Looking at the developmnet of Dora

EVERY day, everywhere, communities are changing. Dora is among the most diverse communities the country has to offer. Since its beginning, Dora has been known for its great agriculture, white sand, and various industrial endeavours. One of the lesser-known aspects of Dora is that the village was home to one of Guyana’s few palm oil production factories.

Orin Forsythe was one of the few hundred men who worked at the factory. Today, the factory and its famous palm oil are simply parts of history. Now, Dora has its eyes set on change and development. With new systems and greater governmental support, Dora is a village on the rise. This shift has been beneficial, as many people used to work on the estate, which attracted workers from all over, including Linden and other regions. Now, with the closure of the factory, new sand businesses have emerged in the area.

Orin calls Dora home and is deeply embedded in the community’s culture. Although he was not born and raised in Dora, he was drawn to the village in search of work. He found opportunities at the Dora palm oil factory a few decades ago. As he shared, “I first came to Dora because of the oil factory they had here. I arrived in my 30s, and now I am in my 60s. I have been here a long time. I love the community.”

Orin ventured to Dora more than three decades ago and still remains. He settled in Dora not far from where the factory once was, on the west bank of the Demerara River. Over the years, he transitioned into logging, a lucrative but risky job in Demerara. As he explained, “After the factory closed, I began to go into woodwork. I am still involved in the woodwork. It is what people call a logging business.” Logging is one of the major occupations in the community, with most men of Dora either working or having worked in logging. However, the trade is far from easy.

Orin and the men of his concession have developed innovative ways of dealing with the biggest challenge in their work: transportation. Lumber is transported on bamboo rafts down the river. These makeshift boats can only carry a limited amount and are captained by brave loggers who navigate the bamboo rafts down the river to places like Dora and other waterside villages. This method accounts for much of the village’s revenue and is a significant player in the region’s economy.

Orin admits that it is quite dangerous. As he explained the process, “We use bamboo. We cut the wood, load it on the bamboo, and float it down the river. It’s a bit funny. You can bring about 7, 8, or 10 feet of wood, depending on the size. If you look over where you sit, there’s about 100 bamboo pieces in each raft. You put the wood on top and then link it together.”

Even as he gets older, Orin is determined to continue working and does not intend to slow down. He considers himself a hustler and views the hard work he does as necessary. As Orin shared, “It is not going to be hard for me. I have one job, and I do it. I am a hustler. When a man is a hustler, he can’t be stopped. But if he’s not a hustler, he can’t survive. I’m not talking about thieves; I’m just talking about earning a daily bread.”

But Orin is not all about hard work; he also appreciates a good game of cricket. Dora is a close-knit community. Even as its people are spread out, they still come together on special occasions to celebrate as one. As Orin stated, “We like to play cricket and other games at the school there. It’s good to see everyone because I just like to keep the fun alive in the community. Every first of August, about 500 people come over.”

Orin has lived in Dora for nearly 30 years, and in those years, he has seen the village change and diversify along with its people. Recently, Orin expressed happiness with the attention being paid to the village. He explained that the government seems to be taking new steps in developing the community, steps he is pleased about. “The President was up here about two weeks ago. After he came, we got new solar panels. There are still a few issues in the community, but it is a nice place to live.” Orin does not plan on leaving Dora anytime soon. He intends to change and grow with the village.

Dora’s journey from an industrial hub to a community focused on new ventures and sustainable development reflects the resilience and adaptability of its people. Orin’s story is just one of many that highlight the determination and community spirit that define Dora.