Enjoying her golden years
Bibi Khan (Carl Croker photos)
Bibi Khan (Carl Croker photos)

Retired policewoman still has some spark left in her

These days, Bibi Khan is spending her days doing things in and around her house to pass time, her golden years. She retired as a Sergeant of Police who ended her tenure after serving 29 years in the Guyana Police Force (GPF).

Bibi Khan and her friend, Desiree Stephen

On April 14 she will celebrate her 80th birth anniversary and is looking forward to that occasion despite the aches and pains she suffers from arthritis in her body. The 79-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she retired in 2001 and she was stationed at Springlands Police Station and she used to ride her bicycle every day to and from work.

The mother of three daughters pointed out that back then she had good health and strength but as she became advanced in age she started to experience high cholesterol and hypertension. Khan added that she lives alone but has a very good friend, Desiree Stephen, who also resides in the village and would visit to check up, on her.

The house she occupies belonged to her parents, her birthplace which is located at public road Line Path Village, Upper Corentyne, Berbice. This elderly woman is well respected in her community and she is noted for her straight forward mannerism and discipline.

She is a cheery, full of life kind of a person, who is jovial and always has a few jokes up her sleeve to brighten someone’s day regardless of the kind of day they are having. Khan related that even at her age she does her own cooking, cleaning and everything else around the house, it was duly observed that there isn’t a blade of grass in her yard, which is very clean.

“My husband died when I was just 35 years old and I never chose to remarry and I can say I lived a full life because I was left to single-handedly take care and provide for three children and that’s how I joined the police force, I wanted to work, I had to find work,” she said. She joined the GPF in 1977 when Lloyd Barker was the then Commissioner of Police and worked for 29 long years without a day off, she took her role as a policewoman very seriously.

Khan disclosed that she learned to be independent when she was young because her mother passed away when she was just six years old and she grew up with her father as an only child. She reported that she is thankful she was brought up the old-fashioned way by her father, who instilled discipline in her at a very young age and she had responsibilities in the home.

“I think because of my strict upbringing I am who I am today and my father was a no-nonsense man, who did not tolerate certain things and he made sure I went to school,” she said. Her father passed away at age 66, she remembered that well because it was two days after she celebrated her birth anniversary.

Home of Bibi Khan

Khan is a staunch Muslim and she never drank alcohol and danced, even when there were parties at the police station. She would leave after the ceremony but always cooked something to take for that occasion. “I would listen to the speeches but soon after I would leave on my bicycle for home because I never indulged in parties, drinking and dancing,” she said.

Khan doesn’t go out at all. She spends her days at home, where she would entertain her friend, Desiree Stephen, whom she would call on to do things for her. One of her sons-in-law would stop by to buy water and cooking gas for her and Desiree would do all her market shopping or whatever else she needs.

When the Pepperpot Magazine visited Desiree was there. She had just finished adding some black dye to Khan’s hair and was relaxing in the swing, under the house. Khan was, pleased with the result since she did not want her greys to show and was in high spirits as usual.

“It is nice to life a good life and it feels good when people have good things to say about you and it all comes down to how you treat people,” she said.

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