A look at what’s new and what’s next for the Cuyuni River community.

CHANGE can happen more rapidly than most people think, and in Guyana, change and transformation are happening faster than ever. One of the best examples of this change is in the Batavia community. Nestled along both banks of the Cuyuni River in Region Seven lies the serene village of Batavia, its name derived from a Dutch word meaning “The Ancient District.” Since Pepperpot Magazine visited the community in 2023, the new Toshao of the community, Murphy Gomez, says that Batavia has seen some big changes, and with the closing of the National Toshaos Conference, he says that more change is expected.

Founded by a humble settlement of farmers, hunters, and fishermen, Batavia has grown into a thriving community of over 700 people, larger than the population of some six hundred plus people that called it home just two years ago. Toshao Murphy Gomez, a proud son of the soil, is leading development with a mix of tradition and innovation. In an interview with Pepperpot Magazine at this year’s National Toshaos Conference, he outlined changes in the community in recent years.

Toshao Gomez stated, “Our community has seen change and growth. Our population is now 702.” He stated that the infrastructure which was in the pipeline in 2023 is now almost completed. Says Toshao Gomez, “We have a primary school, and presently, our school is almost complete. We want to applaud the Ministry of Education and the Government of Guyana for that. That should be opening in September.”

Education has always been a focal point for Batavia. In 2023, then Deputy Toshao Donna Boyal, herself a teacher and village daughter, reflected on the long canoe rides to school across the Cuyuni. Today, while the community has made strides in education, there are still pressing concerns. “One of our main challenges is with our secondary school children,” Gomez explained. “They attend school every day in Bartica and would usually take the boat. They leave home at 6:30 in the morning and return around 4 or 5 in the afternoon. It’s a big challenge.”

While the government is building a new school in the nearby village, it won’t entirely resolve the issue of early departures and late returns. Gomez hopes for a permanent solution that would benefit not only Batavia but also surrounding villages. “Maybe in the near future, we can get a secondary school, which would benefit all of us within the lower Mazaruni area,” he shared.

Despite these challenges, Batavia has been buzzing with activity and has been taking some innovative steps to develop the community energy situation. Batavia has become one of Guyana’s most recent communities to make the move to solar energy. The government is implementing a major solar energy project to bring reliable electricity to residents. “We have a project going on in our village. For example, one of our main projects presently is a solar project that the government and, I think, CNOOC coordinate. This project will benefit almost everyone in our village. And also we have the fish pond, we have a farm that is being cleared,” Gomez noted with enthusiasm. One of the sectors of Batavia that continues to grow, however, is agriculture. Currently, the community is investing and working along with government ministries to develop a fish pond and farm.

Using funds from this year’s Presidential Grant, Batavia also acquired a new village boat, a vital resource for a community that relies on the river the way most rely on roads. The 2024 LCDS grant has already facilitated the provision of a school bus, and a school kitchen, and residents are eagerly awaiting the remaining funds to continue infrastructure development. Today, the village boasts not only educational progress and economic development but also cultural preservation. The women’s craft centre continues to teach traditional craft-making, and the ICT hub, market, and other facilities keep the village connected and self-sustained.

Toshao Gomez is optimistic about the road ahead and believes that events like the National Toshaos Conference give Indigenous communities a chance to have their voices heard. And this year, he shared that many of their requests are being accepted immediately. “The conference is going great,” he further added. “We make our requests, and some of them are being answered right away. The Vice President and ministers are responding, and they assure us that our requests will come to reality very soon.”

Gratitude, however, remains a cornerstone of his message. “I just want to thank the government most of all for working with us. For the past five years, we’ve seen tremendous change in our village. I course forward, it does so with deep roots in culture, a strong sense of community, and leaders committed to carving out a brighter future. Whether you’re gliding down the Cuyuni in a school boat or enjoying cassava bread and local drinks on Arian Island, Batavia offers a living example of what tradition and transformation can look like, side by side.