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Berbicians..what alyuh think about this article?
Narper
2018-08-15 14:24:35
Georgetown is 68 kilometres away from Berbice; the drive is approximately 90 minutes. Yet, upon entering the capital city, it feels as if one is entering a neighbouring and new country. The two counties (Berbice and Demerara, preferably the capital Georgetown) are not separated by borders or by brick walls and heavy security camps but by a difference in development, opportunities as well as culture. Berbice is home to me and that will never change. However, the urge to seek betterment and to breathe freely away from the stifling setbacks that home has to offer, leaves an impression in my mind that one day I would have to pack my bags and start over. Start over and turn over a new leaf, just as countless Berbicians have in the past, and there’s no doubt that the internal migration would not continue.
How would it make you feel if you had to leave behind your childhood home, friends and family, moving to another county, just to find a job? Or to excel in a career choice that is deadlocked in your hometown? What’s the point in having a university closest to you and yet still, you have to move because your major is not offered there? It is very disheartening.
Berbice as we know it is the ancient county. In my defence, not only in infrastructure but also in some ways through our mental capacity and culture, some by choice, others by the suffocating lack of opportunities. With the help of our policymakers and recognition of the given issues, I do hope together, we can all work together to make Berbice a better place for us to call home. The idea is not to degrade my county but to shine light on the darker, ‘not so talked about’ sides of it.
link
doosra
2018-08-15 14:28:13
In reply to Narper
Berbicians..what alyuh think about this article?
Georgetown is 68 kilometres away from Berbice
which part of Berbice is he talking about?
what s/he wrote is mostly the case... there's nothing there really...Sugar dead, Bauxite dead, etc etc
NA where i spend time, and west coast have improved in some ways...NA looks like a new town now with new buildings/businesses etc but not more money for the small man/woman...west coast got the super rich (or rich ) and the poor. housing has improved...but social life has not improved beyond more el do shops...
the corentyne coast is so so...many migrated...some doing business but by and large same as i can tell for say last 20 years
i go to berbice when i want to relax. it is a great place for that...not too much to distract and the freedom to chill out (for 1 day, then i get bored)
Narper
2018-08-15 14:31:21
In reply to doosra
I believe he seh he is from Rose Hall.
I have to be honest...I have been to Berbice twice in mih life....and only to New Amsterdam...but then I haven't lived in Guyana since I was about 20 years old
googley
2018-08-15 14:33:17
In reply to Narper
I personally moved to further my studies because the University of Guyana’s Berbice Campus did not offer the courses I was interested in pursuing. As such, I had to relocate to Georgetown for that opportunity,
He is too young to know when GT people used to flock Skeldon....thanks to LSFB!
googley
2018-08-15 14:34:00
In reply to Narper
Berbice is Nirvana compared to GT 
doosra
2018-08-15 14:35:16
In reply to Narper
Rose Hall to GT is 110 Km approximately 
doosra
2018-08-15 14:36:26
In reply to googley
most of the youngsters head way to ug in gt and stay or migrate...those who graduate from Tain find themselves in call centers and banks and so on...not too many opportunities for growth but at least there is education at that level in some areas now...many would not have had the chance to go to uni
googley
2018-08-15 14:36:36
In reply to doosra
WHich Rose Hall? 
doosra
2018-08-15 14:37:00
In reply to googley
he seh small town so is rose hall town, not rose hall canje 
doosra
2018-08-15 14:37:48
In reply to Narper
I have to be honest...I have been to Berbice twice in mih life....and only to New Amsterdam...but then I haven't lived in Guyana since I was about 20 years old
no you have gone thru almost the entire West Berbice lol
but i know what you mean
googley
2018-08-15 14:37:55
In reply to doosra
Exactly! There was no UG campus in Berbice back in my days...oh how i wished there was.
doosra
2018-08-15 14:39:19
In reply to googley
yea campus opened in 2001/2002...that was way after your time
yea the teachers get their Bachelors from there now. the agri students get their Bachelors as well along with some social sciences...from september the will do the Associate in Civil Engineering there for the first time. we do the associate in computer science there since inception...many kids and adults are able to go ...think is shortage of opps for them to fully make use of their talent / qual
Runs
2018-08-15 14:39:30
I visited the Corentyne twice in my life, the last being in 2012. I was dismayed by the neglect and lack of development. It seemed as if time had stood still, houses still had that 80’s look, mostly wooden with verandahs, the rest of the country appeared more modern. Lots of Berbicians had boarded up and migrated also. I personally thought that the ruling party had neglected a large part of their base and taken their support for granted.
doosra
2018-08-15 14:40:54
In reply to Runs
berbice is sure vote in many areas for ppp...why worry?
that is why AFC/Moses got votes which made the national difference...
but you are right...Berbicians don't realise how much they are taken for granted
googley
2018-08-15 14:46:58
In reply to doosra & Runs
Taken for granted for sure. Plus, almost everyone in Berbice has family abroad...ie. barrel economy. THe locals who invest and work hard do make it big.
Narper
2018-08-15 14:52:50
In reply to doosra
Wait...wait...I now remember I have visited Port Mourant...in the late 70s when I was home on vacation...my brother was a pharmacist and he was stationed at Port Mourant hospital and living in the hospital quarters...
he related a really funny story...from one of his windows he could see part of the horse race track between two houses...and he would usually watch the races with his binoculars on the week end...one day he heard loud cussing at his door...when he looked out there was a drunk chap with a cutlass who then accused my brother of spying on his wife...my brother was able to convince him that was not true...invited him in and gave him the binoculars to see for himself....the race track was behind his house.....they became friends....as my brother was the 'doc' who would get free tablets for the boys
BUT....knowing my brother...I am sure he was 'spying' on the man wifey too
doosra
2018-08-15 14:57:01
In reply to Narper
he should consider himself lucky lol
doosra
2018-08-15 14:58:01
if you want something chilled out and care free berbice is it tho...
runout
2018-08-15 15:00:16
Narps, wonderful post.
Berbice is agrarian based. The people's lives revolve around farmlands and livestock. It is for the most part neglected by the various governments. And its development has been retarded by massive immigration since the PNC rule. Hence Runsy point that the place looked like it sttod still in the 80's. People no longer invested in the future of Berbice. They grabbed their kids, uprooted their lives and fled in droves. Many abandonded their homes. Some never returned to their place of birth. Memories too painful perehaps. And Berbicians haven't looked back.
Berbice is also separated from GT by the Berbice River...prior to the Berbice River Bridge, it was a most inconvenient trip to cross the river. Hence people only traversed out of necessity. The life lived was one of simple pleasures, where people enjoyed the luxury of an stable environment. Generations lived and died in the same villages. Traditions were upheld. Families united.
Berbicians had many good schools which produced many scholars. Berbice also had loads of talented musicians. And Berbice was always the hotbed for cricket. What is sad is that it is just a semblance of its self.
doosra
2018-08-15 15:02:49
In reply to runout
Berbice is also separated from GT by the Berbice River...prior to the Berbice River Bridge, it was a most inconvenient trip to cross the river. Hence people only traversed out of necessity. The life lived was one of simple pleasures, where people enjoyed the luxury of an stable environment. Generations lived and died in the sae villages. Traditions were upheld. Families united.
that is a true point
the bridge has facilitated movements back and forth with much ease.
the schools are struggling for basic things but that is also true for most of Guyana...
many of the grounds and parks were left to pasture in the 90s..i remember in the early 90s when i started high school new amsterdam had burnham park and bermine ground in good order...they were largely abandoned when gov changed...but that is also true for many other grounds in berbice...the ones that survived had a good club system supporting them
runout
2018-08-15 15:06:51
doosra
2018-08-15 15:07:50
In reply to runout
well there is no dunks and mangoes to give away in gt..you better head down to bourda or stabroek with paper
doosra
2018-08-15 15:09:15
i think the one way out for many berbicians is agricultural entrepreneurship...Nand Persaud is a good example...but that needs an entire program of development for the youths
Runs
2018-08-15 15:10:35
In reply to runout
Berbicians are known for their hospitality also. I have a few friends from Berbice, wonderful guys. They can party and “spote” never met a happier bunch.
runout
2018-08-15 15:12:54
In reply to Runs
Yes bro...that is so very true.
Darn, this thread is making me reflect on a time long past!!!
doosra
2018-08-15 15:15:51
growing up it was almost a sin to be selfish or mean...if you were then you were almost always scorned / cast out / mocked etc
i guess culture
they shared everything, i am told
runout
2018-08-15 15:17:40
In reply to doosra
they shared everything, i am told big grin
You mekking joke...we are not like Eskimos!
Yeah, allyuh talk nah!!!
Runs
2018-08-15 15:19:16
I can also say Berbicians have excelled and done well for themselves in farin
black
2018-08-15 15:23:28
In reply to Narper
Berbice was always low on my list of places to live.
Sorry Becians.
runout
2018-08-15 15:24:16
doosra
2018-08-15 15:24:24
In reply to black
i think we are all thankful for your priority
doosra
2018-08-15 15:24:53
runout
2018-08-15 15:27:25
In reply to doosra
But we had Black-boy already...man represented WI.
doosra
2018-08-15 15:28:40
In reply to runout
that was a real one
black
2018-08-15 15:37:01
Damn, I didn't realize there were so many Berbicians on here.
Narper
2018-08-15 15:59:55
In reply to runout
I have always loved Berbicians.
And I am not talking about the past cricketing greats only
Great people.... As you guys have pointed out...extremely friendly and generous people...ALWAYS will to share and to help.
Tons of Berbicians here in Toronto
runout
2018-08-15 16:00:50
In reply to Narper
Narps...you have family in Berbice?
Narper
2018-08-15 16:05:33
In reply to runout
But we had Black-boy already...man represented WI.
With his 29 test average....he would have been a permanent in any current WI team
Sew Shivnarine
Narper
2018-08-15 16:12:45
In reply to runout
Narps...you have family in Berbice?
My mom had lots of family in Berbice...I have met only a few...my older sisters and other brothers know most of them well
Prof Clem Sankat...recently retired UWI principal... is family...in fact I worked with him and others on a major research project in T&T.
Do you know the late Inspector Rohit Sharma...my mom's cousin
Narper
2018-08-15 16:16:17
In reply to black
Sorry Becians.
That should be Bubishans
I grew up next door to an aunty Bubishan...I was in my teens when I realized her real name was not bubishan but she in fact came from Berbice
runout
2018-08-15 17:04:26
In reply to Narper
No bro...will check it out.
black
2018-08-15 17:20:14
runout
2018-08-15 17:50:20
In reply to black
Now you looking for trouble.
Norm
2018-08-16 05:00:44
In reply to Narper
I agree that Georgetown is a lot more impressive commercially than New Amsterdam or anywhere else in Berbice, but the author is forgetting that Berbice is merely a historical subdivision of Guyana. Hence, you cannot really "degrade your county" by acknowledging that it is lesser developed that the neighboring county.
If "mudland" describes Demerara, then Berbice could be more accurately described as a "mudflat" - but one that has the nation's largest agricultural output in major crops, such as rice and sugar. It also has thriving fishing and bauxite industries.
Berbice, in my opinion, is also the most peaceful and hospitable part of Guyana. There may be spots in West Berbice that are different in this respect, however. Despite the development of most of the land in coastal Berbice, you still have huge populations of wildlife, including birds, reptiles and even big cats such as jaguars.
You just have to love the peace, quiet and hospitality in Berbice, as opposed to the hustle and bustle of Demerara.
doosra
2018-08-16 07:50:11
In reply to Norm
There may be spots in West Berbice that are different in this respect
i have heard this myth before...and for someone who's spent almost 40 years in west berbice i am not sure what it is - do you mean and odd problem at saturday night wedding house or such things?
canje is no better/worse than west berbice and so too most of the corentyne coast...
tell me what i don't know about west berbice. afaik one of the most peaceful places ever.
Norm
2018-08-16 08:02:10
In reply to doosra
tell me what i don't know about west berbice. afaik one of the most peaceful places ever.
You may be right. There were incidents with cars being robbed on the West Berbice highway tho.
doosra
2018-08-16 08:12:06
In reply to Norm
probably 70s? maybe 80s but as far as i can tell say last 30 years i have not heard of any. in fact you barely hear about west coast except for odd robbery and murder/suicide
Berbice as you said tho is probably among the most peaceful and quiet parts...
are you still retiring back here lol
Norm
2018-08-16 08:30:35
In reply to doosra
are you still retiring back here lol
Anywhere where I can be useful - engineering, lecturing, teaching, etc.
doosra
2018-08-16 08:57:22
In reply to Norm
you know they starting the Associate degree in Civil at Tain campus this year right?
googley
2018-08-16 09:22:38
In reply to black
Berbice was always low on my list of places to live.
Sorry Becians.
No wonder you still searching for enlightenment thru your hundreds of threads!
googley
2018-08-16 09:25:01
In reply to Runs
The typical Berbician enjoys life to the core. Happy, go lucky people. We make lemonade when life hands us lemons.
Runs
2018-08-16 09:42:03
In reply to googley
Nah get me wrang ayuh blessed with ya’all share a skunts too but I have to admit some GT peeps do like to thumb their nose at and look down upon not only Berbicians but rural folks on the whole.
runout
2018-08-16 09:47:10
In reply to Runs
with ya’all share a skunts too
Bro every part of this universe is guilty of same. What I can tell you though, is that GT peeps are very slick. Ever hear them town man jokes?
googley
2018-08-16 09:51:00
runout
2018-08-16 09:53:47
Runs
2018-08-16 09:53:58
In reply to googley
Don’t know Runout, Boo has his flaws like all of us but he is a nice guy.
runout
2018-08-16 10:07:39
In reply to Runs
Who is Boo?
Runs
2018-08-16 10:28:28
In reply to runout
Ask Googs he from ayuh side
googley
2018-08-16 10:50:57
runout
2018-08-16 10:52:02
In reply to googley
Really? He posts here?
Runs
2018-08-16 11:08:04
In reply to runout
Everyone posts or peeps here
black
2018-08-16 11:14:40
In reply to googley
No wonder you still searching for enlightenment thru your hundreds of threads!
Don't be so sensitive, every country have places that are the butt of jokes.
I like Berbicians, ok.
goofballs
2018-08-16 11:26:26
Huh?
Twenty-eight per cent of the total population lives in urban communities; that leaves a staggering per cent of 72, on the downside.
Duh!
many parts of Berbice are rural areas.
Town life.
From the malls, to the movie theatres, the many diverse restaurants, the historical and cultural sites spread all over, the gardens and zoo, and so much more
We know a lot about him right yahso:
to Georgetown just to enjoy the experience (mostly the night life)
HAHAHA. He thinks he is Naipaul or what? Dream on.
Not derogatory, just naive.
The idea is not to degrade my county but to shine light on the darker, ‘not so talked about’ sides of it.
goofballs
2018-08-16 11:32:44
In reply to goofballs
Basically the brodda is talking about rural and urban lives with the distinct differences that are present in any village throughout the world.
Problem is, Berbicians are too intelligent (to stay in Guyana) and at the same time simple, naive, generous.
Town man dem think dem smart and can only try to fool and rob the innocent souls. 
When I made my one week tour in 2009, the popular talk was that Jagdeo did nothing for them but was just trying to win over the other people.
How much can you upgrade a large,sprawling, sparsely populated (per capita) area? Not cost effective.
Economy has been based on agriculture,
runout
2018-08-16 11:40:05
In reply to goofballs
Goofy...and to be quite frank...I never fancied GT. Everything I needed, and wanted was found in Berbice.
Runs
2018-08-16 11:42:29
In reply to goofballs
Town man dem think dem smart and can only try to fool and rob the innocent souls. razz
Being a “townman” I am offended by your generalization, contrary to such an opinion I will counter and say there are lots of good and reputable people from “town” we are not all slick conmen.
I have encountered standoffish and even snide comments from rural folks even in North America when they find out I am from GT, some will even ask intruding questions such as which part am from as if I am somehow lying. I dismiss such behavior from individuals as ignorance and not being worldly in travels or outlook.
goofballs
2018-08-16 11:44:28
The intangibles:
The moment you enter the Berbice river, you start experiencing God's country!
The sky, the breeze, vegetation all look and feel Heavenly.
Culturally, the whole village lived like one family. At least at #69 village and further top side, and also at Albion that I experienced personally.
Of course, everybody knows your story.
Folks of Indian ancestry were greatly handicapped under the prevailing administration in the 60s and 70s. However, they had exposure to Radio ??Radica in Nickerie almost all day.
Surinamese of Indian origin can all speak fluent Hindi and their ancestral art form, music, etc. were well preserved.
Same with Trinidad but to a lesser extent with regards to the language.
There was some commonality in some villages in Berbice.
goofballs
2018-08-16 11:51:27
In reply to Runs
Being a “townman” I am offended by your generalization, contrary to such an opinion I will counter and say there are lots of good and reputable people from “town” we are not all slick conmen.
Ok Bhai, present company excluded. I should have addressed it differently, or qualified it by saying "dem seh so."
Any Berbician coming to Gtown for the first time were scared stiff about the town men!
I lived almost half my life then in town and had no such experience.
In fact, most of my friends were town men.
Well, I learnt fast to throw them off their gran or fat talk or having some punk kid standing in my face and barefacedly demanding a bob. But that was a different culture!
goofballs
2018-08-16 11:55:04
In reply to runout
I never fancied GT.
I know of hundreds of Bubbicians who never saw Georgetown except when the bus passed through on the way to the airport.
Had dinner with two top scientists here who never saw Georgetown.
There is a by pass nowadays, I think.
Berbicians have always been self dependent and comfortable in their own skin and not needing to suck up to anyone or wanting to adapt to a whole new country and culture (Georgetown).
Runs
2018-08-16 11:56:48
In reply to goofballs
Banas them country guys who came and lived in town or outskirts does speak and act more GT than us natives. In NA many will lie and claim they are from GT, I guess they are ashamed of their rural roots.
I have a friend whose house Berbicians stopped over by on way to the airport, I will say probably thousands of people over the years. His parents were from the Corentyne.
runout
2018-08-16 11:58:01
runout
2018-08-16 12:00:18
In reply to Runs
In NA many will lie and claim they are from GT, I guess they are ashamed of their rural roots.
Them never had root in the first place if they were ashamed of where they came from.
goofballs
2018-08-16 12:01:24
In reply to doosra
Interesting that you brought up the two places
canje is no better/worse than west berbice and so too most of the corentyne coast...
tell me what i don't know about west berbice. afaik one of the most peaceful places ever.
Lemme try.
The two great legends of
Berbice. I have done a lot of investigation into the matter and interviewed many subjects. (I do ask the tough questions with a straight face).
1.
Canje. Every single person I interviewed, man or woman, Canje resident (many) or not, confirm the fact (no longer a myth) that the girls don't wear panties at night.
I guess a lot of Boy Scouts out there "Always be prepared"
goofballs
2018-08-16 12:13:22
In reply to Runs
True
Banas them country guys who came and lived in town or outskirts does speak and act more GT than us natives. In NA many will lie and claim they are from GT,
Maybe. But many want to camouflage so they do not get preyed upon as "simpleton, ignorant villagers" by the so called, allegedly slick town men.
I guess they are ashamed of their rural roots.
Runs
2018-08-16 12:23:42
In reply to runout
I would say about 80% of GT folks were immigrants, that is rural folks who moved to the city for employment, schooling etc. My parents came to GT in the 60’s, my highly esteemed cuz who posts on here parents or dad may be native GT though am not sure will ask mom or he can confirm.
googley
2018-08-16 12:26:41
Bigzinc
2018-08-16 12:29:01
In reply to googley
I born and bred in GT but I can tell you that country folks are the best Berbicians and Essequibians.
Runs
2018-08-16 12:29:47
In reply to goofballs
Alyuh women them boys say were easy, one only had to put on a GT accent and was instant PR
googley
2018-08-16 12:32:23
In reply to Runs
GT accent
you mean like "wah is doh" and "gaing"
doosra
2018-08-16 12:34:18
In reply to googley
wuhz duh
Runs
2018-08-16 12:44:54
In reply to googley
I can speak 3 types a english GT, Country and Formal but no Bubbician you guys speak a different english I need a translator.
googley
2018-08-16 13:05:56
Runs
2018-08-16 13:41:44
In reply to googley
long time I did not see chacha Boo
runout
2018-08-16 14:01:32
Runs
2018-08-16 14:22:43
In reply to runout
Dude, they have some fellas fob even you may not understand
runout
2018-08-16 14:32:55
goofballs
2018-08-16 15:16:01
In reply to Runs
HAHA
Alyuh women them boys say were easy, one only had to put on a GT accent and was instant PR
Probably true, but the town men were "reportedly" noted for their slickness, gift of the gab and can make quite an impression on some naive bush gyal.
Plus dem boys know to soor and couture well, until dem get found out.
Most of the country boys probably needed a coach, assertive management guy like in the movie Chotti si Baat to teach dem to soor..
Runs
2018-08-16 15:23:31
In reply to goofballs
Now it has morphed into alyuh fariners going back and promising greencard n thing fuh get ting. Ayuh rural Guyanese nah ez at all
googley
2018-08-17 11:58:01
In reply to Runs
gt gals love bubbician men!
Bigzinc
2018-08-17 14:54:54
Narper
2018-08-17 15:37:43
Norm
2018-08-17 19:35:56
When I started QC, some of the other kids would advise me to "Talk Hinglish, nuh man!". My very solemn response was, "Wah yuh tink mih ah talk?". It didn't dawn on me that some of the other students really did not understand some of the things I said.
In addition to an unusual vocabulary, Berbicians from the Corentyne had a very unique accent. That vocabulary included many Indian, and some Dutch, words - all delivered in a unique way.
Corentyne folks probably have the most difficult accent in Guyana, followed by folks on the Essequibo islands. The Amerindians generally have the "cleanest".
goofballs
2018-08-17 20:55:36
In reply to Runs
Now it has morphed into alyuh fariners going back and promising greencard n thing fuh get ting.
Dem mek song about it.
Raj look stupidee. Reminds me of some Indian chap.
Link Text
goofballs
2018-08-17 20:57:04
In reply to Norm
I think Albion people had the broadest English.
Almost as difficult to understand as Jamaican.
Norm
2018-08-18 18:48:35
In reply to goofballs
Albion people had the broadest English.
People from Albion would need translators for people from the Skeldon area. Try this, for example (Clue: umpire's fate after heated cricket match):
"Sakawat hice up Umpaiyah Mullet an' patkay am pan a dam!"
black
2018-08-18 18:56:17
In reply to Norm
"Sakawat hice up Umpaiyah Mullet an' patkay am pan a dam!
Steeeups!
What's hard to understand about that?
Norm
2018-08-18 19:00:29
In reply to black
What's hard to understand about that?
I can you see you tried umpiring.
BTW, what is the translation? Then again, as a man supposedly from the Skeldon area, you might actually know it. So, leave it for others, if you could.
black
2018-08-18 19:11:44
In reply to Norm
I am from the East Coast where there are healthy interactions between Indians and Blacks. That is all I'm going to say.
Narper
2018-08-18 19:24:18
black
2018-08-18 19:31:19
In reply to Narper
patkay'....there is no english one word equivalent
I would say "bodyslam" but that might be a little to violent.
goofballs
2018-08-18 19:32:39
In reply to black
patkay'....there is no english one word equivalent
I would say "bodyslam" but that might be a little to violent.
Black better than me.
He actually know something.
How about just slam down, patkay pon de floor or pelt it down. I give up.
