Dear Editor,
I HAD planned to visit one of the oldest heritage sites here on the Essequibo Coast ,with Mr Tota Charran Mangar ( Historian) and Dr James Rose, some 15 years ago when both men and I were at the Devonshire Castle Martyrs Day wreath-laying anniversary when five sugar workers were brutally gunned down during the colonial days in 1879.Unfortunately, we couldn’t make it, because the ceremony finished late into the afternoon and both Dr Rose and Mr Mangar had to head back to Georgetown and it was getting late for them to cross the Essequibo River with speed boat.
I attempted on many occasions to visit this heritage site at Aurora Estate to see the conditions of it since I was interested in the history of the 18th century Essequibo Coast. I later learnt that there were 37 sugar estates, starting from Walton Hall in the north to Spring Garden in the south with an aggregate yield of 4,641 tons of sugar with its usual complement of rum and molasses and 30,305 pounds of coffee. The smallest crop was produced by Henrietta — 35 tonnes — with the largest — 325 tonnes — by Devonshire Castle. Sugar disappeared from Essequibo in 1936, the last estate which closed its operation was Hampton Court.
On Saturday February 11th , 2017, I finally decided to leave my house at Cotton Field to visit the heritage site at Aurora, some 25 miles. As I reached the village, I turned off the public road and headed towards the sea, some 100 yards to find the old sugar estate. The Misirs, I learnt, bought Aurora estate and settled there all their lives where the chimney now stands.
As I entered the compound, I saw Mrs Indra Misir standing in front her beautiful house staring at me in my car, I then sought her permission to visit the site where the sugar factory was located. She agreed to show me and my wife the way to the old chimney. Her husband, Bobby, joined me in my car, while my wife and Indra decided to walk through a short passageway lined with fruit trees and beautiful garden flower plants.
I drove on the sea dam which was lately built by the Regional Executive Officer, Mr Rupert Hopkinson, about two months ago; we reached the old tall brick chimney and my wife took some pictures of it with the caisson sluice, furnaces, wash vats, and punts where sugar works once stood. There is a large area of fertile land on the Misir estate for any description of cultivated products, unsurpassed by any on this fertile coast. The state of the chimney is a standing example of how the previous government had caused it to degenerate. This heritage site need be preserved by this new coalition for the intelligent forethought of those who fought the battle of slavery and immigration.
Bobby Misir told me that the rising tide levels and erosion began to threaten his property and land decades ago. He appealed to the Jagdeo and Ramotar administrations for help to build the sea defence, since his property is almost near the sea. But those who were in charge of the regional administration here in Region Two turned a blind eye to the issue, so the sea water started to overflow the little embankment which was left and washed away the land and chimney. The former Minister of Public Works, Mr Robeson Benn,had visited the area and refused to build the sea dam to prevent the sea from moving inward. According to Mr Misir, he then sought the help of Mr Rupert Hopkinson, who immediately visited the site.
The next day he mobilised materials, workmen and machines and began to build the sea dam which was completed in one month. This has helped to save the heritage site and his property and he has high praise and regards for the REO. Here is the messy truth: since I was moving along the southern side of the coast, I did some political work to find out from people who used to support the PPP, why they voted them out from power? This was their answer: the party when in government had neglected them under the Jagdeo and Ramotar administrations, so they had no choice but to vote for another party. This should be a learning lesson for the coalition.
Yours faithfully,
Mohamed Khan