A small village that plays a big role

BEYOND Paradise, Melanie and Bachelor’s Adventure there is a small village with a mysterious history and a promising future. Fort Wellington is located some 54 miles away from the capital city, in Mahaica-Berbice (Region Five), on what was once plantation Catherina’s Lust. Rich in history and interesting people, Fort Wellington is one of Gyana’s hidden treasures.

Leaving Georgetown and driving down the east coast of Guyana, one is greeted with many villages and sites that help tell the story of our Country. From the Chateau Margot Chimney to the halfway tree, history is told through monuments and sites. But Fort Wellington is one of the many local places where its history is told through the people.

Fort Wellington, similar to many of its neighbours, is a farming community. But unlike the surrounding villages, Fort Wellington is the region’s administrative centre. It is home to the Regional Democratic Council, Magistrates’ Court, National Insurance Scheme, the Guyana Election Commission and their own post office and branch of the National Agricultural Research and Extension institute (NAREI). And even today, the village’s roots in agriculture can be seen everywhere. From its massive farmland of crops to the fields filled with roaming cattle.

Just over the bridge that marks the beginning of Fort Wellington, David Lampley can be found. Selling his famed snow cones in the village for many years, he has become well-known to the villagers. “I started selling here since 1987. But I decided to come to Fort Wellington over 10 years ago,” said David. Although he lives in neighbouring Rosignol, he considers Fort Wellington and its residents a home away from home. “I live in Rosignal, but I like to sell in Fort Wellington. The people are nice and the people buy from me. They know me and we get along well all the time,” he said.

Even after having spent so much time in Fort Wellington, David says there is still uncertainty about the true name of the village. He said, “They call everything Fort Wellington, the hospital is named Fort Wellington and everything.” He then went on to explain the many eras that make up what is called Fort Wellington. According to David, in addition to Catherina’s Lust, the area known as Fort Wellington includes Onderneeming. This seems to be a sentiment shared among many villagers as they too often discuss and try to figure out where Fort Wellington truly lies.

On the topic of how he became the ‘Iceman’, David said, “One of my brothers introduced me to making snow cones. I used to work at Blairmount sugar estate. I saw it as something good so I decided to leave the estate and do this, and since then, I’ve been selling ice.” For more than 30 years, he has plied his trade, and David says it has worked out just fine for him. “At the time I started selling ice, I had four kids and it helped take care of my family,” he said. Today none of his children lives at home, but he still does what he loves in the community he loves. Fort Wellington is a map of complex winding roads that could get anyone lost. But it is also filled with beautiful scenery and friendly villagers always willing to help.