“LITTLE deeds of kindness, little words of love make this earth an Eden, like the heaven above,” said centenarian Victor Lewis, called ‘Little Johnny’ or ‘Old Police’ as he reminisced on his life’s journey at his home at Brighton Village, Corentyne Coast on Saturday.
Born on February 25, 1917, to James Lewis called Johnny Lewis and Rachel Albert of Eversham Village, which is a short distance from where he currently lives, Lewis was nurtured by his paternal grandparents James and Mary Lewis at the very place he today calls home.

“I grew with Elric. He was my cousin. We were children of two siblings. My grandparents were farmers. They cultivated ground provisions, corn and bananas. We were never hungry, but if we were, we would just go to the farm, pick a few ripened bananas off the sucker or parch and pound corn before eating it with sugar.
“Life was not as it is now. People farmed and the villagers,despite their ethnicity, lived in unity. In those days if an African family had a function and did not invite their East Indian neighbour that would be a big problem and the uninvited person will enquire what was the reason for him/ or her not receiving an invitation before presenting themselves.

Life was so good without the politicians,” he chuckled, while clasping his hands between his legs.
The bespectacled gentleman in his formative years attended the Eversham Primary School, when James Henry was headmaster. However, while he completed his schooling, he was unable to take the then School Leaving Examination, which was held at Rose Hall Scotts School in Rose Hall Town.
“I cannot now remember what prevented me from going to write the exams, but my now deceased friends Albert King and Marth Douglas, they were successful at the exams and had pursued higher learning,resulting in them being educators. I became a carpentry apprentice, under the stewardship of ‘Brother Grant’ of Phillipi Village.

“As a small boy, I had visited the village shop and had observed Brother Grant doing some carpentry and he asked me whether I was interested and after responding in the affirmative, I started to learn the trade and have since specialised in all areas of carpentry,” he said.
According to the widower, his trade took him to many places in Guyana, including the mining town of Linden and Matthews Ridge, and his markings are on all the multilateral schools, and other learning institutions across the country.

However, he was quick to add, that as soon as he received his wages, he would hurry off to the nearest post office, where he would send the money to his wife Monica (now deceased).
They had 11 children, namely Denzil, Eon, Victor Jnr, Eldon, Fay (now deceased), Wendy, Patricia, Brenda, Kim, Yonnette and Denise. He has also fathered a son, Leon, who resides overseas.

NOT ABLE
“I used to give towards the upkeep of my home, wife and children. I have not remarried although my wife died over 30 years ago. When you have a wife you have to give and I am not able with that now,” he chuckled.
An elder of the Brighton Presbyterian Church, Lewis said church attendance was not an option for his family.
“We had to go. Sunday is the day to serve the Lord. We have to look to our maker for everything. In these days, parents asking children if they would like to go to church. But I was never taught that, it was not an option. It was a necessity.”

The centenarian, who experienced short bouts of mental loss during the interview, was quick to point out that as a youth he was a member of the Boys Scouts organisation which would instill values in youths just in case it was not instilled in the home.
Lewis also told Guyana Chronicle of an incident that rocked his village some 30 years ago. Nine members of the Cummings family were killed under mysterious circumstances.
“The news had stated that a snake was killing the family, but it was not so. One of the young men had married a woman of another ethnicity and one of his sisters was in conflict with the woman, and as a result they were subsequently poisoned. That story had placed our village in the news,” he recalled.

That apart, the village which is bordered by Eversham and Kiltern was known for horse racing, but with time, the passion for the game has dwindled. According to Lewis, young men are not committed to it.
“They want money and more money, but they are not committed when it comes to enhancing community relationship, so with time, the interest in horse racing has gone.”
Lewis said the youths are aimless, just standing around “doing absolutely nothing.”
However, his daughter Patricia interjected saying that the Guyana Police Force has a youth club in the community.
Lewis, who is fondly called “Grandpa”, has 30 grandchildren and 12 great grands.
He was thankful to God for allowing him to reach the magical 100, and said while there is no secret to his longevity, persons must always honour their parents and their days may be long.