Anna Regina’s mission of togetherness

APART from the sea breeze, peaceful roaming cattle and the all-together captivating atmosphere, there is one thing that makes a visit to the Essequibo Coast unique. Around every corner, at every shop and at many different houses, people can be seen together. No matter the time of day, the people of the coast are always together, having fun and showing the rest of the world what it means to be a community. Regardless of colour, class or creed, places like Anna Regina have a sense of togetherness unlike anywhere else.

Kaydar Persaud lives a mere two miles outside of the town of Anna Regina, but the lines and boundaries of communities are blurred when the people are as close-knit as they are in Essequibo. Kaydar hails from the community of Lima, a village resting between Anna Regina and Charity. Kaydar grew up in the village, just as his father and grandfather before him had. “I lived here all my life. My mother, father, and grandfather are all from the same area. And this year will be my 50th anniversary.”

The 76-year-old has spent several years aimed at community building. “I have done a lot of community work. Not only in Lima but all along the coast,” he stated. Growing up in and around the town of Anna Regina was an interesting experience, he shared. “Growing up here as a young boy was very nice. All my friends were from this area. At that time, we attended Anglican School which is a British school.”

Among the most memorable aspects of his youth was the unique unity community like Anna Regina fostered within its people. And he explained, growing up, there was always brotherly love among the townspeople. He stated: “There were old people that would give us advice. We all grew up together. As East Indians and Negros and we all grew together. We had a multicultural community,” he said.

And they still do. Within a community of over 40,000 residents, people from all walks of life could be found. No longer are particular places coined as being an African community or an Indian village. “Indeed, Anna Regina is multicultural. We have everyone living here. And Anna Regina is a developing township,” he said.

Mohamed Khan is a resident and religious leader who lives just outside of Anna Regina. Like Kaydar, he too was born and raised in the in and around Anna Regina. “Some times growing up here were good. Some times were not so good,” Mohamed stated. He explained that life was generally good despite the hardships and he has seen development in certain areas

Anna Regina and the region are quickly gaining recognition for its major educational strides. Mohamed explained that this is a new area for the town and region and he is happy to see the development that has taken place. He stated that, “We do love Essequibo. And we have grown up as we can say we have enough of a good life; in every aspect. Especially educational has improved from my time to now.” He further expressed that, “Now this coast you can safely say is an educated coast. We understand more about the value of education. It takes you out of poverty, and it can bring transformation.”

Education and growth have worked well in developing cultural unity in places like Anna Regina. Anna Regina, with its continued growth in population, has seen more people come to call the town home. This, Mohamed says, has fostered strong cultural bonds among people, a bind he feels Anna Regina and the coast is lucky to have. “We are able to live peacefully. We are able to exchange gifts, whether it is Christmas or Eid or Phagwah.We all come together. Our story is Essequibo, region two. It is not about race or religion or race,” Mohamed stated.

A page on cultural unity could be taken from places like the town of Anna Regina. Mohamed believes setting a good example is the way to go about this. “Our parents would have done good work. The young people never see the race as something different and the religious community has done a good job,” he stated.

As a religious leader, he explained that the governing principles among the religious community are love, unity, and equality. “One of the things, one of the ideals, is that of love. That is seeing your fellow human beings and your own self. And we always encourage people to love their neighbour. And to be selfless. Selflessness is the foundation of growth,” he said. The understanding that growth can only be achieved through cooperation is known, but the town of Anna Regina and the coast exercises that belief. Because divided, we may fall, but united, we can stand, grow and flourish.