Hi everyone:
We have been challenged to become “authors,” so are trying our first post. And, yes, we are working on our avatar, so that we will be cool.
Katy
I (Evan) went to Mackenzie in 1954 when the only cars in the place were the manager’s company car and Dr. Roza’s personal car. The staff men were issued a motorcycle or scooter. The company, of course, used trucks. There were no paved roads. The locals used boats or bicycles.
We used rail scooters to go to the mines. A special siding was built next to our house just for me. I would call the dispatcher and he would give me clearance. I’d walk out of the house, get on the rail scooter, and head to work.
Rail Scooter going fishing at Rockstone, Peter Anderson, Evan Wong,Theo Hunt,Louie Hunt,Dot Grundy
I got permission to have a car and brought one of my 3 cars up. My father had an English Singer which we continued to own after he died. Christine had a Chevrolet sedan – about 1948/49. I had a 1939 Ford. None could go out to the mines or the savannas. We bought a new Land Rover PB515. Paid about $3000 for it. (BG$ was about $.75 US then.) We kept it until we went on vacation to Europe when I sold it to the company, which was short of Land Rovers.
PB 515, Mike Ideman and ?
I had new Land Rover station wagon delivered in England which we used to tour with a rented “caravan.” It was then shipped to Guyana.
Land Rover station wagon delivered in England, Lin and Jen
As the mine superintendent, in 1956, I was also issued a company Land Rover or Jeep, as well as the rail scooter. By that time, DEMBA had several of each.
Demba Jeep crosses Three Friends Creek, Jen
I believe Dr. Charlie Roza was the first Guyanese staff member. He was there when I got there. I was the first operating staff member. DEMBA paid well. Everyone had the same deal. Everybody got 2 weeks paid vacation every year. In addition, you got an extra vacation package of 6 weeks every two years, with paid passage to your home country. The big difference for me was that I had vacation passages (in those days, first class) to Great Britain. Canadians got it to Canada – others to Britain or Germany, whatever their home country. You could spend the equivalent $$ to go somewhere else. Or you could spend 3 weeks in Barbados after 2 years, and then take 8 weeks home country vacation at the end of three years. I also had the same education support for my family as the expats, even though, technically, my home country was BG.
Essentially, Charlie and I were the only Guyanese staff until the “Guyanization” of the company began in about 1965 and I was asked to return from Canada to manage the process. The hope was this would forestall nationalization. It didn’t work.
Evan
Retirement Gathering. Services Staff - James Crawford, William Grant (front row, from the left ), Len Crease (front Middle), Dr. Charlie Roza (2nd from right, back row), Rev. Charles Cush (right back row)
Help! I can’t make my uploaded photo big enough. What did I do wrong?
Katy
Nice job on your first blog! The photo’s look fine.
sw
My parents Theo and Louie Hunte are in one of the photos.
Also Mike Ideman in another. I think we all have landrover pics. Unfortunately I don’t recognize all the kids in the pictures. I’m now 64 and left Guyana in 1967 at 23. Haven’t been back since.
I think I’ll update the caption on picture adding the names, thanks.
Dad looks so young in this picture, do you remember when it was taken?
This was the retirement gathering for Len Crease, the fellow in the middle front. This would have probably been late in 1954 or possibly early 1955. It was not too long after my arrival in Mackenzie in April 1954.
Evan
Just to say, my Dad was promoted to staff in 1952. He was already working at DEMBA before being promoted. Except for staff pay, he had all the same priviledges mentioned, and were educated in Barbados to start with.
Robert – Thanks for correcting me! Of course I remember that your Dad, Laurie, was there when I arrived. He was the most reliable, respected and trusted member of the DEMBA staff. I also remember another Guyanese, Mr. Proctor, who was promoted to staff as well.
Evan
Dad, I recall that at one point we had a Jeep. Any details?
Mr Wong
Thanks so much for sharing these pictures. I actually recognized my great uncle in the last photo.
_____________________________
BobW (Karen, So which one was he? Do you recognize any more?)
He’s in the front row second from the left “William Grant”. I wouldn’t know the others. I happened to search for info on Watooka and found your site. All my folks stories of those days come to life. I can put a face to this “Dr Rosa” my grandmother talked about.
Karren:
I do remember your great-uncle William Grant. He was a very respected member of the community. He was already a long-time DEMBA employee when I joined in 1954.
Evan Wong
Yes, I’ve always known him to be serious. Did you know Thomas Fraser?
Actually you would know him as Ivan Fraser. He used to work for the Department of Town Engineering and his office was under Watooka Day School.
Karren
Karren -
My job at that time didn’t bring me into frequent contact with the Dept of Town Engineering. Are you related to Ivan Fraser?
Evan Wong
I enjoyed reading this blog, am too young to know any of you guys,but thnak you for posting. Am getting married next year at the watooka guess house. Thats how come i came across this blog. Mr.Evan i wish a land Rover cost $3000 now. lol
Yes, that was my grandfather. He was a Foreman at the time.
Mr. Wong,
Thanks for sharing. These pictures bring back so much fond memories of my home town.
As a kid growing up in Mackenzie the name Evan Wong could be heard regularly in our home.
My Dad, TA Fraser (aka Ivan Fraser) was a Foreman and later retired as Contracts Officer in the 80’s. He worked with Mr. Glen and VB Smith (Victor Smith).
Back in those days my dad would take us to Watooka, as his office was under the Cinema. At that time he was responsible for maintenance of the buildings and homes where the staff lived.
I remember names such as Jim Procter and Mr. Graves who lived on Richman Hill. Mr. Ho and his wife were god parents to one of my brothers.
I eventually went to work for the company as it was commonly called (it was nationalized by then). I worked as an office boy and later went to Trade School with John Hammond as the principal.
Oh, I could go on and on, but I’ll just enjoy the pictures.
Thanks for the memories.
Mr Wong,
What about my Dad – Jimmy Hiscocks he was Guyanese and went to Mackenzie before I was born in 1947! Great to see all the pictures – will try and bring Mum to the computer to see them, she is now 90 and living close by.
Gillian Roddis (Hiscocks)
Okay I recognise my late Dad (Rev. Charles Cush), right back row. One time Constable/Sargeant/Inspector of the Demba Constabulary. Then moved up to Properties Inspector before retiring (1973) to full time church work .He was very involved at Christ -the- King Anglican back in the days.
Recognise also Dr. Roza and William Grant. Is that L.E. Ho at left back?
Hi Gill!
Welcome aboard! Your Dad definitely was on the welcoming committee to so many!
Please give your Mum my love. She and Louie are the same age. Mum corresponds with Sheila at Christmas. I suppose, like Helen, you are a granny by now.
I didn’t have children of my own. Into my second marriage after the death of my Hun in 2002, I’m step mother to 8, step grandmother of 17 and step great grandmother of three! Counting both. Yikes! All that I’m only 65 …
Hugs,
Pat
Mr. Wong,
In August 1968, a constable came to my home in Rainbow City and informed me that Mr. Evan Wong had summoned me to “The Office”. As soon as I got to the door of your office you declared “Mr. Bakker you have just crossed over the line from worker to management. You’ve been awarded a Demba Scholarship!” Thanks for being the bearer of those glad tidings and for being such a wonderful inspiration to all of us who has less privileged beginnings.
(I taught your son Evan general science or math in Form 1 at Mackenzie High School – as I recall a brilliant and engaging student)
God bless!
Dear Joe:
It was a great pleasure to hear from you. I hope your life in the years since I left Mackenzie has been as blessed as mine has been. My best to you always,
Evan
Hi John Cush,
Glad to see that you are still keeping an eye on the goings on in Mackenzie. Terry is still living in Germany. It was nice to see you at my dad funeral all those years ago and catching up of the convent.
Dear Mr and Mrs. Wong,
It has been such a pleasure reading this blog, not only because it vividly reminds me of home, but because I was able to see the pictures of people whose names I came to know from my father’s stories. The dashing gentleman in the front row on the far left (next to Mr. Grant) is my beloved father, James Crawford. Thank you for the memories – they mean much to me as his voice was stilled for just over two years ago. I know that he would have had a great story to tell had he been here to see this picture
Thanks again!
Best,
Felicity Crawford
Dear Mr and Mrs Wong
I love reading your blog and seeing the pictures. Do you have any information on the Pattersons. My dad started at Demba in 1946. He worked as a carpenter, boat builder, some where in the plant and finally in the electrical shop ( I think).
Keep up the good work ans God bless.
Celeste
Hello Nigel,
How are you doing? It was indeed a pleasure to see you guys when you were last in Guyana despite the circumstance.
Say hi to Terry for me.
I can remember Felicity Crawford, I am the son of Monty and Joyce Bobb and used to live on Riverside Drive in Watooka. My brother Adrian and I used to attend Watooka Day School and went on to MHS…..Happy Days
Hey, I remember Adrian Bobb. He played football with Fitzroy Caesar and Sherod Young at Mhs. Great memories of course .