Ann’s Grove - ben
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By Shauna Jemmott “UNITED we stand, divided we fall!” Ann’s Grove has for long been a community drifting between standing and falling, maybe gone halfway down, but it’s bent on taking flight this time around with a highly productive citizenship and vibrant community developers ready to take control. Ann’s Grove is easy to find. It is the only community along the East Coast of Demerara with a distinct lime-green bus shed along the public road. The shed has for years been a home to a few, but in times past friends sat within for a good conversation while enjoying the sea breeze and the sounds of the waters whenever there was high tide. The road just opposite the shed leads to many villages – Bee Hive, Clonbrook, Ann’s Grove, Two Friends and Douch Four - Ann’s Grove being the most popular and in the center of them all. A malfunctioning Koker right outside the roadside canal stands before the outstanding village label erected along the public road, and as one drives along the road leading into the village, you will find on your right, a recently developed housing scheme that takes you halfway in. The homes of unique architecture display an interesting blend of warm colours. That area is Ann’s Grove Housing Scheme. Beyond the train-line boundary, on your right hand is the central part of Ann’s Grove. NEVER SLEEPS A bubbling community that never sleeps, every child is familiar with the other and catch up on a regular basis playing dog
and the bone, ‘Sal-out’ or street football, while pork-knockers wives meet to discuss husbands and “bush” business as market vendors bargain with
while religious women hold worship, praise and prayer meetings believing for righteousness even in the midst of a few fist fights, some gambling and occasional
Aunty Madeline poses with her grandchildren
Ms. Grace and her greens stand!
farmers for the best price per boat-full of mangoes or green plantains. Then you’ll find bakers defending the decreased size of a $500 cassava-bread package, revellers talk about the next party place and fashion for the night,
blood-fights. In the midst of it all, young men who cried joblessness are travelling up the Cuyuni to look for gold, yet a significant number gamble, argue and laugh under the scorned market structure
GUYANA CHRONICLE Monday December 7, 2015
while a majority of young women who have gained CSEC subjects head to Qualfon for an interview. ‘GREEN SPACE’
a quarter of which is lost to owners and overtaken with weeds and tall bushes. The Village Office is located right after the bus
Christmas Preparation! Malika Williams gives her house a facelift, painting for the holidays
95-year-old Sydney Dundas strikes a pose in his home
POTENTIAL Ann’s Grove has quite a number of professionals and producers and has potential to become one of the green spaces which the government is pushing for, with fertile soil and a vast expanse of farmlands,
park, around the market square, the central part of the community, and with freshness in the political atmosphere, motivation has come and many are walking into the village office to locate their beds to up the community’s rank in farm-
ing, maybe to as high as that of its vendors owning blocks or stalls at Bourda and Stabroek Markets in Georgetown. When Guyana Chronicle visited Friday it was business as usual in Ann’s Grove. Around 08:30 hrs, children were in school and food shops open for business dotted the parapet over the old train line road and extending into the bus park, which has become a booming business area complemented by a basketball court. Though Ann’s Grove itself does not have a dedicated Health Centre, Post Office or Police Station, it is served by the Clonbrook Health Centre, Police Outpost and Post Office, located along the same road. The village has a government nursery, primary and secondary school and two private pre-schools to serve its children and four Christian churches – with the Ebenezer Congregational built by African slaves, being the oldest. Alexander Bradshaw, the craftsman and shoemaker known as ‘Alek’ is at his small blue shop around Market Square. Daily he opens for business, producing and selling leather craft footwear, bags, belts, fixing broken shoes, and fulfilling orders by overseas customers. Ann’s Grove Methodist church just opposite his shop advertised on a banner that it is celebrating 160 years this year under the theme, “Honouring my church according to God’s Word”. Mr. Osman Mason, a retired senior policeman, community and religious leader said though the village’s youths have great potential, they lack the enthusiasm to develop and use their talent wisely.