energetic prancing, and endearing smiles to last a life time.

Come and be smothered by their infectious love, or be engulfed in the rich waves of ethnic harmony exuded by villagers. Get caught up in the bashful stares of starry-eyed young damsels, or in the feisty dialogue of smiling males.
Whatever you do, make it a must to visit this pleasant village, where the radiant beams of glorious unison never seem to fade.

By Alex Wayne