“GENERALLY, at the end of the year, I would go about to all those people at ANSA McAL Trading (Guyana) and other agencies to seek assistance for our older people and many of our children. This is so because we want to make them happy, to make them feel comfortable and wanted. We appreciate them and want them to understand that,” said Leyland Harcourt one of the more vivacious community workers, who is known by all in the village of Beterverwagting. He is also a former Chairman of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDC).

Harcourt disclosed that at Christmastime, hampers are solicited from the Fiber Tech Industries to the elderly. He said that for the past four months Fiber Tech Industries has also been supplying hampers on a monthly basis to at least 20 ‘shut-ins’ in the village. The ‘shut-ins are elderly men and women who are not able to leave their homes; for example, persons who are amputees, bed-ridden, blind or otherwise.

Old age pension
He said that through the assistance of the Regional Chairman, Genevive Allen, who contributes to the programme, along with the Bakewell Industries within the neighbourhood, every pension day they share breakfast to the pensioners.

In addition, proper toilet facilities for both men and women; seating accommodation, and other facilities to make the pensioners comfortable are constantly provided and these are done on behalf of the NDC, compliments of Gafoor Industries.

Loving our children
Harcourt informed that toys are shared, through the NDC, to the children in the village at Christmas time. They meet around a lighted Christmas tree, which is usually located where the old cinema used to be and companies such as ANSAL McAL Trading, Gafoor Industries and Fiber Tech Industries would willingly give toys to the children.

8th May movement
Harcourt is also the founder of the “8th of May Village Movement”.

“Beterverwagting was bought on May 8, 1839, by 62 ex-slaves…, who pooled their money together ($52,000) and gave it to one man who hid it under a tamarind tree…this one man – sometimes when I talk about it, it brings some emotion because from then it has proven something that we do not have today and that we are divided.

“Because for you to give your money to one man calls for tremendous trust – supposed he had died; suppose the man tried to play smart, but they did not think those things, but he [Mr. Baron Von Gronigen – the last Dutch planter who remained in the colony] hid that money and the morning of the sale took out that money [Dutch Guilders], rolled it in a wheelbarrow and took it to the place of purchase – that was strength,” Harcourt declared.

No ordinary woman
According to Harcourt, BV has a very unique history; a very special history. He said that on August 31, 1857, 40 proprietors or former slaves (39 men and one woman) met at what was then the village train station, which is now a taxi service, and they elected what was the first district council in the history of British Guiana and the English-speaking Caribbean.

He added that of the 40 former slaves, only 39 voted since they did not allow the one woman to vote. However, being present at the meeting, even though she was not allowed to vote the very first name on the Transport was her name. “She was no easy woman,” he argued.

Being conscious of the past, Harcourt said that he feels inspired to do everything possible to help his fellow countrymen and women achieve the best they can. He posited that the villagers are a proud people and has produced many people that they can be gratified with.

The drive to help each other therefore goes way back into history – at birth and delivery stages, where others made tremendous sacrifices to achieve the given objective and also to maintain it.

Diaspora
At the same time, overseas-based Guyanese from the Beterverwagting community also formed a group, from which they delivered hampers to several residents on Christmas day. The group, comprising of other community groups within the Beterverwagting/Triumph communities, distributed more than 30 food hampers to residents both young and old. The donations were made possible by several overseas-based Guyanese.

Representative of the group, Jonelle Waldron said that she was contacted by a group of concerned overseas-based stakeholders who expressed interest in giving back to several persons in the village. They formed a group and began the work to identify several deserving persons for the hampers, which they were very happy to share with. Dwayne Duncan, another team member stated that it was a very emotional time for them.

The group said that with the help from other persons in the diaspora they will continue to give, making it a tradition.