Prospect mother shares her journey and the lessons she has learned along the way

“DULL but peaceful” is a popular sentiment shared by the people of Prospect. It is easily one of the simpler places in Guyana, with a small population heavily focused on agriculture. The people of Prospect, however, are anything but dull. Among them is Deveia Hookumchand, a longtime villager. A devoted mother and wife, Deveia shared her story of the countless challenges life presents, and how the peace and quiet of Prospect offer a unique perspective.

Although she described it as boring, Deveia shared that growing up in Prospect was good. It made for a childhood filled with playing and experiencing the community at length. Deveia and her two siblings found ways to entertain themselves with no phones. According to most villagers, Prospect is even smaller than it seems. She explained that most of the people in the community are related, if not by blood, then by marriage. Prospect seems to be the place where most people settle down.

As she stated, “I grew up in Prospect; I remember it as a dull and quiet community. And it still is, very dull and very small. Everyone here is family, though, so everybody knows everybody. Most days I stay home, cook, and clean with my husband and children.” She has spent most of her life in Prospect. After growing up in the community, she got married and started a family of her own. Deveia and her husband later moved to Rising Sun, a more populated and lively community.

Deveia further added, “When I was young in Prospect, a child growing up, I was at my mother’s house. That was before I got married. I would spend time with my brother and sister just in the village. Then I got married at 19, and then I had my eldest son. I met my husband through a matchmaker.” The two are married more than 30 years later and reside and farm at their Prospect home.

After a few years of marriage, the pair settled in Prospect after venturing to places like Rising Sun. The community was a change of pace from the excitement they were used to in Rising Sun, and Deveia admitted she missed the constant bustle for a while. One thing that has captivated her about the community, however, has been the loving relationships between people. A diverse community, Prospect is as welcoming as it is tranquil. As Deveia stated, “The relationships between different people here are very nice. We grew up with them. We’ve had a long way with them and until now, we live like family. We never looked at race. Since my father’s time, that’s how we have lived.”

The people and peace create a unique, safe space in her time of tragedy. Several years ago, Deveia and her husband lost a son, a young and ambitious man who passed away in a road accident. Although she does not like to think back on his passing, Deveia shared that she often finds herself thinking about her son, the good and bad times. “He was 24 years old. I do not always like to think about him. But when I do, sometimes I laugh, and sometimes I cry. And sometimes it makes me nervous.”

The incident left Deveia with a perpetual sense of nervousness, she stated. She explained that in the years since then, the memory has had a profound impact unlike any other. As she stated, “When I think about him, it makes me very nervous. Sometimes, I just get nervous thinking about him, up until this day.”

The feeling of losing a child is unexplainable. As Deveia puts it, “Only those who feel it know. But it is hard.” Today, she lives with her two younger sons in Prospect. The community is truly close-knit. Both sons have built their homes and families in Prospect, keeping each other close.

Today, agriculture and simplicity characterise Deveia ‘s life. She and her husband have been farmers for many years, but in recent times, they have been doing less farming. Deveia shared that the older they get, the more they appreciate the peace and quiet of Prospect. “We used to farm a lot, even rice farming too. But we have gotten old now, and it is harder to go to the farm every day,” she stated.

Prospect may not stand out among the green fields of Mahaica, but it is home to a unique, seemingly healing kind of peace. Although Deveia would like to see more activities implemented in the community, she greatly appreciates the tranquillity. As she stated, for her, these days are just about “You have got to take life cool. Everybody is doing a little planting or raising livestock. You just can’t fight it, just take life as it comes.”