Victoria Villagers Meeting with Governor Kortright July 1878 at Governor's Residence, Belfield, East Sea Coast of Demerara

His Excellency, Governor (now Sir) C. H. Kortright, K.C.M.G., received the following villagers of Victoria Village, on Friday the 12th July, 1878, at his residence, Belfield Villa, on the East Sea Coast, viz. : — Messrs. John Sumner, farmer ; Cambridge Sumner, schoolmaster ; Charles Sumner, tailor ; Henry Sumner, farmer ; Thomas Collins, farmer ; Michael Goring, carpenter ; Samuel Sam, carpenter ; Newton Pool, cooper ; Samuel Dodson, carpenter ; John Horatio Reynolds, newspaper reporter ; and Thomas Adams, carpenter. On being ushered into His Excellency's drawing-room by his Private Secretary, the following address was read to His Excellency: — "We, the inhabitants of Victoria Village, East Coast, Demerara, do most humbly beg to pay our respects to Your Excellency and family on the occasion of this your first sojourn amongst us ; we all along felt sorry for not being amongst those who first welcomed Your Excellency to our shores, but we feel proud of the occasion which has placed it in our reach to show our great esteem for Your Excellency and family. We, in conclusion, do wish Your Excellency quick relief from the effects of your late indisposition, and may you and yours be long spared to remain amongst us in your capacity as head of the Colony."

His Excellency addressed the villagers thus: — “Gentlemen, I thank you for the address you have presented to me, and for the good wishes you express with regard to my health.

I am happy to say that I have already benefited by the pure sea air of the East Coast, and I hope that I may be able often to visit this part of the Colony during my residence in British Guyana. I must congratulate you on the cleanly and thriving condition of the villages of this coast, which is creditable to those with whom the management of the village rests. The state of the roads is so good, and the healthiness of the locality so patent, that I would not mind residing continuously on the East Coast." The villagers thanked His Excellency for the speech, at the conclusion of which they were furnished with refreshments, and entertained by Mr. Forbes.

 

Source: Bronkhurst, Rev. Henry Valentine Peter (1836 – 1895) The Colony of British Guyana and its labouring population: containing a short account of the colony, and brief descriptions of the Black Creole, Portuguese, East Indian, and Chinese coolies ... collected ... from sundry articles published ... at different times, and arranged by Rev. H. V. P. Bronkhurst. London, T. Woolmer, 1883. : Page 196

 

I am extremely ecstatic. I am extremely grateful to Professor Nigel Westmaas. He sent me a copy of William Nicholas Arno's text – A history of Victory Village. I am relieved. I finally obtained the opportunity to access the text. I read the rather small book four times since accessing it at this morning; 12AM, on Tuesday, May 01, 2007.

A number of startling facts – and omissions – jump off the text right at me. Arno stated on page 13, at the institution of Local Government Ordinance in 1892, a village Council was formed at Victoria. S. O. Maison, a dispenser of the village was elected the first Chairman. Other successive chairmen were Messrs.; A. M. Lord, E. C. Blair, E. B. Collins, H. D. Dolphin, Hubert Alfred Thompson, George Rutherford, Ralph Moore, Leslie R. D. Ainsworth, Stanley Roberts, the last named being the current holder of the office. I noticed James A. Barbour-James was left off the list of Chairmen of Victoria-Belfield village district.

While no mention is made of (1.)Campbell and the donation of land upon which a church was erected. (2.) The contributions, John Lucie Griffith, Henry Lawrence, Daniel Thomas Adolphus Jones (1855-1945), and persons of other ethnicity including; Portuguese, East Indians, and Chinese made to the community. (3.) The effects of disturbances, and riots such as civil disobedience at Cove & John (1834), Angel Gabriel (February 1856), Cent Bread (March 1889), and September 29, 1902, and, Politically racial motivated disturbances 1962-1964 at Victoria.

The text confirms my belief that a series of inadequate literature, regarded as the histories of the villages, were published by various writers at varying periods of our history.

I believe extensive research must be undertaken to document and compose the authentic history of the communities in Guyana, highlighting all phases of live within those communities.   I know sources of data on British Guiana, are found scattered, but available in various institutions of research in Australia, United Kingdom, USA, Canada, West Indies, and Holland. I charge it is our responsibility as people to produce accounts of the history of our communities, and kinships in a manner befitting the contributions of our ancestors, our kinships and their comrades.

It is my hope the members of the forums would be interested in researching, documenting and publishing, their thoughts, opinions and interests for the benefit of future generations.

Truth must never be allowed to die.

In the portion dedicated to the building of the Community Centre, entitled; Historical review of the Project – Victoria Village Community Centre Aided Self-help, Arno tells us the project begun in 1951 under the leadership of Stanley Roberts. In 1955, a Planning Committee was established and chaired by Ralph Moore. The primary persons involved at various period are, Mesdames; Mabel Thompson, Mildred Saul, Irene Samuels, Lillian Hendericks, Gertrude Beaton, Adora Williams and Mildred Rutherford Messrs.: C. Joseph, George and Joseph Assanah, Clifford Major, Joseph Hope, Charles Murphy, W. Oscar Garnett, Samuel A. Cupido, and Leslie R. D. Ainsworth. The architect and supervisor were Samuel A. Cupido. He was ably supported by Donald Gillis. The services of Joseph Hope, was invaluable.    The project was completed in 1957. On December 22, 1957, Leslie R. D. Ainsworth then chairman of the village district made an outstanding speech declaring the Centre open to the general public.

Arno reminds us Victoria Village can boast of having produced many artisans, carpenters, blacksmiths, and dispensers, along with a number of school teachers, many of whom became head masters in various districts of our colony. Then states among the outstanding people of Victoria are the following;

Alfred Cambridge Poole, [General Contractor];

Uriah Murray, [Schoolmaster];

John Murray, Assistant Teacher;

James Murray, Dispenser;

Dr. Walter Jerrick, Medical Practitioner, in USA;

Dr. Oscar Charles, Optometrist;

Dr. S. J. Blair, Optometrist;

Esau Elias, Baker;

Jacob Elias, Baker;

J. Caleb, Postmaster;

Tom Charles, Postmaster;

Jacob Norman Craigwell, Schoolmaster;

Thomas Barry; Schoolmaster;

Prince William Alexander, Schoolmaster, Ann's Grove, and Medical Practitioner, in    USA;

James Donald Ainsworth; Schoolmaster;

George Mingo, Stationmaster, and Attorney-at-Law;

E. B. Collins, Village Politician;

Daniel E. Spencer, Village Politician;

James Frederick Rose, father of Dr. Frederick G. Rose and grandfather of Sir David Rose, Governor General of Guyana, schoolmaster and Inspector of Schools (Education Officer);

 Rev. Dr. Patrick Talbot,

Mr. Punch (Daddy Punch),

William Africa Baptiste (Boss Africa)

 

 I know our people must make and find the time necessary to access and read a number of published texts including;

1. George Bunyan's History of British Guiana Teachers' Association (there are two publications),
2. Browne's History of Bagotville,
3. Dowden's our First Village, Ellis's History of Queenstown,
4. John Campbell's History of Policing in Guyana,
5. Wayne Jones' Prophet Wills,
6. And numerous articles published in the Historical Gazette and Guyana Review.

You will realize how much you did not know about British Guiana and the Guyanese people. You will also realize the truths you, the descendants, need to learn about yourselves. Thereby, you will pass on their knowledge to your descendants.

 

Perhaps, you will be able to identify a number of the persons mentioned above and/or their relatives - enjoy – God Bless our People every time, and everywhere.