Teaching, pastoring and trading are just a few of the many trades for one active Leguan resident

HARVEY Compton Gobin is multi-talented, but his real joy comes from teaching, volunteering, pastoring and being an ambassador for children and youths in his community. Reflecting on his life over the years, Gobin talked about the events that led to his current activities.

Starting out

He was born and raised at Wakenaam, one of the 365 islands in the Essequibo River, and he attended Maria’s Pleasure Primary School from Grade One to Nine. Gobin said it was difficult to get into the secondary school at Wakenaam because it was overcrowded. He related that he was forced to start work, began to try fishing, and was also a labourer on farms; he worked with the local farmers to earn.

However, in 1976, he was offered a teaching job for two months. He accepted the offer and taught at San Souci Primary School in Wakenaam. After that stint ended, he moved on as a teacher for four months at Maria’s Pleasure Primary School on the island.

Gobin reported that he was offered a teaching job at the primary level in Annai and had already secured his plane ticket, but he couldn’t go because his mother didn’t want him to go.

He related that he then had to look for work elsewhere, so he left Wakenaam in 1980 and came to the city to work as a Port Police at the various wharves to secure ships when they were docked at Port Georgetown.

Gobin added that he left that job and worked as a supervisor at Gafoor’s for two months, after which he became self-employed. He bought goods to re-sell at Bourda Market and began selling coconut oil sourced from Wakenaam, and, on weekends, he would go back home. Gobin reported that in 1981, he started to take the Tata bus and transport his goods to be sold at Wales Market.

A change of path

On weekends, he would sell pineapples and ground provisions he bought in the city at Wakenaam via his donkey cart, but Gobin pointed out that his life changed for the better in 1981 when he was called upon to go and lead a church on the nearby Leguan Island.

He disclosed that the Pastor was leaving to return to Brazil, his homeland, and asked him if he could become the religious leader. Gobin took the offer, and he moved there and led the congregation on the lower flat of the house, while he resided with his family in the upper flat of the building. This year, May will mark 40 years since he has been living as a Pastor for the Richmond Hill New Testament Church of God.

In the meantime, Gobin reported that he needed a challenge and began trading between Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago and Brazil. He used to ride around Leguan on his bicycle, selling bicycle parts.

Gobin noted that, in 1992, he was offered a job as a teacher at the Richmond Hill Primary School, the same school his wife, Rani, was a teacher and taught there until 1998, when he resigned and bought a minibus.

He explained that he began working the bus on the West Coast Demerara route and went home to Leguan on weekends. Gobin related that he had his eyes set on going to CPCE to become a certified teacher but became frustrated when the process was delayed due to circumstances beyond his control.

Other ventures

After three and a half years of working as a minibus operator, he was offered the officer job within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport in 2001. He has held that job for the past 23 years and is still on the job.

He is also an active member of the Leguan Community Policing Group (CPG), a member of the Essequibo/Leguan Cricket Board, and a singer and composer of gospel and chutney music.

Gobin has retired as a chutney singer and has a song specially for this year’s Mashramani Children’s Costume Competition, which will be held in Leguan on Thursday.

He stated that for the National Float Parade on the island, four primary schools and the only secondary school would be participating along with the public and private sector.

The father of two and grandfather of five told the Pepperpot Magazine that, in Leguan, he is the go-to guy when people need assistance filling out forms, and he assists in all paperwork and is involved in all community-based projects.

Gobin hosts a Bible Club on Fridays and actively participates in all volunteer work in Leguan.