Local writer reviving the voice of Guyana’s Chinese ancestors
AS Guyana joins the rest of the world in celebrating Chinese New Year, history enthusiast, teacher, and novelist Scott Ting-A-Kee sat down with Pepperpot Magazine to reflect on the deep-rooted legacy of Chinese-Guyanese people and his own place within that story.
Embracing his heritage
Though Scott’s early years were spent immersed in science, it was literature and history that truly spoke to him, inspiring him to follow a path of preserving culture through words. Now, as an advocate for storytelling and historical awareness, Scott’s work sheds light on the contributions, struggles, and evolving story of Guyana’s Chinese community—ensuring that their voices, like the traditions of the New Year, continue to thrive.
Guyana is home to a diverse population shaped by a vibrant history and bold past. Scott is no exception. Born to Chinese and Portuguese parents, he, like every other Guyanese, is unique. However, growing up, he did not always appreciate his uniqueness and would sometimes wish he were a bit ‘darker’ to fit in better with his peers. Today, however, he has become the go-to person for Chinese history in Guyana.
Before falling in love with his roots, Scott first fell in love with literature, becoming an avid reader and writer while still in high school.
“When I think about it, the shift to literature probably started in Fourth Form. Going Into Fourth Form, I was one of the bright students, so choosing the arts stream wasn’t necessarily an option. However, at that time, I realised I had a passion for literature and languages,” he said.
This passion led Scott to pursue studies in English right after high school, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. Taking it a step further, he ventured into teaching and is now an English teacher at Bishop’s High School.

Becoming a writer
It was while pursuing his teaching career that Scott felt the need to write a book. Initially, he wanted to write something that simply interested him, and amid his research for university studies, he came up with the idea for The Red Hibiscus—a fantasy historical tale set in ancient China.
The book follows three diviners—two high priestesses of Chinese descent and a Japanese high priest—who, through their gifts of foresight, see centuries into the future, up to the time of Chinese indentureship.
The Red Hibiscus also filled another gap that Scott had identified—the lack of representation of Chinese culture in Guyanese literature.
As he explained, “We really don’t have a lot of representation in terms of Chinese-Guyanese literature. And sometimes, when you’re reading for degrees in literature, it can ruin your appetite for reading. So, I started thinking, I want to do some reading, but I want to find books that I like. And the idea for this book just kept coming back, again and again,” he said.
Since the book’s publication in 2018, Scott has continued his work in retelling Chinese stories, with some of his more recent works adopting a more historical and realistic theme. He played a key role behind the scenes in the production of From Whence We Came: The Chinese Experience.
Bringing history to the stage
Reflecting on his experience, Scott said he was proud to have been the play’s researcher, ensuring historical accuracy and cultural authenticity in its portrayal.
“The play that was recently performed at the National Cultural Centre, From Whence We Came, I played the role of the researcher. The producer, Gem Madhoo-Nascimento, reached out to me and told me that she wanted to do a play about the Chinese and British governments. A play that would capture why they came, their experiences while they were here in the colony, and even mention what’s happening now,” he said.
A bit of history
Through his research, Scott has uncovered and retraced the lives of Guyana’s Chinese people. One of the most fascinating discoveries he made was the existence of Chinatown—a hub of Chinese indentured immigrants in what is now Charlestown.
He shared some of his findings with Pepperpot Magazine:
“The Charlestown area was a little Chinatown in Georgetown. A lot of industrial labourers from plantations like Blankenburg and Windsor Forest, after serving their time and completing their contracts, made their way to Chinatown, which was in the Charlestown area. Chinatown was filled with businesses—grocery stores, triangle stores, cookshops, and more,” he said.
Scott paints a vivid picture of Chinatown, describing it as a once-thriving hub of activity. Although not much remains today, it was once a community where indentured immigrants established social institutions and cultivated a unique culture.
True to its name, Chinatown functioned much like a town, with systems and institutions similar to those of the British. The Chinese community built their own churches, schools, and even a sports club—similar to how Victoria became home to freed slaves, and Palmyra housed Indian indentured servants.
However, very little remains of Chinatown today because it was tragically destroyed by fire.
As Scott shared, “In December of 1913, there was a major fire that burned down Chinatown, and as a result, the community decided it may not be wise to invest in rebuilding it. So, they dispersed to other parts of the country, and some even began the process of migrating,” he explained.
Moving forward: telling the stories of the Chinese in Guyana
Moving forward, Scott hopes to continue telling the stories of the Chinese in Guyana. From a young boy who once wanted to change who he was, to a man who now fully embraces his heritage, Scott’s journey is a testament to the power of self-acceptance.
As he shared, “As someone who once had contempt for my Chinese heritage, now reaching a level of acceptance and being deeply immersed in it—becoming the go-to person—it truly is a testimony of the human spirit. When we really want to make a change, we can.”