The eight-person delegation was out on a mission to experience firsthand what the Upper Pomeroon area has to offer visitors so that the region can commence promoting interesting places in Region Two.
A bright Tuesday morning was just the right day for a visit to Upper Pomeroon as we departed Lake Mainstay Resort and headed to Charity.
Charity was alive but did not have the overwhelming crowd and rush as is commonly the case every Monday morning. There were lots of school children and persons heading to work as we saw nurses, police officers and teachers. A lot of food was being sold at shops and on the streets also there would still be vendors selling provisions, coloured vegetables and other household essentials. The classic countryside environment was fascinating as we intently observed the proceedings of the persons around us. Everyone was calm going about their businesses and the aura of Charity was such a big difference from the hurried life in the Capital City of Georgetown. The school children who passed us were all very polite and well-mannered but we were intrigued at how well dressed and neatly groomed they all were. Charity is the economic hub of Region Two and is the gateway to entering Region One and Venezuela. Subsequently, the general population is composed of Venezuelans, Indigenous Amerindians, East Indians and Africans which results in the mixture of all these races and the beauty of the general people that it has created is stunningly amazing.
Departing Charity
As Keiron (our speed boat driver) arrives we boarded the boat, got saddled up with life jackets and took off to Upper Pomeroon. Along the shores we pass many lovely houses and other buildings like Schools and Churches which are all painted in vibrant colours. The general populace seems to like yellow, lilac, red and green paint on the buildings and their homes which brought out a kaleidoscopic eminence when compared to other places. The deep Pomeroon River was bustling with canoes and speed boats going in all directions and it is common to see gas stations right on the sides on the river to fuel up your engine. The hot sun does nothing to us as the breeze keeps us cool when the boat is moving but when there are stops it can get very hot at times.
Our first stop was at the Coffee Factory and we were warmly welcomed by Peter who is the owner of the factory. Peter knows the coffee processing steps very well and took us around the small factory to show us how his production line is set-up. The most intriguing thing about the factory is its appearance which is about 80% painted in a colour that looks just like coffee…dark brown and the remainder was a creamy looking radiant peach. We were given a mini tour of inside the operation and left with some samples of his finished product.
The Boat Builders’ Farm
As we approached the wharf we couldn’t help but notice the stunningly bright lilac coloured house that sat on the corner of the river with a bright green roof. The wharf had a convenient shed over it and comfortable seating as well all the way leading to the house. We walked towards the house but a woman directed us to where the workshop is located just a stone throw away and we hurriedly walked across as our excitement started to increase rapidly. Here we met Ganesh, a young, passionate, creative and hardworking man. He is about 5.7 feet tall, brown skinned, medium size, energetic and sports a low haircut. To navigate and work with more comfort he wears short pants that are light and a very thin t-shirt as the humidity can make the area really hot. Ganesh works along with his Father who owns the complex and the farm but he is actively playing a leadership role in the business.
There is a huge shed that they work under to construct boats which are normally ordered by customers. On our visit they were working on two boats at the time, a really big one and a smaller boat. At times when there are no boat orders then Ganesh goes to the farm and boy oh boy it’s an amazing farm! We ventured through it and the air was so fresh that it was dominated by the smell of ripe fruits all around us. As we navigated we sampled some of the ripe fruits we could pick: five fingers, whitey, oranges, bananas, cherries, guava and tangerine. There were lots of other fruit trees but they also grew in large quantities the fruit which seed is used to make coffee. As a matter of fact, they are one of the suppliers of the raw material for the coffee factory that we visited earlier. This stop was definitely one that we enjoyed and the fruits were simply amazing but the scenery and sensation of this place made it something unforgettable. We left with our tummies filled with fruits, our hearts filled with joy and our minds full of sweet memories of a beautiful farm that reminds us all about the beauty and simplicity of life on planet earth…life as it should be lived!
The Last Three Missions – Kabakaburi, St. Monica & Karawab
We then proceeded further up into the river going deeper and deeper inland away from the Atlantic Ocean. These are the last three remaining missions in the Pomeroon River and at these coordinates the water gets even deeper.
Kabakaburi was a stunner as we left the boat and walked up the hilly Village which was well maintained by the locals. The native Amerindians who reside here have built an eye catching two story benab and have well maintained lawns and walkways. This defeated our hopes since we were expecting a medieval village with poor, suffering inhabitants. The People here were all happy and we didn’t encounter suffering individuals nor homeless people or even starving families. The Communities work harmoniously and very hard which results in a very sustained, developed, calm and peaceful environment. One of the locals said that they can sleep with their doors wide-open at nights and don’t have to worry about nothing at all since crime and petty or large theft simply does not occur in their Community. We noticed their use of solar panels as a source of power which we find to be very interesting since these lovely people are doing all that is needed to make our planet a safe one. We were so impressed at what they do for a living since they have common jobs similar to most of us like Teaching at the Nursery and Primary Schools, being Health Workers or Nurses in the local Health Centre, some of them worked speed boats to provide transportation, most of them have farms, a lot of them do fishing, some reared livestock and cattle, some were into construction while others were into lumber. They normally transport their produce to Charity where they can sell in large quantities and return to their quiet Community with their individual families. This is the kind of life we all dream of having and they are enjoying this to the full. We must say that the people of these areas are very beautiful, healthy and happy. The reason behind this is they cook and eat the freshest and healthiest meals, they work hard which keeps them physically fit, they don’t have the stresses of city life and the burden to survive and that keeps them happy. They know their families are safe which makes them enjoy the best sleep at nights and oh dear Lord how we wish the entire world can live like Kabakaburi and her sister Missions.
St. Monica was also a big surprise to us as we thought initially that this Village would not be as developed as the previous one but to our surprise as we went deeper into the forest it appeared as if they just kept getting better. This Community was super friendly towards us and it was clear that the general atmosphere here was happiness each and every single day. Mr. Thomas Charles who is the Toshao of St. Monica was pleased to meet us on this easy Tuesday morning. He is about 5.5 feet tall, low-voiced, pleasant appearance, light-brown skin, full faced, solid sized but not fat, simply dressed with his short pants and slippers, brisk walker and very informative. As we walked to the various places of interests we had to encounter some steep hills which was very exciting as we challenged ourselves and each other to face the challenge.
The village was visually beautiful but the heart and soul of the people, their diligence in accomplishing tasks, their relentless passion for their rich culture, their amazing food, their skills in making crafts, the way they make life looks simple, the happiness they exhibited and the peacefulness they maintain among themselves; that was the real beauty of St. Monica!
Well-maintained Communities
Karawab was the last village as we went even deeper into the forests. The rivers and jungle was swarming with wildlife of all kinds. Some of which we encountered were: freshwater fishes, black caimans, snakes, love birds, macaws, monkeys, labbas, butterflies of all species with the most beautiful colours and an endless amount of fruit trees and wild trees.
This village was very hilly but so beautiful and well maintained by the residents. As we came off the boat and started our Karawab adventure we realized that this village is a hidden gem. The view from on top of the hill looking at the flowing river is a beautiful sight and the people here are all proud of their community which they worked very hard to build. There is also a guest house called: “Long House Warakabra” which is located between St. Monica and Karawab for overnighting guests since we believe there is much more to explore even though we were told that their mission was the final one in the long and deep Pomeroon which looks like it still has much more miles that are just waiting to be discovered!
After an unbelievably adventurous day we headed back to Charity.