October 5, 2025 • 36 mins
As we join Ric on the 3rd Leg of his Guyana Adventure (THEN) Guyana is marking a bold step into its future with its opneing of the New Demerara Harbor Bridge (NOW) highlighting a bright commitment to its people and a strong voice in the world.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
So I completed this second leg of the journey, which
was they walk from the Georgetown, the capital of uh Guyana,
heading west uh to my Boruma the Witch borders Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
It's close bordered for personality to.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
The border with venezuel And so I'm about I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
You know, my, my, my. The third leg of my
journey awaits me.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And in between uh each segment, you know that there's
a sort of a period of about a week. I'm
always varying to go, but but you know, I want
to make sure that I resupply well, that you know,
my gear, you know it is in order, and you
(00:52):
know my equipment are great, you know, things like that.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And so the you know, a week with UH.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
There'd been a week in between before each each lag.
So now the third leg of the of the of the.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Journey of my quest.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Uh Man that I needed to go from. I needed
to go from Georgetown. I'm heading east now, going towards
the border with Surinam.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
And then I and then once I hit uh the.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Uh the Surinam border, I wanted to go west down
to the west.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Sorry, I wanted to head.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
South UH to a place called Oreala on the Quarantine River.
So and that would complete uh, my, my, my journey
as such.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Hello, and welcome to the journey. Your radio show hosted
by Nevill d Angelou, author of a sound bite life
and Flight of the Views Monkeys, a p r G
Emerging Technologies Forum, keynote speaker and founder of RIO Sports.
I am Joseph Ellison Enjoy.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I am Neville.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
My guest is recouchement explorer, educator, put author. This is
episode seventh of Chasing the Blue Morpho. I am entitling
this episode then and now A bold bridge to Guyana's future.
(02:31):
Then was twenty sixteen let Us Vicarius. They rejoin Rick
on his.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Journey.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
So the.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Thing about the thing about the east coast of Guyana.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Which is where I think I spent most of my
young life.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
In the days maybe we had a railway, I would
often be traveling back and forth between New Amsterdam, New
Amsterdam and Georgetown by rail.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And one of the most beautiful.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Things about the eastern coast of Vienna is the palm.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Trees that that litter the coast along the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Uh and the rice fields and the cane hills, and
the East Indian.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Communities that populate along the way. Really really picturesque, really beautiful,
and so it was. And so here I am now instead.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Of just driving by in a train or driving by,
you know, you know, in an automobile, here I am.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I'm gonna walk in now, and so it's like I'm
in heaven. You know.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
This is what I've always wanted to do in time,
but my favorite part of the country as such, and
here I get to do it.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
And just like the on the other legs, I was
able to pass through every village on the coast.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
See. Now, the interesting thing that I observed is that
just around that time, there were lots of uh of
of activities in the country.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
With the government, you know, through the the members of
the government, and you know, I see them passing by.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
On the in their in their SUVs, in their dark
tinted windows, you know, just driving by and going about
their their merry way.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And what was interesting is that in a sense, and
I'm not talking and I'm not knocking again, I'm just
talking giving my observation about the realities then.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I don't know about the situation now.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
I'm just talking about, you know, giving my experience then
and how I was thinking about that. Now, remember by
this time, I was all over the news in Guyana
or somebody who was walking the country, and lots.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Of people were really.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Enthralled about about, you know, the fact that I was
doing this. It was a huge thing because nobody has
ever done that, and so you know, this was really
there's a lot of excitement.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
UH.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
It's especially also on social media, Facebook in particular, which
was sort of the medium around which people sort of
met to to to sort of.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Talk about and share about what I was doing.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
And in fact I had even I had before I
left for the third leg of the journey.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I actually met with.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Uh UH president mister Jack Deel, who was then he
was then with then the opposition leader but right now
I understand he's the vice president of k but I
was able to meet with him UH.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And the reason I had that meeting with him was
this is some some history.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
But I I've never been involved in the political life
of of of Guyana. But I have not been shielded
from the politics of Guyana because my father was a
member of the People's Progressive Party and a very staunch
(06:46):
member of the party and very active member of the
party and active in in in many ways, especially.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
During the times UH in the in the in the.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
Early sixties where and you know, there was a lot
of political upheaval between the opposing art parties uh in
the country, and.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Uh you know, I I've seen some of the physical
trophies from from those encounters that he came home with
on many.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Occasions, and so I was not uh separated from from
that particular experience.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But the thing is that knowing that my father was
a member.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Of the of the event People's Progressive Party, in a
sense I I uh, you know, I embraced that party
is my party because it was my father's party. So
you know, this is my pre you know, my father
was a member that party. So I was a de
facto member of the People's Progressive Party as well, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
And so when I went when I went uh back.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
To Guyana to participate in that journey, one of the
things that I wanted to do was.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
To was to find you know, that was I was
beginning to.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Get interested in the politics of Guyana. So I thought that,
you know what, let me, let me let me try
to since I I'm sort of with the uhh nominally
a member of the people Who's Progressive Party, let me
just go.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Find out what it is they're all about, so that
I can make an informed vote if I have to,
about which party I would support, you know. And so
I arranged.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
I called and and and and I had a visit
with uh, mister Jack Deal and Uh. I actually had
a really good meeting with him, because you know, you
hear all kinds of different rumors, and I don't buy
into rumors, and so I wanted to hear straight from.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
The harsh horse's mouth. I wanted to know, you know who,
mister Jack Deal, who are you? You know?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
You know, tell me so that I can, you know,
if I wanted throwing my support behind you as a
member of my father's party.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
But we had a good initial meeting, but I never
got a.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Chance to to sort of meet with him for that
second meeting. He was absolutely for it, but I think
his assistant at the time for some reason dropped.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
The ball on arranging that meetia. I was really really
looking forward.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
To that, so meeting with him.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Meeting he had an initial meeting with him, it wasn't it,
you know, to sort of like say, hey, you know,
this is introduce myself.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And but he didn't have the time to have that
meeting a sort of a Loma meeting UH at that
particular moment. So he arranged to have it at a different.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Time and his h his assistant was gonna was going.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
To arrange it, but he dropped.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
The assistant dropped the ball on that, and I was
really disappointed because I was really looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I wanted to know. I wanted to get to know
him for.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Myself, you know, and uh, and so that that never happened.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
But during that time, so I'm seeing the.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Members of the UH ruling party, the government driving around
in their in their SUVs. And what was stark was
the how inaccessible Uh they were you driving around and tinted.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
You know, And here I am, I'm touching. I'm walking
around in the villages and going and meeting the people,
which is what.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
You know, uh, people who were sort of public servigns
should really be doing actually rather than driving around. And
you know, this was just my sort of critical assessment.
Then this is not what I'm thinking now.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
But so I'm thinking, you know, you know, these guys
are just driving around.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
In their subs, and they're uh oblivious to the plight
of what's really you know, what's really going on with
the people and he meanwhile, here I am, I am
walking from village to village.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I'm getting an air full of what life is really
like for the people.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
These people, these guys in there in there s up
tinted within those need to be the ones listening to this.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Kind of stuff, you know. And so that was that.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Was my observation of the disconnect at that particular time,
and uh sort of helped to fuel the the sense
of vice and the sense of disappointment about about you
know that that the realities didn't you know, my in
(11:33):
terms of my my journey, that my expectations didn't match
the reality and and and so and then the other
thing too, is that again to photo on the score,
how I was attempting to become more aware and and
and evolved during the the hiatus between uh uh, each
(12:01):
section of my journey. Right, What I what I did was.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
I was trying to get as close as possible to
the to the homeless huh in Georgetown. Uh and so
and this is I mean you know that that this this.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Sort of mindset is not something that that started them.
This is a mindset and in terms of my disposition
towards as people that it was it's nothing new, you know,
this is me since I can remember since.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Yeah, So what I would do is that.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I would I would I would go to a border
market or wherever they would congregate, and I would actually
uh sit with them to try to understand what it is,
what these situations are. And basically what I was trying
to do is to sensitize the national consciousness.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
To the plight of the homeless people in in Guyana. Right.
But what was interesting and remind remember I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
This because this is the this is this is the
thing that filled the gap between.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Uh my, my, my, my journey, my my, the segments
of my journey. Right. So, but so they're they're they're important,
important as far as the entire journey is concerned.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
So so so I was up against it because I said,
I was trying to sort of sensitize the national consciousness
to the plight of the homeless in Guyana.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
But I was up against a notion.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Of of of theme of homeless people as vagrance exact words, right.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So, you know, in Guyana they don't talk about.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Homeless people in terms of the homeless or homeless people
here characterizes.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Vagrance of vagrant.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Is you loaded loaded terms? Oh yeah, right, there's there's
nothing kind about when you think of vagrant.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
You know, you're not there's no kindness that is sort
of uh on the guard in that that term.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
You see what I'm saying, it's it's a value loaded
term and it's a it's a pejorative term in a sense.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Not to cut the straying of your story.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Is this still a prevailing thought or you don't know?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
I know, Actually, actually I still I think it's still prevalent.
And the reason I say that it's because the idea that.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
That the idea of the.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Vagrant, I'm telling you, like I said, I was up
against that mentality.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
You know, it's it seems to be ingrained in the
consciousness of the people. Now I'm hoping that's not the case,
but as far as I'm.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Concerned, you know, And the thing is is that, oh
the idea that that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
That that that the.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Mentally challenged among those who are are part of this
this group, you know, you're they're they're they're not seen
as mentally challenged, but you know these my you know.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Mad mad men, mad women.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
All right, So so it's so so there's not a
sort of.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Uh and a sort of an altruistic.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Uh out look as far as this group is concerned
and so and so the thinking, I would say, if
it hasn't changed, the thinking is is what needs change.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
And I'm not.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
And I'm not criticizing UH citizens or you know, for
thinking along the current lines of thought. But but maybe
if you, if you can find ways to to sensitize
them to the issue and and to get them to
change their minds.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
About the way they look at the issue, then you know, yeah,
And actually I actually.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Got directly involved with with with many of them whom
I know. I sat with them, you know, if I
fact I won them. I was sitting on the sidewalk
with a group of them who were sort of lined
up against the I don't know if you remember Border
market had the post office and then there's an.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Old burial ground.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Uh there they like to sit along that wall by
the variant ground, just opposite the body the market, and uh,
and so I would I one day I remember just
sitting there hanging out with them on the sidewalk and uh.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Uh you know a fan and.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
There are people apparently who who come around from time
to time, and and would handle food, uh, to the
to the homeless people that are there.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
And so I'm sitting there.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
With them, and event shrewed up right and and I'll
you know, jump this woman and and uh and and.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
They're handing out food.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And and this woman's without looking me in the eye.
That's the that's the difference. They they you know, they just.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Put drop the food in the person's hand.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
It's not like an engaging to be honest with you,
it wasn't an engaging.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Giving a food to the homeless as it were. You know.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
It is like no no eye contact, kind of put
it in the hand, food collected, move on to the
next person. So I am sitting there, this young woman
comes up, does not look me in the eye, right,
push the food in my hand, and then just walks away.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
And and I'm like, oh, what just happened. I didn't
expect that. And then the guy who was sitting next
to me, he started laughed and he said, oh, no,
see now you're one of us, right, And.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Yeah, well I started eating some of the food that
it needs, all of it, but you know, since I
was there.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
But but again, the while the intent is good, good.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Coldness, yes, yes, actually, and I mean, I mean I
will not characterize that as the as as the reality, right,
I don't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
That was just my particular experience at that particular point.
Maybe there are other people who are.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
More engaged as you're given the food. So that was
just I hope that was just a one off, you know.
But anyway, so so so in between these these the
different segments, that was what I did. I spent time
with the homeless and and I think, to be honest with.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You, the idea of the and when I tried to
engage my fellow citizens.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
About the need for you know, helping the homeless, they
pushed back the you know, the usual thing that a
lot of them are lazy, and you know, and and
and and so you can't have it was difficult to
have the conversation.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
You know, and who you have this conversation with, well, yeah,
important individuals.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, I got it, I got it so so so
so you.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Know again, so that is added.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Also to the I can't remember the the sort of
romanticized expectations of this wonderful journey, right mm hm. And
and then you're you know, the realization that, oh my goodness,
you know, it's not as old.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
But your land is beautiful. Oh but your land is
really not as beautiful as you think. Yes, objectively beautiful,
but then inherently wanting in many respects. You know what
I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
And I say that with with with a with a
heavy heart.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And oh when I say that, I'm not saying that now.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
I'm putting myself back then and as if I'm petting
the story and you know, in twenty sixteen, and when
I say, uh, you know, my my my country is
you know, beautiful Gianna.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
No, not beautiful. You know, I'm talking about my feelings. Then.
I don't know about Ghanna now.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
But but that was my experience and I lived it
for several months, walk in the land, village, the village,
and you know, my my.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
My experiences is as authentic as I guess how long
were you there? I think about six months? Oh okay,
yeah yeah right, so yeah so so so I'm on
the east coast.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
No heading, I'm heading east and uh so as I'm
walking along the east coast of Manna. Now, what I'm
gonna say is is something you know, you.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Know you you you.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Know exactly what I'm talking about. But I'm you know,
listeners not might not necessarily if they're happen.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
From from all parts of the world country.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
They're not gonna necessarily understand. But I'm gonna say anyway, So,
as I'm walking along the road.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Death and decay is everywhere. Mhm. Death and decay is everywhere.
And I said death and decays everywhere.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
You can't walk by on the street, Uh, without seeing
the carcass of a cat, the carcass.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Of a dog, right, the carcass of right, you know,
the carcasses and carcassus as you walk along. I'm talking
about when I was walking then, right, and so and so,
so I'm on my journey. This this, this, this journey,
you know, my holy cratle right on my level death.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Death, decay, decay right as a walking and and then
at one point I came across a horse mm hm
at the side of the road. And and you know
what happens when they they get bloated and smallen and
at some point they they blow up, right, the explode, and.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So yeah, like you saw that, and then uh, I
think the last one I saw was.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
It was a a.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Cayman.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
As we recall it, Yeah, partly it's a come up
for those who don't know. Uh, it's kind of like
a bigger than a crocodile and an alligator.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I partly had come up from one of the trenches
and I.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Was ran over by by by a taxi cab or
something m hm.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
And so then I, you know, I then I came
across it.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
It was all dried up and and you know, it's
just a skeletal part of it. And uh, you know,
I I stooped down and I there was I took
two of its uh it's it's tooth, two teeth.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
From him, the one the long the longer one, the
sharp ones and.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Uh, and I and I kept those, and I think
my son still has he still has them right now.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
And as I'm as and I'm taking the taking the
tooth from the came, and I'm saying, uh, this is
this is my exact where I said, brother came and
h you.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Know, no harm meant, but I'm gonna take these, uh,
and then they're ready to honor you, you know, and uh, your.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Spirit you know, be with me and and stuff like that. Now,
one thing I.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Learned in my in my journey, and this I learned
from from from Jerry even on our first our first.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Leg, he said that that if you if you in
the adit in.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
The indigenous culture, if you take a part of an animal,
you know, wild animal, predator, you know, like some people
like to have key sakes, you know, the fur or
you or or the you know, the tooth or something
(24:40):
like that, then you have to have permission to have it.
And the way you would know that you have permission
to carry that that memento is what happens when you
go to sleep that night, if you get a visitation
from the from the spirit, you know, you you will
(25:02):
know that you're not the keep that uh memento. Well
I did not yet uh with it from the came
a spirit, so I figured that was.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Good to go. So it create a little tendant of
the of the two teeth, and my son uh wears.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Them with pride as as you know, part of the
relic collected from my journey and so so so that
was then of course I actually came across someone who
had actually died.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Of a gunshot mound m h.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
And uh, I you know, I was invited to the
to the funeral, which was like no fingerhole I ever attended.
Everybody everybody was dressed in red. It was a celebration
that that your typical funeral. And here I am among
all the among the mourners with my back back on
(26:05):
my back might find that on my head, you know,
you just with my uh, my hiking gear and everything.
And you know, in the midst of this uh, this funeral,
uh ceremony at the bottom of a house.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
So it was quite it was quite something.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
And of course, you know, the like I said, the
the the welcome my member villagers continued.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
And one of the one of the best times was
was I was able to hang my hammot between two
coconut trees in.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
The backyard of of of one of my hosts.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
And uh and and sit there to just.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Experience, uh, the nice cool breeze of the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
You know. And and but then the.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Thing is is that the the kindness of of of.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Our people, you know, sort of made the journey, you know.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
All the more worth the while, despite you know, the
inner struggles and the inner turmoil. And I might have
experienced and some of the things that I might have
seen that might cast a.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Shadow on the experience.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
The one thing that was that was a constant was
the kindness of our people man.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
And and and and the kindness out of their own pinery.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
You know that the fact they didn't they didn't have
There was one family, right, I'm having I'm having breakfast
with them, and the.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Two grandchildren.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
They all, you know, I realized what was happening, but
too late, you know, I figured that anybody was gonna,
you know, gonna be partaking of breakfast.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
But because I'm the guests, you know, I was honored with,
you know, having to write and and the grand the
granddaughter and the grandson. The granddaughter was older, the grandson
was a little younger. All they had was was a bake.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
You know, and and I didn't really realize what was
going on.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
But then it was like, look, can I realize, Oh
my goodness, they're differring to me at the expense of
of of of of the two kids.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
You know, I'm the one who's getting the baked with
the sausage, right, and the and the and the bush tea,
right bush te Remember, because they can't afford milk. They
can't afford milk, and a couple of Vienna sausages, you know,
and a couple of bakes, and then they have to
go to.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
School, and and and the and the sausages were ready
for them. But now I have come on the scene,
and so what is it? What does grandma doing?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
And grandma who was a single parents or her sons
are all grown, and but it's.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
They're they're barely.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Working, you know, and she has to get up early
in the morning to go to the back down to
bring whatever food she can from the back down to
cook for children, you know, and two grand grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
And and here I am, I am.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
You know, I didn't if I had, if I had
realized what was happened, refused the h the.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Two Vienna sausages, you know, But that's a can't That
was the reality.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
But the bigger reality was the kindness of of of
the of of the of that grandmother, and which was basically,
you know, the kindness of every person that I met
in every village, sort of rich, small, I mean that
that's that was that was what was happening as I
(29:59):
went along on my journey.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
So I am, I am, I am feeling the pain, right,
and they're sharing with me of their pain.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
And it's not like you know that that not that
you can see that, oh they're suffering and in pain. Right,
you don't know it until they tell you or until
you see things, and then you you see how things align,
and then you put two two together and you understand
the straits that they might might might be it right.
So while on the one hand, they're going through their
(30:32):
hardships all right, and and and you know there's also
what what what violences the hardship?
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Is there indefatigable spirit of.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
For for survival and and this this kindness and care
and concern for others above themselves, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
So so you I've seen that every day on the journey, right,
it gets to you.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
And so I want to avoid going stopping, you know,
being invited to people's homes now because you know now
again yeah, so you know, just like somebody might in
Hits said no I'm going. You know, I'm refusing the
invitation because I'm afraid.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Of what I will see when I when I get there.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
And I've seen it all, I've heard it all. You
know that you know most experiences that that that.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Families typically you know, you know have you you name
it right? We all we all know what these are.
And and so that's what I found myself.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Doing kindness then and now what personally is most fascinating.
Perhaps I should reveal this discourse between Rick and me
(32:07):
was recorded before he knew about the transformations that are
currently going on in Guyana, before either of us knew
that there would be elections. And the elections are completed
(32:29):
and the government is con This new government has now
been renewed, and before obviously I arrived on the scene,
so I sharn't talk about back then during our discourse
(32:51):
the floods of tears that followed. Because it is now.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
A pianist transport sector is evolving astronomically to match its
developing trajectory as the fastest grown economy in the world.
The new Demarra River Bridge is the nucleus of our
transports development plan, an incredible piece of engineering that will
be instrumental in transforming travel and shaping our country's economic future.
(33:28):
And look, from day one, the vision for this was
forward thinking. The goal wasn't just to build a bridge,
it was to create a symbol of our potential as
a nation. And let's be absolutely clear, this isn't a
hollow promise. Undoubtedly we have constructed the most ambitious and
sophisticated transport infrastructure project the country has ever undertaken. Now
(33:55):
we will get into it.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (34:03):
You know, since we spoke about the plans to rescue
George and we've had a lot of positive feedback. And
look at the beauty of George Song. You know when
you look at the main street, and it is this
upkeep of main Street and the rest of the avenues
and streets in George Song that we want to embark on,
you know, having a clean city, a green city, a
(34:26):
city that is safe also because safety is an important
part of building a sustainable city, and this is all
in keeping with our overarching goal and that is a
position Ghana as a major tourism destination, as a safe destination,
as a green destination. Our capital city is a representation
(34:46):
of the entire country. So the capital city must not
only be clean and safe and green, but the capital
city must also demonstrate the vibrancy of the society, the
culture of the society. It must demonstrate the different aspects
of Guyana and what we offer. Similarly, I believe the
(35:08):
airport to tell a story when you come into the country.
That is why in terminal two you will see the
story of Ghana being told so these are some of
the things that are critical to the rescuing of our city.
Also ensuring that our services, the service delivery aspects and.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
Busses that is the President doctor airfin Ali with just
a blip of what is happening and planned from region
to region, village to village, person to person. The plans
for growth, development and opportunities are massive, just not the
(35:49):
subject of this particular podcast. Two helpful links are DPI
dot gov dot g Y that is, DPI dot covt GY,
or you can follow Rick's adventure on the journey dot
riosports dot com and find links to everywhere.
Speaker 8 (36:23):
Along the journey. We stop at intriguing places and meet
fascinating people with novel solutions to some of life's tricky questions.
And we play a few games and track the remarkable
characters of three classic books, A SoundBite Life, A Flight
of the Fused Monkeys, and Illa Sat A Time to
Begin Again, all of which can be found on Amazon
(36:44):
and Barnes and Nople.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
The adventure continues, see you next week.
So I completed this second leg of the journey, which
was they walk from the Georgetown, the capital of uh Guyana,
heading west uh to my Boruma the Witch borders Uh.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
It's close bordered for personality to.
Speaker 1 (00:21):
The border with venezuel And so I'm about I'm.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
You know, my, my, my. The third leg of my
journey awaits me.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
And in between uh each segment, you know that there's
a sort of a period of about a week. I'm
always varying to go, but but you know, I want
to make sure that I resupply well, that you know,
my gear, you know it is in order, and you
(00:52):
know my equipment are great, you know, things like that.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
And so the you know, a week with UH.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
There'd been a week in between before each each lag.
So now the third leg of the of the of the.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Journey of my quest.
Speaker 1 (01:13):
Uh Man that I needed to go from. I needed
to go from Georgetown. I'm heading east now, going towards
the border with Surinam.
Speaker 2 (01:24):
And then I and then once I hit uh the.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Uh the Surinam border, I wanted to go west down
to the west.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Sorry, I wanted to head.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
South UH to a place called Oreala on the Quarantine River.
So and that would complete uh, my, my, my journey
as such.
Speaker 3 (01:48):
Hello, and welcome to the journey. Your radio show hosted
by Nevill d Angelou, author of a sound bite life
and Flight of the Views Monkeys, a p r G
Emerging Technologies Forum, keynote speaker and founder of RIO Sports.
I am Joseph Ellison Enjoy.
Speaker 2 (02:07):
I am Neville.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
My guest is recouchement explorer, educator, put author. This is
episode seventh of Chasing the Blue Morpho. I am entitling
this episode then and now A bold bridge to Guyana's future.
(02:31):
Then was twenty sixteen let Us Vicarius. They rejoin Rick
on his.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Journey.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
So the.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Thing about the thing about the east coast of Guyana.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Which is where I think I spent most of my
young life.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
In the days maybe we had a railway, I would
often be traveling back and forth between New Amsterdam, New
Amsterdam and Georgetown by rail.
Speaker 2 (03:10):
And one of the most beautiful.
Speaker 1 (03:12):
Things about the eastern coast of Vienna is the palm.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Trees that that litter the coast along the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaker 1 (03:23):
Uh and the rice fields and the cane hills, and
the East Indian.
Speaker 2 (03:29):
Communities that populate along the way. Really really picturesque, really beautiful,
and so it was. And so here I am now instead.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
Of just driving by in a train or driving by,
you know, you know, in an automobile, here I am.
Speaker 2 (03:46):
I'm gonna walk in now, and so it's like I'm
in heaven. You know.
Speaker 1 (03:51):
This is what I've always wanted to do in time,
but my favorite part of the country as such, and
here I get to do it.
Speaker 5 (03:58):
And just like the on the other legs, I was
able to pass through every village on the coast.
Speaker 1 (04:10):
See. Now, the interesting thing that I observed is that
just around that time, there were lots of uh of
of activities in the country.
Speaker 5 (04:20):
With the government, you know, through the the members of
the government, and you know, I see them passing by.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
On the in their in their SUVs, in their dark
tinted windows, you know, just driving by and going about
their their merry way.
Speaker 1 (04:42):
And what was interesting is that in a sense, and
I'm not talking and I'm not knocking again, I'm just
talking giving my observation about the realities then.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
I don't know about the situation now.
Speaker 1 (04:56):
I'm just talking about, you know, giving my experience then
and how I was thinking about that. Now, remember by
this time, I was all over the news in Guyana
or somebody who was walking the country, and lots.
Speaker 2 (05:11):
Of people were really.
Speaker 1 (05:13):
Enthralled about about, you know, the fact that I was
doing this. It was a huge thing because nobody has
ever done that, and so you know, this was really
there's a lot of excitement.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
UH.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
It's especially also on social media, Facebook in particular, which
was sort of the medium around which people sort of
met to to to sort of.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
Talk about and share about what I was doing.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
And in fact I had even I had before I
left for the third leg of the journey.
Speaker 2 (05:56):
I actually met with.
Speaker 5 (06:00):
Uh UH president mister Jack Deel, who was then he
was then with then the opposition leader but right now
I understand he's the vice president of k but I
was able to meet with him UH.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
And the reason I had that meeting with him was
this is some some history.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
But I I've never been involved in the political life
of of of Guyana. But I have not been shielded
from the politics of Guyana because my father was a
member of the People's Progressive Party and a very staunch
(06:46):
member of the party and very active member of the
party and active in in in many ways, especially.
Speaker 2 (06:54):
During the times UH in the in the in the.
Speaker 5 (06:58):
Early sixties where and you know, there was a lot
of political upheaval between the opposing art parties uh in
the country, and.
Speaker 2 (07:08):
Uh you know, I I've seen some of the physical
trophies from from those encounters that he came home with
on many.
Speaker 1 (07:18):
Occasions, and so I was not uh separated from from
that particular experience.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
But the thing is that knowing that my father was
a member.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
Of the of the event People's Progressive Party, in a
sense I I uh, you know, I embraced that party
is my party because it was my father's party. So
you know, this is my pre you know, my father
was a member that party. So I was a de
facto member of the People's Progressive Party as well, you know.
Speaker 2 (07:53):
And so when I went when I went uh back.
Speaker 1 (07:56):
To Guyana to participate in that journey, one of the
things that I wanted to do was.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
To was to find you know, that was I was
beginning to.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Get interested in the politics of Guyana. So I thought that,
you know what, let me, let me let me try
to since I I'm sort of with the uhh nominally
a member of the people Who's Progressive Party, let me
just go.
Speaker 2 (08:21):
Find out what it is they're all about, so that
I can make an informed vote if I have to,
about which party I would support, you know. And so
I arranged.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
I called and and and and I had a visit
with uh, mister Jack Deal and Uh. I actually had
a really good meeting with him, because you know, you
hear all kinds of different rumors, and I don't buy
into rumors, and so I wanted to hear straight from.
Speaker 2 (08:52):
The harsh horse's mouth. I wanted to know, you know who,
mister Jack Deal, who are you? You know?
Speaker 1 (08:58):
You know, tell me so that I can, you know,
if I wanted throwing my support behind you as a
member of my father's party.
Speaker 2 (09:08):
But we had a good initial meeting, but I never
got a.
Speaker 1 (09:12):
Chance to to sort of meet with him for that
second meeting. He was absolutely for it, but I think
his assistant at the time for some reason dropped.
Speaker 2 (09:23):
The ball on arranging that meetia. I was really really
looking forward.
Speaker 4 (09:28):
To that, so meeting with him.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Meeting he had an initial meeting with him, it wasn't it,
you know, to sort of like say, hey, you know,
this is introduce myself.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
And but he didn't have the time to have that
meeting a sort of a Loma meeting UH at that
particular moment. So he arranged to have it at a different.
Speaker 5 (09:47):
Time and his h his assistant was gonna was going.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
To arrange it, but he dropped.
Speaker 1 (09:52):
The assistant dropped the ball on that, and I was
really disappointed because I was really looking forward to it.
Speaker 2 (09:57):
I wanted to know. I wanted to get to know
him for.
Speaker 1 (09:59):
Myself, you know, and uh, and so that that never happened.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
But during that time, so I'm seeing the.
Speaker 1 (10:07):
Members of the UH ruling party, the government driving around
in their in their SUVs. And what was stark was
the how inaccessible Uh they were you driving around and tinted.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
You know, And here I am, I'm touching. I'm walking
around in the villages and going and meeting the people,
which is what.
Speaker 1 (10:30):
You know, uh, people who were sort of public servigns
should really be doing actually rather than driving around. And
you know, this was just my sort of critical assessment.
Then this is not what I'm thinking now.
Speaker 2 (10:44):
But so I'm thinking, you know, you know, these guys
are just driving around.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
In their subs, and they're uh oblivious to the plight
of what's really you know, what's really going on with
the people and he meanwhile, here I am, I am
walking from village to village.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
I'm getting an air full of what life is really
like for the people.
Speaker 1 (11:03):
These people, these guys in there in there s up
tinted within those need to be the ones listening to this.
Speaker 2 (11:10):
Kind of stuff, you know. And so that was that.
Speaker 1 (11:13):
Was my observation of the disconnect at that particular time,
and uh sort of helped to fuel the the sense
of vice and the sense of disappointment about about you
know that that the realities didn't you know, my in
(11:33):
terms of my my journey, that my expectations didn't match
the reality and and and so and then the other
thing too, is that again to photo on the score,
how I was attempting to become more aware and and
and evolved during the the hiatus between uh uh, each
(12:01):
section of my journey. Right, What I what I did was.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
I was trying to get as close as possible to
the to the homeless huh in Georgetown. Uh and so
and this is I mean you know that that this this.
Speaker 1 (12:22):
Sort of mindset is not something that that started them.
This is a mindset and in terms of my disposition
towards as people that it was it's nothing new, you know,
this is me since I can remember since.
Speaker 2 (12:40):
Yeah, So what I would do is that.
Speaker 1 (12:44):
I would I would I would go to a border
market or wherever they would congregate, and I would actually
uh sit with them to try to understand what it is,
what these situations are. And basically what I was trying
to do is to sensitize the national consciousness.
Speaker 2 (13:01):
To the plight of the homeless people in in Guyana. Right.
But what was interesting and remind remember I'm talking about.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
This because this is the this is this is the
thing that filled the gap between.
Speaker 2 (13:16):
Uh my, my, my, my journey, my my, the segments
of my journey. Right. So, but so they're they're they're important,
important as far as the entire journey is concerned.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
So so so I was up against it because I said,
I was trying to sort of sensitize the national consciousness
to the plight of the homeless in Guyana.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
But I was up against a notion.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Of of of theme of homeless people as vagrance exact words, right.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
So, you know, in Guyana they don't talk about.
Speaker 1 (13:54):
Homeless people in terms of the homeless or homeless people
here characterizes.
Speaker 2 (14:01):
Vagrance of vagrant.
Speaker 1 (14:03):
Is you loaded loaded terms? Oh yeah, right, there's there's
nothing kind about when you think of vagrant.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
You know, you're not there's no kindness that is sort
of uh on the guard in that that term.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
You see what I'm saying, it's it's a value loaded
term and it's a it's a pejorative term in a sense.
Speaker 2 (14:24):
Not to cut the straying of your story.
Speaker 4 (14:28):
Is this still a prevailing thought or you don't know?
Speaker 2 (14:34):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (14:35):
I know, Actually, actually I still I think it's still prevalent.
And the reason I say that it's because the idea that.
Speaker 2 (14:44):
That the idea of the.
Speaker 1 (14:46):
Vagrant, I'm telling you, like I said, I was up
against that mentality.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
You know, it's it seems to be ingrained in the
consciousness of the people. Now I'm hoping that's not the case,
but as far as I'm.
Speaker 1 (14:58):
Concerned, you know, And the thing is is that, oh
the idea that that.
Speaker 2 (15:03):
That that that the.
Speaker 1 (15:05):
Mentally challenged among those who are are part of this
this group, you know, you're they're they're they're not seen
as mentally challenged, but you know these my you know.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Mad mad men, mad women.
Speaker 1 (15:22):
All right, So so it's so so there's not a
sort of.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
Uh and a sort of an altruistic.
Speaker 1 (15:34):
Uh out look as far as this group is concerned
and so and so the thinking, I would say, if
it hasn't changed, the thinking is is what needs change.
Speaker 2 (15:47):
And I'm not.
Speaker 1 (15:49):
And I'm not criticizing UH citizens or you know, for
thinking along the current lines of thought. But but maybe
if you, if you can find ways to to sensitize
them to the issue and and to get them to
change their minds.
Speaker 2 (16:05):
About the way they look at the issue, then you know, yeah,
And actually I actually.
Speaker 1 (16:12):
Got directly involved with with with many of them whom
I know. I sat with them, you know, if I
fact I won them. I was sitting on the sidewalk
with a group of them who were sort of lined
up against the I don't know if you remember Border
market had the post office and then there's an.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Old burial ground.
Speaker 1 (16:33):
Uh there they like to sit along that wall by
the variant ground, just opposite the body the market, and uh,
and so I would I one day I remember just
sitting there hanging out with them on the sidewalk and uh.
Speaker 2 (16:49):
Uh you know a fan and.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
There are people apparently who who come around from time
to time, and and would handle food, uh, to the
to the homeless people that are there.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
And so I'm sitting there.
Speaker 1 (17:03):
With them, and event shrewed up right and and I'll
you know, jump this woman and and uh and and.
Speaker 2 (17:11):
They're handing out food.
Speaker 1 (17:14):
And and this woman's without looking me in the eye.
That's the that's the difference. They they you know, they just.
Speaker 2 (17:23):
Put drop the food in the person's hand.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
It's not like an engaging to be honest with you,
it wasn't an engaging.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
Giving a food to the homeless as it were. You know.
Speaker 1 (17:35):
It is like no no eye contact, kind of put
it in the hand, food collected, move on to the
next person. So I am sitting there, this young woman
comes up, does not look me in the eye, right,
push the food in my hand, and then just walks away.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
And and I'm like, oh, what just happened. I didn't
expect that. And then the guy who was sitting next
to me, he started laughed and he said, oh, no,
see now you're one of us, right, And.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Yeah, well I started eating some of the food that
it needs, all of it, but you know, since I
was there.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
But but again, the while the intent is good, good.
Speaker 1 (18:19):
Coldness, yes, yes, actually, and I mean, I mean I
will not characterize that as the as as the reality, right,
I don't want to do that.
Speaker 2 (18:32):
That was just my particular experience at that particular point.
Maybe there are other people who are.
Speaker 1 (18:37):
More engaged as you're given the food. So that was
just I hope that was just a one off, you know.
But anyway, so so so in between these these the
different segments, that was what I did. I spent time
with the homeless and and I think, to be honest with.
Speaker 2 (18:58):
You, the idea of the and when I tried to
engage my fellow citizens.
Speaker 1 (19:06):
About the need for you know, helping the homeless, they
pushed back the you know, the usual thing that a
lot of them are lazy, and you know, and and
and and so you can't have it was difficult to
have the conversation.
Speaker 2 (19:22):
You know, and who you have this conversation with, well, yeah,
important individuals.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Yeah, I got it, I got it so so so
so you.
Speaker 2 (19:36):
Know again, so that is added.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
Also to the I can't remember the the sort of
romanticized expectations of this wonderful journey, right mm hm. And
and then you're you know, the realization that, oh my goodness,
you know, it's not as old.
Speaker 2 (19:58):
But your land is beautiful. Oh but your land is
really not as beautiful as you think. Yes, objectively beautiful,
but then inherently wanting in many respects. You know what
I'm saying.
Speaker 1 (20:11):
And I say that with with with a with a
heavy heart.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
And oh when I say that, I'm not saying that now.
Speaker 1 (20:19):
I'm putting myself back then and as if I'm petting
the story and you know, in twenty sixteen, and when
I say, uh, you know, my my my country is
you know, beautiful Gianna.
Speaker 2 (20:32):
No, not beautiful. You know, I'm talking about my feelings. Then.
I don't know about Ghanna now.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
But but that was my experience and I lived it
for several months, walk in the land, village, the village,
and you know, my my.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
My experiences is as authentic as I guess how long
were you there? I think about six months? Oh okay,
yeah yeah right, so yeah so so so I'm on
the east coast.
Speaker 1 (21:04):
No heading, I'm heading east and uh so as I'm
walking along the east coast of Manna. Now, what I'm
gonna say is is something you know, you.
Speaker 2 (21:19):
Know you you you.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
Know exactly what I'm talking about. But I'm you know,
listeners not might not necessarily if they're happen.
Speaker 2 (21:26):
From from all parts of the world country.
Speaker 1 (21:28):
They're not gonna necessarily understand. But I'm gonna say anyway, So,
as I'm walking along the road.
Speaker 2 (21:37):
Death and decay is everywhere. Mhm. Death and decay is everywhere.
And I said death and decays everywhere.
Speaker 1 (21:46):
You can't walk by on the street, Uh, without seeing
the carcass of a cat, the carcass.
Speaker 2 (21:55):
Of a dog, right, the carcass of right, you know,
the carcasses and carcassus as you walk along. I'm talking
about when I was walking then, right, and so and so,
so I'm on my journey. This this, this, this journey,
you know, my holy cratle right on my level death.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
Death, decay, decay right as a walking and and then
at one point I came across a horse mm hm
at the side of the road. And and you know
what happens when they they get bloated and smallen and
at some point they they blow up, right, the explode, and.
Speaker 2 (22:41):
So yeah, like you saw that, and then uh, I
think the last one I saw was.
Speaker 1 (22:49):
It was a a.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Cayman.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
As we recall it, Yeah, partly it's a come up
for those who don't know. Uh, it's kind of like
a bigger than a crocodile and an alligator.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
I partly had come up from one of the trenches
and I.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Was ran over by by by a taxi cab or
something m hm.
Speaker 2 (23:15):
And so then I, you know, I then I came
across it.
Speaker 1 (23:18):
It was all dried up and and you know, it's
just a skeletal part of it. And uh, you know,
I I stooped down and I there was I took
two of its uh it's it's tooth, two teeth.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
From him, the one the long the longer one, the
sharp ones and.
Speaker 1 (23:40):
Uh, and I and I kept those, and I think
my son still has he still has them right now.
Speaker 2 (23:47):
And as I'm as and I'm taking the taking the
tooth from the came, and I'm saying, uh, this is
this is my exact where I said, brother came and
h you.
Speaker 1 (23:55):
Know, no harm meant, but I'm gonna take these, uh,
and then they're ready to honor you, you know, and uh, your.
Speaker 2 (24:03):
Spirit you know, be with me and and stuff like that. Now,
one thing I.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Learned in my in my journey, and this I learned
from from from Jerry even on our first our first.
Speaker 2 (24:16):
Leg, he said that that if you if you in
the adit in.
Speaker 1 (24:20):
The indigenous culture, if you take a part of an animal,
you know, wild animal, predator, you know, like some people
like to have key sakes, you know, the fur or
you or or the you know, the tooth or something
(24:40):
like that, then you have to have permission to have it.
And the way you would know that you have permission
to carry that that memento is what happens when you
go to sleep that night, if you get a visitation
from the from the spirit, you know, you you will
(25:02):
know that you're not the keep that uh memento. Well
I did not yet uh with it from the came
a spirit, so I figured that was.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
Good to go. So it create a little tendant of
the of the two teeth, and my son uh wears.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
Them with pride as as you know, part of the
relic collected from my journey and so so so that
was then of course I actually came across someone who
had actually died.
Speaker 2 (25:40):
Of a gunshot mound m h.
Speaker 1 (25:43):
And uh, I you know, I was invited to the
to the funeral, which was like no fingerhole I ever attended.
Everybody everybody was dressed in red. It was a celebration
that that your typical funeral. And here I am among
all the among the mourners with my back back on
(26:05):
my back might find that on my head, you know,
you just with my uh, my hiking gear and everything.
And you know, in the midst of this uh, this funeral,
uh ceremony at the bottom of a house.
Speaker 2 (26:21):
So it was quite it was quite something.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
And of course, you know, the like I said, the
the the welcome my member villagers continued.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
And one of the one of the best times was
was I was able to hang my hammot between two
coconut trees in.
Speaker 1 (26:41):
The backyard of of of one of my hosts.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
And uh and and sit there to just.
Speaker 5 (26:48):
Experience, uh, the nice cool breeze of the Atlantic Ocean.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
You know. And and but then the.
Speaker 1 (26:58):
Thing is is that the the kindness of of of.
Speaker 2 (27:02):
Our people, you know, sort of made the journey, you know.
Speaker 1 (27:09):
All the more worth the while, despite you know, the
inner struggles and the inner turmoil. And I might have
experienced and some of the things that I might have
seen that might cast a.
Speaker 2 (27:23):
Shadow on the experience.
Speaker 1 (27:25):
The one thing that was that was a constant was
the kindness of our people man.
Speaker 2 (27:34):
And and and and the kindness out of their own pinery.
Speaker 1 (27:39):
You know that the fact they didn't they didn't have
There was one family, right, I'm having I'm having breakfast
with them, and the.
Speaker 2 (27:49):
Two grandchildren.
Speaker 1 (27:52):
They all, you know, I realized what was happening, but
too late, you know, I figured that anybody was gonna,
you know, gonna be partaking of breakfast.
Speaker 2 (28:02):
But because I'm the guests, you know, I was honored with,
you know, having to write and and the grand the
granddaughter and the grandson. The granddaughter was older, the grandson
was a little younger. All they had was was a bake.
Speaker 1 (28:18):
You know, and and I didn't really realize what was
going on.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
But then it was like, look, can I realize, Oh
my goodness, they're differring to me at the expense of
of of of of the two kids.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
You know, I'm the one who's getting the baked with
the sausage, right, and the and the and the bush tea,
right bush te Remember, because they can't afford milk. They
can't afford milk, and a couple of Vienna sausages, you know,
and a couple of bakes, and then they have to
go to.
Speaker 2 (28:50):
School, and and and the and the sausages were ready
for them. But now I have come on the scene,
and so what is it? What does grandma doing?
Speaker 1 (29:00):
And grandma who was a single parents or her sons
are all grown, and but it's.
Speaker 2 (29:05):
They're they're barely.
Speaker 1 (29:06):
Working, you know, and she has to get up early
in the morning to go to the back down to
bring whatever food she can from the back down to
cook for children, you know, and two grand grandchildren.
Speaker 2 (29:20):
And and here I am, I am.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
You know, I didn't if I had, if I had
realized what was happened, refused the h the.
Speaker 2 (29:30):
Two Vienna sausages, you know, But that's a can't That
was the reality.
Speaker 1 (29:36):
But the bigger reality was the kindness of of of
the of of the of that grandmother, and which was basically,
you know, the kindness of every person that I met
in every village, sort of rich, small, I mean that
that's that was that was what was happening as I
(29:59):
went along on my journey.
Speaker 2 (30:00):
So I am, I am, I am feeling the pain, right,
and they're sharing with me of their pain.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
And it's not like you know that that not that
you can see that, oh they're suffering and in pain. Right,
you don't know it until they tell you or until
you see things, and then you you see how things align,
and then you put two two together and you understand
the straits that they might might might be it right.
So while on the one hand, they're going through their
(30:32):
hardships all right, and and and you know there's also
what what what violences the hardship?
Speaker 2 (30:40):
Is there indefatigable spirit of.
Speaker 1 (30:43):
For for survival and and this this kindness and care
and concern for others above themselves, you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
So so you I've seen that every day on the journey, right,
it gets to you.
Speaker 1 (31:04):
And so I want to avoid going stopping, you know,
being invited to people's homes now because you know now
again yeah, so you know, just like somebody might in
Hits said no I'm going. You know, I'm refusing the
invitation because I'm afraid.
Speaker 2 (31:26):
Of what I will see when I when I get there.
Speaker 1 (31:28):
And I've seen it all, I've heard it all. You
know that you know most experiences that that that.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Families typically you know, you know have you you name
it right? We all we all know what these are.
And and so that's what I found myself.
Speaker 4 (31:46):
Doing kindness then and now what personally is most fascinating.
Perhaps I should reveal this discourse between Rick and me
(32:07):
was recorded before he knew about the transformations that are
currently going on in Guyana, before either of us knew
that there would be elections. And the elections are completed
(32:29):
and the government is con This new government has now
been renewed, and before obviously I arrived on the scene,
so I sharn't talk about back then during our discourse
(32:51):
the floods of tears that followed. Because it is now.
Speaker 6 (33:01):
A pianist transport sector is evolving astronomically to match its
developing trajectory as the fastest grown economy in the world.
The new Demarra River Bridge is the nucleus of our
transports development plan, an incredible piece of engineering that will
be instrumental in transforming travel and shaping our country's economic future.
(33:28):
And look, from day one, the vision for this was
forward thinking. The goal wasn't just to build a bridge,
it was to create a symbol of our potential as
a nation. And let's be absolutely clear, this isn't a
hollow promise. Undoubtedly we have constructed the most ambitious and
sophisticated transport infrastructure project the country has ever undertaken. Now
(33:55):
we will get into it.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 7 (34:03):
You know, since we spoke about the plans to rescue
George and we've had a lot of positive feedback. And
look at the beauty of George Song. You know when
you look at the main street, and it is this
upkeep of main Street and the rest of the avenues
and streets in George Song that we want to embark on,
you know, having a clean city, a green city, a
(34:26):
city that is safe also because safety is an important
part of building a sustainable city, and this is all
in keeping with our overarching goal and that is a
position Ghana as a major tourism destination, as a safe destination,
as a green destination. Our capital city is a representation
(34:46):
of the entire country. So the capital city must not
only be clean and safe and green, but the capital
city must also demonstrate the vibrancy of the society, the
culture of the society. It must demonstrate the different aspects
of Guyana and what we offer. Similarly, I believe the
(35:08):
airport to tell a story when you come into the country.
That is why in terminal two you will see the
story of Ghana being told so these are some of
the things that are critical to the rescuing of our city.
Also ensuring that our services, the service delivery aspects and.
Speaker 4 (35:25):
Busses that is the President doctor airfin Ali with just
a blip of what is happening and planned from region
to region, village to village, person to person. The plans
for growth, development and opportunities are massive, just not the
(35:49):
subject of this particular podcast. Two helpful links are DPI
dot gov dot g Y that is, DPI dot covt GY,
or you can follow Rick's adventure on the journey dot
riosports dot com and find links to everywhere.
Speaker 8 (36:23):
Along the journey. We stop at intriguing places and meet
fascinating people with novel solutions to some of life's tricky questions.
And we play a few games and track the remarkable
characters of three classic books, A SoundBite Life, A Flight
of the Fused Monkeys, and Illa Sat A Time to
Begin Again, all of which can be found on Amazon
(36:44):
and Barnes and Nople.
Speaker 4 (36:48):
The adventure continues, see you next week.
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