Bamia woman talks about perseverance and progress

BAMIA is one of many villages along the Soesdyke-Linden Highway, but like so many of these settlements, it is made special by its people. A community alongside the road, Bamia stretches from neighbouring Moblissa to the Linden turn. Though small, Bamia has seen several changes since the Pepperpot Magazine last visited several years ago. However, some things, villagers say, will never change.

Dorothy Gibson, Deputy of the Community Development Council, shared her life story as well as insights into the evolving landscape of her community. From a single mother to a community leader, Dorothy says that much has changed in the village of Bamia.

Although her family originated in the Northwest region of Guyana, Dorothy was raised in and around Georgetown. Growing up specifically in Albouystown and Charlestown, Dorothy explained that neither she nor her siblings remembered much of life in the Northwest.

After getting married, she moved along the East Coast before eventually settling in Eccles. Georgetown was home for the mother of five, and although life was not ideal, Dorothy did not see herself moving. In 2005, Gibson experienced a significant challenge when the historic flood hit. “We had a flood, and I was living in Enterprise. The water was way up here to my breasts. It was a little scary, but my sister and my in-laws, they lived up here,” she recounted. With the help of extended family, Dorothy moved to Linden. But it was far from smooth sailing. The now single mother faced many challenges before she was able to settle in Bamia.

Despite the adversities, Gibson remained determined. She lived in Amelia’s Ward before settling in her current home. As she stated, “I applied and I got this here. And then I got a transport to land in ‘The Ward’, not very far. But, for some reason, I don’t like that claustrophobic type of thing.” She also spoke about her youngest daughter, who attended Mae’s Academy in Georgetown, and what a difficult decision it was to uproot the family. “I brought her up because I say I got to start something here on this land,” she said.

Gibson reflected on the struggles she faced as a single mother, and the profound impact it had on her young daughter. “My daughter was so embarrassed. There was a bus that used to pick up some people, so we would go back to Georgetown to shop. And my daughter would say, ‘Mommy, mommy, please duck! Duck! Duck!’ She did not want people to see where we lived, because it was a little thing on the land.”

Dorothy also reminisced about the social challenges she and her daughter faced in their early years in Bamia, and their impact on both of them. “She was a young teenager coming up, and we had no choice. As a single mother, I had no choice; we had to live here. But I used to live here only in the day; not at night. Me and this child, we would walk to Linden; we would go by a friend and just sleep on the floor for three long months, and nobody knew,” Gibson recalled.
Throughout her adversities, she emphasised the importance of perseverance. “Perseverance is a wonderful thing. I used to go to church and sell little hot dogs in Linden, because, by then, my daughter had started going to Mackenzie High.” Dorothy’s experiences and the fact that she overcame them are why she’s so resilient. She says she hopes to inspire young people to have this same kind of resilience and belief in themselves. “I don’t believe in defeats and I don’t like young people ever to say, ‘I can’t do this.’ Never take no for an answer,” she advised.

On community development, Dorothy says that progress in Bamia over the last 17 years has been slow, but noticeable. “I have not seen 100%, but we are working along. We are working to get water. When I came in, we used to have to use lamps. But yes, I am seeing a slow improvement.” These gradual improvements have brought Bamia’s potential to the forefront. More people have ventured into the community; some for peace and quiet, others seeking more industrious ventures.

Dorothy further added, “It’s very slow. I notice there are a lot of foreign investors coming into Bamia. They don’t have any more land in Bamia. At the back of me, there will be a Trinidadian guy opening a new detergent factory, the first in Bamia. And just beside, at the back, they’re opening a steel factory as well.” Dorothy’s personal growth mirrors that of the community. Today, Dorthy lives a happy and comfortable life in Bamia, while the community continues to blossom, while she takes on new ventures of her own.

As Bamia continues to evolve, Dorothy Gibson stands as a beacon of perseverance for the younger generation. Her life story serves as an inspiration, showing that with determination and hard work, one can overcome even the most challenging circumstances. Through her role in the Community Development Council, she continues to contribute to Bamia’s growth, ensuring that the village’s progress benefits all its residents.

The story of Bamia and Dorothy Gibson is a reminder that community development is not just about physical infrastructure or economic growth, but also about the personal journeys and collective efforts of its people.