By Svetlana Marshall
Transitioning into a slow but deliberate low, gut-wrenching tone with slavery being the most profound in sound, he cried “From Slavery, Indentureship, Colonialism and struggles of pain – confined and chained – Dark were the days, unholy and vain – Inhumane and black were the belly of ships, and swift were the whips.”

But with a sense of pride, his tempo rose as he shouted: “Gone are the slave masters, be gone imperialists, be gone colonialists.”
James Richmond – a true son of the soil – could not help but chronicle his understanding of the land now free, so he wrote, “Leaping into a new day destined to be – crucified, resurrected and set free –” the first two lines of his “The Golden Jubilee.”
“Independence is an unstoppable march,” the prolific spoken-word poet said as he explained his master piece. He said when Guyana gained Independence, the country wallowed in untested waters – a journey which has been long and hard.
“This poem is calling on us to recognise both of our founding fathers and all those who played meaningful roles in our independence journey, so that we can stand as one – as Guyanese,” he further explained.
“The Golden Jubilee” is one of many poems for Richmond. In fact, he has written more than 300 poems – the majority influenced primarily by his love for Guyana and the Caribbean Region, where he has lived and worked.
Born in Hopetown, a village situated on the West Coast of Berbice some 54 miles from the city of Georgetown, Richmond had developed a love for poetry from the tender age of seven.
“I started writing poetry as early as seven years old, and reading a lot of it…Today my favorite poets of all time are Martin Carter, A. J Seymour, John Agard, Jan Carew, Claude Mckay, Mutabaruka and Maya Angelou,” he said.
While writing poems on the side, Richmond, at the age of 18, opted to the join the Guyana Police Force where he served as a court orderly and a member of the Tactical Service Unit (TSU) before being elevated to a Presidential Guard during the latter stages of the presidency of Forbes Burnham.
But he yearned for more. Subsequent to his career as a presidential guard, Richmond pursued training in Medical Technology, Radiology and Pharmacology in the Multi-purpose Technician Course offered by the University of Guyana under the auspices of the USAID Programme.
“I worked at the Georgetown Hospital Pharmacy and Laboratory then was transferred to the New Amsterdam Hospital Laboratory and later to the Fort Wellington Hospital Laboratory.”
In 1989, he migrated to Antigua where he worked at the Holberton Hospital Laboratory and Caribbean Pharmaceutical Supplies. “While working at the labs in Antigua, I wrote for the Antigua Today Newspaper and had the privilege of my poetry being featured in all of the newspaper on the island,” he posited.
But it was not until October 1993 that Richmond published his first book of poetry – “Reflections of Today” just before migrating to the US in 1994. That book comprises 16 poems.
While in the U.S, he pursued a Degree in Government. It was there too that the proficient poet published his second book of poetry in May 1997 called “Where the Pomeroom Meets” with a total of 52 poems.
By 2004 he had compiled a CD with 49 of his favorite pomes called “Emerging Sound.”
In honour of his home town, Richmond published his third book: “On the Window of my Skin” in 2006 in which the poem “My Hopetown City” is featured. That book has 78 poems. Currently he is working on his next collection “In Amazonia.”
In the U.S, Richmond is ever so often recognised for his contributions to the world of poetry.
Outside of poetry, the married father of four said is a Real Estate Broker, Community Liaison, a Lay Pastor with the SDA Church Organisation and a Political Consultant. “Coming to America entails paying your bills so whilst going to school. I qualified myself in real estate and became a Real Estate Broker, owning a brokerage and also in early childhood education and co-owned a childcare business with my wife. I later felt a calling into ministry and that is where my focus is.”
Richmond says he is grateful to be in the land of the living, in good health and strength – having the full support of his family who continues to make him proud.