CHANGE is everywhere. All across Guyana, development can be seen in every region, community and by extension, every home. The biggest displays of change lie in the development of far-flung communities. The Amerindian mission of Bethany is one of those villages that has come a far way. Beginning as a small Adventist mission, Bethany has evolved into a highly sought-after escape and burgeoning tourism hotspot. Its people play an intricate role in the development of the community.
“Bethanians”, as they are referred to, are hospitable and proud people. To the people of the creek, their home is as much a part of their identity as their history. For many years, they have dedicated themselves to building their home. With logging and farming being the biggest economic players, the village has retained its sustainable way of life. But to the people of Bethany, sustainability goes hand in hand with development. They vow to shape their community into a beacon that balances tradition and change.

Culture and hospitality
Rhonda Grant is a proud lifelong villager of Bethany. The welcoming nature of the people has always been the village’s most cherished aspect. A deeply traditional indigenous community, Bethany showcases its culture unapologetically at every opportunity. Whether it is during the celebrations of Heritage Month or to any unsuspecting visitor, Bethanians are always happy to share a few words about their community, origin and culture. The village has seen an influx of visitors and tourists in recent times. Many people have praised the community for its authentic and loving nature. Rhonda believes that is one of the things that distinguishes her home from the rest. As she shared during her interview, “Our community is a peaceful community. It is a community where members would share with each other and come together for church services.”

To newcomers and those venturing into the community, the overwhelming hospitality may come as a surprise. To the locals, however, this is just a way of life. As Rhonda further added, “The community does humanitarian work for each other and with each other. It is a loving community.” The welcoming characteristic of the village creates an ideal getaway. This is perhaps why the community leaders have been working towards developing tourism in the region. The toshao and the council built a guest house, the first ever of its kind. According to the council, the guest house is soon to be up and running in addition to several other tourism-based endeavours.

Life in the mission
The way leading into the community of Bethany is characterised by numerous sawmills. These economic powerhouses are integral to the way of life in the region. Most of the region’s people see logging as a means of survival. There are a few reasons why logging and lumber are so active in the region. Being lucrative is among the biggest reasons. A quick flight over the village of Bethany would reveal the community’s surroundings. It is situated in deep forest. This makes finding lumber easy, and with the close waterways, transporting both lumber and workers is as easy as could be. As Rhonda shares, “In terms of work, most people here do logging and farming. There are also other work that people do.”

Although agriculture and logging account for a large percentage of the village’s economy, there has been a recent influx of a series of professions. As much as traditional carers are still very prominent, villagers, especially the younger generation, have taken on newer endeavours. Bethany’s ambitious young people have entered into fields such as medicine, health work and community development. “We have teachers and people that are community workers. People in the community depend on these persons. The services are easy to access, and because of the distance to the coastland, it is better for us.” Although education and health are not entirely new implementations in the community, they have grown recently. This has resulted in new teachers and healthcare workers, many of whom are persons from Bethany.

Rhonda is among the professionals in Bethany. With several years of teaching under her belt, she has also played a role in the development of the education sector of the community. She began her career in 2004 and later advanced to become a teacher at the Bethany primary school. Over the years, she has seen numerous children advance from Bethany’s school towards higher levels of education. As she shared, “I went to Cyril Potter’s College in 2005, and then I came back to serve in the community because I really wanted to serve my community.” Her passion and undying love for her home are mirrored by her fellow Bethanians. To those thinking about taking a trip to Bethany, the people say it’s a great place to visit but an even better place to call home.