AT first glance, to anyone traversing along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, the village of Tigerbone-Banakari may appear to be a vast expanse of farmland bubbling with picturesque agriculture and overflowing with white sand the highway has made famous. However, the community with an interesting name is far more than meets the eye; Tigerbone is the embodiment of a burgeoning community.
The village, its name, and its legacy have been around for quite some time, long enough to have crafted its own multicultural essence and become a hallmark along the road. But in most regards, Tigerbone-Banakari is still a new village. The community is home to over 300 persons, stretched out along the highway for many years. Most recently, however, the village has undertaken a huge mission: relocating its people, assembling its leadership, and rebuilding the community.
Tigerbone is among very few communities to begin development in the time and manner that they have. For more than five decades, the community had been a cultural ensemble of diverse people who made the land lining the highway their home. In recent times, however, a few passionate people have come together to develop the community.
The people of Tigerbone Banakari have come together to see more than a few streets built in their community. But, with the help of the Guyanese government, they have embarked on relocating all their people to a new village, with new house lots that they will hopefully call home.
This week the Pepperpot Magazine ventured into the community of Tigerbone-Banakari as we explored the captivating four miles of natural beauty. Among the many residents of the community, we came across one of the driving forces behind Tigerbone’s advancement. Kathy Alfred is one of Tigerbone’s oldest residents; she is also one of the many men and women who have all but dedicated themselves to their village.
Kathy, a well-known figure in the community, was born and raised miles away from Tigerbone in Region 7. Today, she is the village’s vice chairwoman and has partnered with countless other residents and community leaders to bring the community to its current state, and she is passionate about the continued growth of her community. The community is a reflection of Guyana’s diversity among people. As Kathy shared that, “Just the new generation of people born and grow here, but the older people migrated from different places. We have four tribes here. We have the Arawaks, Akawaios, Warrous, and Caribs. All of us come from different communities. Some from the Northwest, some from the Pomeroon, some from Kamarang and Lethem and the Rupununi. The Indians come from Wakenaam.”
A look at the community of Tigerbone-Banakari would leave various questions unanswered. But among the biggest is undoubtedly its name. According to Kathy, when she came to Tigerbone almost 21 years ago, the village was no more than trees, animals, and thick foliage that was to be developed from a simple idea and the motivation to bring that idea to life. The village’s unique moniker was said to be Kathy’s idea, as she stated, “When I named this village, the name of it was Kaicusay Epau, meaning Tigerbone. There is Tigerbone Creek about eight minutes’ drive into the village.” The Banakari was later added by Kathy, as the word has a deep meaning for her; however, she did not specify its exact meaning.
At first glance, the community of Tigerbone-Banakari may appear to be some ambitious constructional endeavour; it is, however, much more. Tigerbone today is, in essence, a community in the making. Beginning sometime in 2013, the village, along with various governmental agencies, embarked on rebuilding the community. In previous years, the village saw its residents spread out across the highway. Although the name existed and the location of the community stood, Tigerbone was not nearly the village the people wanted. That is, however, until recent times, when the Tigerbone community council made immensely admirable strides in the development of the community.
The village has acquired more than a hundred regularised house lots within the community, which can be found 15 minutes after the community of Long Creek. These house lots have been accompanied by a new ICT hub, shade house, and various other community buildings and village initiatives. One of the major steps currently being taken in the community is work being done to create and develop a water system in the village. “The development is taking place,” said Kathy, citing the grants, funds, time, and sheer dedication pumped into the community for the past 11years.
Kathy and her counterparts have worked tirelessly in the development of the home, and they have gone the extra mile, above and beyond, to ensure their home is one to be proud of. As Kathy shared, “This must be a community that people must say wow, a community that everybody should be proud of.”
