buxton-friendshipbuxtonguyana.net/buxton-friendshipexpress2018-08.pdf · 2018-09-14 · ries,...

PRESS RELEASE:

Villagers of Buxton/Friendship, including persons residing abroad, and well-

wishers from around the country turned out in numbers to support the launch-

ing and grand opening of the BUXTON/FRIENDSHIP MUSEUM ARCHIVES &

Cultural Center, (BFMA & CC), which is an initiative of overseas based Buxtoni-

an, Keith Easton and his associate Friends of the Village Museum and Ar-

chives (FVMA) (a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, located in Maryland).

(Continued on page 2)

BUXTON/FRIENDSHIP MUSEUM ARCHIVES & CULTURAL CENTRE LAUNCHED

A Place For Youths To Visit

Inside this issue:

Buxton Museum Launch 2

Emancipation Celebration

Green & Clean Warriors

4

5

Annie Daniels Scholarship

2018 Recipient

Pursuing Higher Education

6

7

Buxton Secondary School

Impresses with CSEC

8

Children’s Art Workshop

Mrs. Booker Celebrates 96

10

11

Wah Dih Story Seh?:

Plucked From Ashes 12

Obituaries

General Information

15

16

Published by Buxton-Friendship Heritage Fund, Inc.

Buxton-Friendship Express

Other Top Stories

Emancipation Message

2018 Annie Daniels’ Memo-

rial Scholarship

Successful CAPE Performers

Buxton Secondary Impres-

sive Performance at CSEC

BFE-18-8

August 2018

Mrs. Elaine Huntley (left) and Minister Simona Broomes (centre) both cutting the

ribbon, with Founder Keith Easton and Young Visionary, Mr. Adams, looking on.

MUSEUM, ARCHIVES & CULTURAL CENTRE

In his opening remarks, Mr. Easton thanked, by names, the Board Members of The Friends of the Villages Muse-

um and Archives (FVMA), with special reference to Mr. Frank Luncheon, who retired from working with the Federal

Management Systems in the US, and Mr. Raymond Talbot, board member, who travelled for the occasion.

Mr. Easton in his remarks thanked the following persons for their contributions in making the opening of the Mu-

seum possible: Dr. Barbara Josiah, Dr. Nigel Westmas, Mr. Lyndon Barton, Mr. Gary Serrao, Mr. Ken Abrams, Mr.

Jonathan Azore, Mrs. Barbara Thomas-Holder, Mr. Leslie Gardner, Mr. Ronald Willabus, Misses Vesta and Kharis

Trim. Special recognition went out to the Young Visionaries, a program he started in 2015 for underperforming stu-

dents in the village, also with officers of the club, Ms. Karen Dey, Mrs. Ingrid Nelson and Ms.Yvette Herod, founder

of the Toucan II Multipurpose Club - all who are also part of the Museum and Archives, Bro. Askari (Campbell) and

Dr. Owen Ifill for their dedicated and hard work in getting the Museum ready.

Special invitees recognized: Dr. Dawn Booker-Stephenson, wife of Mr. Aubrey Stephenson, President of the Feder-

al Management Systems; Dr. David Hinds, Mr. Danny Ainsworth, Mr. Slater Jeffrey, Dr. Hector Butts, Mr. & Mrs.

Reuben Charles, Mr. & Mrs. Weusi Tafawa, Dr. Donna Oti from Cimbux Inc., Mr. Robert Laljeet, who represented

retired Archivist, Mr. Tommy Payne; and Dr. Ivelaw Griffith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Guyana, who later

gave a few minutes of motivation and asked persons to respect and protect what they have in the Museum.

Special thanks to all our sponsors for their financial contributions, too numerous to mention, but whose names

are engraved in the Museum permanently for all to recognize.

“Easton, who has for decades worked in the financial sector, has over the last ten years been striving to open the

Centre which he hopes will encourage cultural awareness and transformative partnership or opportunities for com-

munities in the promotion and preservation of the rich diverse history, traditional stories and practices that cut

across boundaries in the two East Coast Villages. The vision for (FVMA) is for the centre which is being operated

from a property owned by the Easton family is to share with and be involved in the communities thereby becoming

a catalyst for economic and social transformation of the people, while also being an institution of cultural entertain-

ment, education economic activities and leadership training. It also aims to create a space for safeguarding history

and reflecting on the lives of individuals associated with the communities so that the full racial and cultural diversi-

ty can be appreciated locally and internationally.”

“Over the years the villages have had some setbacks, so let’s use the centre to identify us with something posi-

tive.” Easton said at the opening while adding with full-time staff and volunteers, the centre can act as liaison with

overseas organizations if needed to coordinate programmes and events. He further stated that the initiative cannot

survive without the support–financial and otherwise, and members of the public were invited to submit art, arti-

facts and memorabilia, books, speeches, articles, manuscripts, audio/ visual items, slides, correspondence, dia-

ries, scrapbooks, documents, plays, historical photographs and negatives, inventions, patents or any other infor-

mation or materials relating to the villages, people, history and culture or in some cases Guyana. Mention was also

made that while the Museum will house the history of Buxton/ Friendship and its environs, there will also be room

to showcase other villages’ history as he noted from “Village Notes” that were published by Bro. Eusi Kwayana in

the early days.

Concluding his presentation, Easton thanked

his wife Bernadette Easton and daughter Adunni

Easton who travelled for the occasion, his sisters

and brother for their contribution and support in

making this vision a reality from the legacy of

their mother Yvonne Shortt Levi- Easton, who was

a descendant of the Younge’s. He then followed

up in recognizing the contributions to the village

of other ancestors like Mama Fiffee, Ms. Elfreda

Marcus and Sister Tchaiko Kwayana.

(Continued from page 1)


BUXTON-FRIENDSHIP Express

The program included Mr. Reagan Martin,

self-taught artist, inventor with patents and

retired welder who stated how the idea for the

Museum was born after he met Keith Easton

from a job he was contracted to do.

The Ministry of Social Cohesion, Culture Youth & Sport was represented by Ms. Tamika Boatswain, Director of Cul-

ture (Ag) who gave words of encouragement for the Museum.

“The initiative was welcomed by Deon Abrams, Chairman of the Buxton-Foulis Neighborhood Democratic Council,

who represents the constituency in which the centre is located. According to Abrams, in implementing the initiative,

Easton is following in the tradition of ancestors who started the village movement. He noted that in crafting the two

villages, these ancestors took time to appropriate land for communal purposes, such as schools and churches. The

Chairman urged villages to protect the space as it is not uncommon to hear of schools and churches being raided

and looted. Such a situation must be avoided at all cost, he stressed.”

“Speaking on behalf of President David Granger, Minister within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Ms. Simona

Broomes, congratulated the team that worked with Mr. Easton, while noting that it is important that the history is

protected. She said that with infrastructural changes, some aspects of culture are lost but the centre can work to

remind future generations. Broomes noted that Indigenous Peoples are encouraged to preserve aspects of their

culture and added that similar encouragement should be extended to those of African heritage”. “Our history and

our culture came at a great price and cost. Your fore-parents, our fore-parents, paid a price and fought to educate

their children and own things, so we must do the same. They left a legacy which must be protected,” she said.

The afternoon program, which was chaired by Ms. Faye Hunte Parris, started with Libation by Brother Deon

Abrams. It comprised drumming, poetry and cultural items performed by Ras. Jerome Hope, Brother Andy Neptune,

Dr. Owen Ifill, Sister Carmen Daniels, the Toucan II Multipurpose Club, Young Visionaries and Buxton Arts Theatre.

In closing, Mr. Kenneth Hamer called all Board members to the front to be recognized. After the program and cut-

ting of the ribbon, attendees proceeded to visit the Museum & Archives.

The Board would like to apologize for restraining persons from taking pictures inside the Museum, due to its com-

mitment to the artists in protect-

ing their copyrights, and to re-

quest of those, who did so without

permission, to refrain from dis-

seminating.

The BUXTON/FRIENDSHIP MU-

SEUM ARCHIVES & Cultural Cen-

ter, BFMA & CC, is seeking appli-

cants for the position of Manager/

Administrator. Interested persons

are asked to apply with resumé

to: [email protected] or

[email protected]

NOTE: Information from Sunday,

August 5th, STABROEK NEWS report

are part of this Press Release.

(Continued from page 2)

BUXTON MUSEUM,

ARCHIVES & CULTURAL

CENTRE LAUNCHED

AUGUST 2018

The theme for this year’s celebration was: “Emancipate Yourself from Mental and Economic Slavery.” In a press re-

lease, the organizing committee reasons, “This year’s

theme draws attention to the ongoing need for African

Guyanese to redouble their efforts to make good on the

Emancipation Promise of economic and cultural empow-

erment as prerequisites to true freedom.”

Other activities held in the village to mark the two-week

observance included the annual Emancipation Day

Feast, featuring African-Guyanese cuisine and catering

to elders and children; the Eusi Kwayana Symposium,

where the topic of discussion was: “THE COMING OIL AND

GAS ECONOMY: PROSPECTS FOR EMPOWERING THE POOR AND

REVITALIZING THE VILLAGE ECONOMY.” The panelists included

Professor Clive Thomas and Attorney, Nigel Hughes; and

an Education Roundtable, titled: “RESTORING EDUCATION

EXCELLENCE IN BUXTON: WHAT IS TO BE DONE.”

EMANCIPATION: REVIVING THE SPIRIT OF

THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT African drumming, lively singing of folk

songs, dramatic poetry, and the aroma of deli-

cious food permeated the warm air around

Buxton Line Top to welcome the 180th Anni-

versary of Emancipation on 1st August, 2018.

A large number of people, including Minister

of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon; Vice-Chancellor

of the University of Guyana, Dr. Ivelaw Lloyd

Griffith; Chairman of Guyana Water, Inc., Dr.

Richard Van West Charles; and a host of other

visitors gathered in the popular square for the

robust festivity, honouring the milestone anni-

versary of the freedom of our African ances-

tors from chattel slavery.

The event was admirably organized by the

local First of August Movement, with Dr. David

Hinds and Sister Yvette Herod leading the ef-

fort. Strong support and delightful contribu-

tions by the Toucan II Multipurpose Club were

quite conspicuous and vital, while thrilling per-

formances by Ras. Jerry Hope, Doc. Ifill, Brian

Chester, and a host of other artistes added

very much to the evening’s pleasure. Young

Neyisha Calder of Buxton Secondary School

also wowed the crowd with a riveting delivery

of a poem titled “Buxton Tun Up”.

But the main task of the night was left to the

Minister of State, Mr. Joseph Harmon. He pre-

sented the feature address.

During his well-received speech, he dis-

closed assiduous efforts by his APNU+AFC

government to revitalize the spirit and thrust

of the co-operative movement - a vehicle for

the post-emancipation purchase and develop-

ment of Afro-Guyanese villages. He also reas-

sured villagers that the Administration was

resolute in its commitment to the nation’s so-

cial and economic security, proclaiming, “This

Government will stand by you! With revenue

accrued from oil, Guyanese can look forward

to new markets, improved health care, infra-

structure and overall development.”


Hon. Joseph Harmon, Minister of State

A visit to the Buxton Environmental Club found a group of super enthusiastic

youths putting finishing touches on their field trip planned for Bushy Park, Parika

the next day. The group has 30 active members, most of whom are students at

Buxton Secondary School, where they meet on Saturday mornings.

According to the President of the Club, Toyan Raymond, an important task of

the group is to help keep the community clean and appealing to visitors, in the

hope that Buxton would be seen as an attractive destination to visitors. The Club

would organize efforts to do clean-up work by recruiting other students and resi-

dents to help - They call themselves the Green and Clean Warriors.

Vice-President Neyisha Calder, who hails from Bachelor’s Adventure, is now a

senior at the high school and preparing to write 9 subjects at CSEC next year.

Her favourite subjects are Mathematics and Agricultural Science. She promises

to do well enough to make herself and her school proud.

Neyisha zoomed in on health awareness in the community noting, “We are try-

ing to make this community healthy and fit. Many people do not like to exercise,

but we make exercise fun.” Regarding the 5-K Perimeter Walk organized by the

Club around the village in July, she is pleased that they were able to achieve

their goal, adding that they were very encouraged by the turnout and support for

what was their first initiative.

She took the opportunity to heap praise and gratitude on Dr. Wilbert Hope who

implemented the programme to increase interest and performance in Science

at the school. “Dr. Hope is trying to enhance this community. He is giving back.

You don’t find many people doing what he has been doing. I think it’s a very

great programme, and he is making an impact. We greatly appreciate it.”

Dr. Wilbert Hope, a professor at Brooklyn’s Medgar Evers College has since

returned to his position, after his one-year sabbatical. The club will go on.

GREEN & CLEAN WARRIORS

AUGUST 2018

Neyisha Calder, V.P. of Buxton

Secondary School’s Environmen-

tal Club, performing at the 2018

Buxton Emancipation Soirée

In this photo, Chantelle (2nd left) is seen receiving

the envelope from Teacher Collis Nicholson (2nd

right). They are flanked by her parents, Mr. Bernard

(Bunny) Paul (left) and Mrs. Shawndell (right)

2018 ANNIE DANIELS’ SCHOLARSHIP

RECIPIENT: CHANTELLE PAUL Congratulations to Chantelle Paul of Webster Street, Bux-

ton Backdam Side! She is the 2018 winner of the coveted

ANNIE DANIELS’ MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARD.

The St. Stanislaus College student passed all of her 11

subjects at this year’s CSEC examination with excellent

grades. She obtained Grade 1 in Mathematics, Geography,

Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Principles

of Business. For the other seven subjects, she received

Grade 2: English A, English B, Caribbean History, Human &

Social Biology, Integrated Science, Portuguese and Social

Studies. She takes added pride in the fact that, except for a

few months of Mathematics lessons, she didn’t utilize extra

tutoring. She goes on to Bishops’ High School to pursue

studies for the advanced-level exams, CAPE. She plans to

further her studies in Law, having been inspired to become

an attorney by her cousin, Stephen Sam, who is himself an

accomplished lawyer in England.

Chantelle is the seventh of eleven children in her family.

Her father, Bernard “Bunny” Paul is a building contractor

while her mom, Shawndell Paul, is a homemaker. She ex-

pressed immense gratitude for the award of GY$275,000

(US$1,375) stating, “It would help to lift some of the burden

off my father. I will use it to purchase text books and pay

for my future university tuition.”

Besides her outstanding academic performance, Chantel-

le’s community service also caught the admiration of Mrs.

Paulette Charles, mother of the scholarship’s sponsor, Dr.

Kerwin Charles. Chantelle is a member of the St. Au-

gustine’s Anglican Church Scout Troupe and has represent-

ed the parish and region at various Spelling Bee competi-

tions and diocesan activities. She is also a regular churchgo-

er. While she plans to continue serving her church, she

hopes to share her knowledge and expertise to help children

in her neighbourhood prepare for their SBAs and CXC ex-

ams. “I want to help change the mindset of staying out of

school and just being on the road,” she disclosed.

Chantelle received her elementary education at Friendship

Primary School. In 2013, when she sat the National Grade

Six Assessment (NGSA) examination, she earned a place at

Annandale Secondary School. Two years later, she gained a

transfer to St. Stanislaus College. Her mother helped her in

making the move so that she could specialize in the Arts

stream. She said that the option was not available to her at

Annandale, where she was advised that the stream was re-

served for low-performing students and she did not fit into

that category.


In this area [Backdam Side], there are too

many kids who don’t want to go to school. By

excelling at CSEC and collecting this award, I

hope to serve as a role model for them.”

The Annie Daniels Memorial Scholarship was es-

tablished in 2007 by Dr. Kerwin Charles in honour

of his late grandmother, Mrs. Annie Daniels. It re-

wards outstanding academic performance while

offering financial assistance to students from Bux-

ton/Friendship to pursue their educational goals.

Dr. Charles is the son of Mr. & Mrs. Reuben

Charles. He is a Distinguished Service Professor

and former Interim Dean at the University of Chica-

go’s Harris School of Public Policy.

Tashana Hiles has been accepted to read for a Bachelor of Science

degree in the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Guyana.

She plans to become a physician. Before that, she obtained results of

her outstanding performance at this year’s Caribbean Advanced Pro-

ficiency Examination (CAPE). In all, she attained 9 subjects, earning a

distinction in Integrated Mathematics; Grade 2 in Pure Math (both

Units 1 and 2), Biology (Unit 1), Communication Studies, and Caribbe-

an Studies; Grade 3 in Chemistry (both Units 1 and 2), and Biology

(Unit 2).

Tashana Hiles is a graduate of St. Stanislaus College, where she also

obtained 10 subjects, including three distinctions, at the 2016 CSEC

exams. She was the top student for Friendship Primary School and

second overall for local schools at the 2011 National Grade Six Assess-

ment (NGSA).

Congratulations and Best Wishes to Tashana and her proud parents,

Mr. Terrence Hiles & Mrs. Dawn Hiles of Friendship!

Congratulations to Tiffiany Braithwaite of Vigilance South on

her acceptance to the Faculty of Social Sciences of the Univer-

sity of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad campus! She is

pursuing a major in International Relations, and a minor in Po-

litical Science.

Tiffiany holds a Diploma in Law, having successfully obtained

9 subjects at CAPE as a student of St. Rose’s High School. She

also has a Diploma in Project Management from the UK-based

Institute of Commercial Management.

Prior to that, she secured 12 subjects at CSEC from Annandale

Secondary School. She received her elementary education

from Strathspey Primary School.

Tiffiany is the daughter of Mr. Troy Braithwaite & Mrs. Ru-

schelle Braithwaite of Vigilance South.

TASHANA AT U.G.

TIFFIANY OFF TO U.W.I.

AUGUST 2018

Tashana Hiles

BUXTON SECONDARY DELIVERS

IMPRESSIVE CXC PERFORMANCE


An exceptional showing by its students at this year’s CSEC examination has brought immense

pride, joy and respect to Buxton Secondary School. In what has largely been seen as a remarka-

ble improvement, the school has achieved a 65% pass rate with Grades 1 - 3. That figure jumps

up to 98% when passes with Grade 4 are included. A total of 23 students sat the examination in

13 subject areas. Seventeen (17) of them passed five subjects or more.

The top student is Malcolm McGarrell of Buxton Public Road. He passed 9 subjects, earning

Grade 1 in Principles of Business and Electronic Document Preparation & Management (EDPM).

He received Grade 2 in the other 7 - English A, Mathematics, Integrated Science, Principles of Ac-

counts, Social Studies, Agricultural Science and Office Administration. He has been accepted at

the University of Guyana for a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurship.

Following closely behind is Kaesha Lewis of Middle Street, Friendship. She passed 9 subjects

with Grades 2 and 3 - English A, Mathematics, Principles of Accounts, Principles of Business, So-

cial Studies, EDPM, Office Administration, Family Resource Management; and Food, Nutrition &

Health. She plans continue high school studies for the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examina-

tion (CAPE). Kaesha aspires to becoming an attorney at law.

Also turning out a very good performance is Abigale Persaud of Bladen Hall. She got 8 subjects,

with Grades 1 - 3 in English A, Mathematics, Social Studies, Principles of Accounts, Principles of

Business, EDPM, Office Administration; and Food, Nutrition & Health. She also plans to further

her studies at the University of Guyana.

Rounding out the top four is Stacy Smartt of Grovesnor Street, Friendship. She too has obtained

8 subjects with Grades 2 and 3 - English A, Mathematics, Social Studies, Principles of Accounts,

Principles of Business, Office Administration, EDPM; and Food, Nutrition & Health. She has also

been accepted at U.G. to read for a Bachelor of Science degree in Entrepreneurship.

Congratulations to all of the successful students, their faithful teachers and supportive parents!

You’ve given new life to the Motto which, for many, many decades and generations of proud stu-

dents, stood strong and tall within those walls:

“Success comes not by wishing, but by hard work bravely done.”

You’ve done a great job. Good Luck in the future!

Left to Right: Kaesha Lewis, Stacy Smartt, Malcolm McGarrell, Abigale Persaud

AUGUST 2018

Children’s Art Workshop An Inspiring & Fun Adventure

Once again, this year’s Vacation Art Workshop turned out to be an inspiring and fun experience for the

scores of children in Buxton who took part in the one-week programme early this month.

Under the guidance of US-based Buxtonian artist, Mr.

Jonathan Azore (“Fury”), assisted by his wife, Edna, the

children learnt artistic techniques, such as: Drawing,

Painting, Water Colour Application, Developing The Crea-

tive Potential, Transforming Ideas into Form. Putting

their training into expression, some of the works of art

produced were truly amazing. These included a cruise

ship for tourism around Guyana (Land of many waters)

and a space station in Buxton.

The camp was held at Friendship Primary School, and

Grade Six teacher, Ms. Yolanda Stoby, also took part in

the creative adventure. Besides gaining a few ideas to

use in her class, she believes, “These little activities are

beneficial for the children, mainly because they are rare-

ly exposed to such.”

The Art camp is one of the July-August vacation pro-

grammes sponsored by the Buxton-Friendship Heritage

Fund (USA). The children derive an incredible amount of

joy while engaged in learning new information and skills.

Teacher Yolanda Stoby expresses her love

and pride for her village.


Promoting tourism in Guyana, young Nathan

Shortt designs a cruise ship to sail around

the land of many waters.

Instructor, Jonathan Azore and Mrs. Edna Azore, both

standing, interact with the students.

She’s royal! Surrounded by her children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other family members, relatives and friends, Mrs. Lillian Booker celebrated her 96

th birthday this month

with a party at her home in Brooklyn, New York. She was born in Buxton/Friendship on 18

th August, 1922.

Mrs. Booker, Best Wishes for many more healthy and happy days. Happy Birthday!

Mrs. Lillian Booker Celebrates 96

AUGUST 2018

PLUCKED FROM ASHES ...Pauline Baird

Each night she gets a vision but by morning it’s gone. She's been

desperately trying to remember it; but the more she tries, the

more it flees hurriedly into nothingness, leaving a deepening

heavy sadness. That is until today. Today is different. She speaks

to the vision. "Come back here! Come back! I am so tired of this!"

And just like that, it comes back with all the other nightly visions

from the last 20 years. You see she had been having them from

a time soon after she was 10 years old.

This is my story.

Visions

Visions haunt people after "shit happens". Beatrice Achalek, pub-

lisher of my book “Wah Dih Story Seh?” and author of “Shit Hap-

pens: How to transform your individual breakdown into collective

breakthroughs”, argues that what one does after shit happens is as important as knowing that it happened. Exam-

ining the intersections of cause and effect requires reflection and action. For me, I write things down as stories.

My watershed moment in the bathroom, in one of the most beautiful geographic places on earth where I was sup-

posed to be living my wildest dreams, is pivotal to how transformations happen. I recognized that given time and

space to think one confront dissonance between the inner life and outer life to not just survive but to thrive.

TRAUMA My fleeing visions stemmed from childhood trauma. The fallout of trauma gave me every reason to be a victim

and a complainer. It had bowed my back and spirit at times, but never broke me. Experiencing unresolved trauma

has given me a way of articulating what is possible "when shit happens." Thus, I will take my story that happened

in Buxton Village and tell it on the world stage to help others, especially young people who experience childhood

trauma. As you may know, in villages such as ours in Guyana, resources may not be available or adequate to help

young people. We do it the tough way, grin and bear. I am here to say it is possible to speak to dreams or visions

and bring them back.

Here is another story. This I call the story of 10. I can divide my life into two parts: the years before 10 when I was

a carefree child with both parents and 6 siblings. We played outside until dark. We ate our fruit from trees in our

yard; had a good neighbor who looked out for us when my parents weren’t home, and cousins who came over to

pick coconuts. We read, played in mud, made tie-dye, and crafts. It is was on the other side of this 10 that shit

happened.

Come look over my shoulders as I am looking at the Guyana Chronicle, April 1973, and see a picture of a child-

me. It talks about a blaze that took our house and the lives of my last two siblings, and how I found my brother’s

badly burned body in a drain. The newspaper's caption of the picture reads “10-year-old Pauline is a picture of be-

wilderment as she clutches a school book which she found lying in the yard”. I saved a book and have books saved

my life. I will return to books later in this article.

As many of you may or may not know (the readership here is broad), I was born in a small village called Buxton, in

Guyana. Shit happened to me there when I was 10. At age 10, on April 10, 1973, my life changed. A number of

things happened fast: By midmorning that day, I had no home, my family of 7 siblings was reduced to 5.

After that day, I was given a new name. You see, before age 10 I was Paulin without an "e"; after age 10, I some-

how got an "e". This is how I know who knew me from my childhood-- they call me 'Paulin".

When I got the "e", I was not to know that 6 months later, my siblings and I would watch our mother die. I soon

learned a new word-- "modda-lis" (motherless). The word meant that every time we remaining 5 siblings were going

to church or school together, Buxton women like Olga "Milo", my mother's bosom friend would openly weep, saying,

"look at dem five modda-lis!" I used to cry because they cried. I was not to know then that "when Mumma dead,

fam'ly done" and the troubles that come with that. It is about that time that the dreams started.



Wen wata mo' dan corn flour,

wah yuh gon duh?

Mek laang wata parridge?

Wen cornflour mo' dan wata

wah yuh gon do?

Yuh gah mek someting.

What haunted me? In my dream, I was always looking for a home to live

with my siblings, but no one would rent me one at 10.

I believe the agony of this nightly search, that I could not remember, made

me a moody child and teenager. I buried myself in books, where I could es-

cape. My craving for books was so bad that I jumped through my bedroom

window at my grandmother's house one afternoon around 5 or so. Barefoot-

ed I ran through alleys and down Company Road to return a book at the

Forde's house, so that I can borrow others to read that night by moonlight! I

made it back home before my grandmother missed me.

BOOKS With my penchant to escape into books and not remember my visions at

night, I have come to think that it takes being in a different place, with differ-

ent sets of circumstances, to return to a semblance of well-being. Dr. Peggy

Kern calls well-being a construct that includes the notion of balance and

positive emotions at particular points in time. It took a move, taking risks to

go abroad to places where few spoke English, to confront my dreams and

ask them to return. I was ready. It takes readiness to call dreams into reali-

ty. Together they are powerful tools or making breakthroughs. Thus, I have

come to the understanding that this is my life's trajectory. I articulate it this

way: This is my story, but it is not ALL of my stories. I am a work in progress.

What this orientation to my story does is give me a way to talk about cultivat-

ing a mindset to handle trauma and to have it transform into life-affirming

truths that one can move past it to thrive and strive.

THRIVING AND STRIVING I do not tell these stories to get pity or sympathy. I am past that. I am a scholar of rhetoric with a love for Caribbe-

an and cultural rhetoric. I use stories as ways to make connections, to examine issues, and events to learn and

teach. Stories teach me "how we do". In the broader social context, thriving and striving occurs with community

support. Indeed, in my early life, many villagers put food in my mouth, clothes on my back, send books and had

empathy, and I grew up in safety.

Come 2018, it may be easy to dismiss the child who did not make the big Common Entrance list or the one who

got less than 5 subjects at the CXC-- or the disappointed mother who wants better for their children who seem hell-

bent on the wrong path. Know this, the entire story is not written yet.

Buxtonians’ connectedness, caring, and the "fight up" spirit-- even when dem 'busing and fretting, are practices

that make us who we are. Thus, when I talk about Buxton, I am talking about a community; a collective or people,

practices, and environment offering ways to thrive and strive. I applaud The Buxton Heritage Fund and other such

organizations for that caring. As a collective, these entities are among the means by which I make sense of how

visions and dreams get accomplished and how we become the best persons we could be.

Let me tell you one more story. I went to graduate school to get a Ph.D. and, of course, shit happened there! I de-

cided to conduct my research about Buxton women and, for doing that type of research, shit happened. My disser-

tation chair looked me in the eye and said, "I cannot be your chair." She pointed me to another professor who could

mentor me. The new professor understood the value of my relationships, my community (to add to our illustrious

line...), and my experience of plucking the remains of a book from ashes. In that situation, I had one of my greatest

lessons. I learned how to harvest dreams and visions, speak to them, and to understand them at deep levels. Take

time to confront dreams and do something with them.

So here I am today, taking those lessons as tools to make books for and about families in the community. My goal

here is to remind us of our positions of power when we stand in our stories, and learn how to value experiences

and intelligence of our community.

...Pauline F. Baird, PhD

PLUCKED FROM ASHES

AUGUST 2018

Dr. Pauline Baird will be a

speaker at an international

women's summit (online)

along with 9 other women

from around the world.

The speakers will share the

stories to articulate how to

make collective

breakthroughs "When Shit

Happens". Dr. Baird and the

women will teach strategies

to those who want company

in transforming their

circumstances.

Beryl “Clarice” McLennon

CARLOTTA “ABIGAIL” JAMES, formerly of Lot 27 Buxton Middle

Walk, lost her life in an automobile accident along the Good Hope

Public Road on 25th August, 2018. The 44-year old headmistress of

Dorcas Club Nursery School in Plaisance was returning home in the

wee hours of the morning after spending most of the previous day

at the school preparing for the imminent reopening of schools. She

is said to have later visited a friend who had returned from abroad.

Carlotta was reportedly driving behind a lorry and crashed into

the truck's rear, when its driver slowed down to make a turn. She

was rushed to the Georgetown Public Hospital, but succumbed to

massive head injuries.

She leaves to mourn her tragic loss, her son, siblings, many other

loved ones and friends. Our heartfelt condolences to her grieving

family. You are in our thoughts and prayers!

We recently learnt that MS.

IMELDA THIERENS passed away

sometime in April this year. She was

last known to reside in Bronx, New

York.

Imelda was the last of seven chil-

dren born to renowned St. Anthony’s

R.C. School headmaster, Mr. Stanley

Albert Thierens and Mrs. Rachel Ire-

ne Thierens. She was predeceased

by her brothers - Stanley, Sydney,

Nello, Compton, Patrick, and sister -

Winifred Gaskin.

We extend our deepest condolenc-

es to her bereaved relatives and

friends. Imelda was an avid reader

of Buxton-Friendship Express, and

we miss her.

OBITUARIES

Imelda Thierens

AUGUST 2018

Carlotta James

MRS. BERYL AGATHA MCLENNON, also known as

CLARICE, departed this life on 28th August, 2018

in Brooklyn, New York. She was 91 years old.

She is survived by her six (6) children: Gordon

(Gus), Monique (Monica), Ronald (Rangie), Patri-

cia, Leon (Piece-Man) and Emelda.

She was the daughter of Matilda and James Wil-

son (both deceased); Wife of Harold

McLennon (deceased); Sister of Milton and Cissy

(deceased); Cousin to Elaine Hatton, Joycelyn

Craig, Monica Simon, Jean Punch, Yvonne

Weeks, Kenrick David, and many more.

The life of Beryl Agatha McLennon was celebrat-

ed on September 5th, 2018 with a requiem mass

at St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, Brooklyn,

followed by a repast at Tropical Paradise Hall.

She was laid to rest at Cypress Hills Cemetery in

Brooklyn.

Sincere sympathy to her sorrowing family! You

are in our thoughts and prayers.

Greatly Appreciated

The Buxton-Friendship Heritage Foundation would like to

thank everyone of you who came out to join us, made a dona-

tion, or contributed in other ways in making our New York

Patronal Dance another wonderful experience and successful

venture. We greatly appreciate your support and the motiva-

tion it gives us to carry out our mission to help restore Bux-

ton as the premier village for education.

The funds realised from this event will help in our increas-

ing efforts to provide students and schools in Buxton with es-

sential resources to enhance learning and improve the quality

of education and life in our beloved home village. The late

Malcolm X famously said, “Education is the Passport to a Bet-

ter Life.” We believe this to be true, and pledge to work assid-

uously for a better and brighter Buxton.

With heartfelt thanks,

BUXTON-FRIENDSHIP HERITAGE FUND, INC.

Published by Buxton-Friendship Heritage Fund, Inc.

Buxton: Guyana’s Premier Village

E-mail US: [email protected]

Thank You!

We’re thankful for the love and

kindness of all our friends. This

month, we’d like to give a big

shout out to two special friends of

our village for their generous

donations to our cause:

Brother Kenneth Blackman

(“Blackie”), a former resident

of our village when he

lectured at UG;

Brother Deryck Higgins, a

longtime supporter from

Essequibo Coast.

Your generosity is well

appreciated.

Buxton-Friendship Express * August 2018

Postal Address

454 Vermont Street Brooklyn, NY 11207

USA

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Lorna Campbell Pauline F. Baird, Ph.D.

Editors

Quintin Bacchus, Ph.D. Lorna Campbell

YOUR DONATION MEANS SO MUCH TO BUXTON

At the Buxton-Friendship Heritage foundation, our primary goal is to

aid children and youths in Buxton obtain a sound education. Here

are some of what we do:

Procure Teaching/Learning Materials, Equipment and Appliances

for schools in the village;

Provide Backpacks filled and Essential School Supplies for new

secondary school Students;

Organize Educational Tours for Students and Teachers

Sponsor Various Educational Development and Enrichment Pro-

grammes/Workshops for Students;

Provide Financial and Material Assistance for needy Children

Offer scholarships/Bursaries for post-secondary education

We will gladly welcome your contribution. Send your tax-deductible

donation to:

BUXTON-FRIENDSHIP HERITAGE FUND, INC. 454 Vermont Street, Brooklyn, NY 11207

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