Look to the night sky

What started as a personal log or tongue in cheek look at life here in the Rupununi has over the months more or less become an expected edition to be read by everyone who knows of it. For as much enjoyment as I obtain from writing the “Spin” my real enjoyment comes from those who read and find humor not only in themselves, but in the situations described.

I had hoped to wrap up the last episode “Moon Fever” on a bright note, but sadly it is without humor or joy that this episode of the “Spin” is written.

Rupununi Days, the second annual expo of Rupununi Agriculture and Crafts was deemed by most standards a success. It was pleasing to see so much locally produced ground provisions, as well
as rations, and of course the abundance of Para Kari and those to partake in the libation.
But as the two day celebration drew to a close there was disturbing news of young vandals riding motorcycles up on the newly constructed stage, and of course there was damage.
Monday evening, while awaiting the bus to return them to Georgetown, two young men, on a motorbike ran into another young man on a bicycle, resulting in all three being airlifted to Georgetown. Of the three one was critically injured and remains in the hospital.

Reports of accidents, deaths in families and such were rampant last week.

Tragedy, stuck Thursday afternoon, when two young men died at Bina Hill. One of whom gave his life in a valiant effort to save the other.

Saturday, news of a near disaster, when the steering box failed on the bus coming from Georgetown, while Saturday evening brought news of brothers and friends on a fishing trip, one of whom was had his Achilles tendon severed by either a fish or caiman. It was the valiant effort of a brother and friends who got him to the air strip from the remote creek so that he might be flown to Georgetown.

Now the questions to be ask, could any of this have been prevented?

This writer’s answer is a vehement yes to most.

What gives anyone the right to deliberately vandalize community property? Is it because they did
not have to reach into their own pocket to pay for the new stage constructed to enhance the facilities of the Rodeo Ground? Will they use the excuse that they were drunk and did not know what they were doing? Will they use those same excuses the next time they want to destroy or harm something that does not belong to them? Who or what will be next? Their spouse, a child, an innocent by stander such as the young man on the bicycle, and the other who was riding behind the driver of the motorcycle.

Needless to say, operating a motor bike, vehicle or even riding a bicycle when drunk is an accident looking to happen. Add to this, the fact that you have two motor bikes racing on a narrow road at night, no one, including the passengers are wearing helmets.

One has to wonder if drinking to excess makes a person that irresponsible if they should be allowed to drink at all.

Paying passengers of a transport service, have the right to feel reasonably safe and secure in the knowledge that they will arrive at their destination safely with out mishap. This is a valuable and much needed service but it also needs to maintain the safety standards expected of the service.

The tragedy which occurred in Bina Hill, may have been prevented if adequate ventilation had been provided to the well which was being cleaned or at least a method employed which would have provided safeguards to the young man who was doing the maintenance. Even more tragic is the fact that no one who was around the well when the one young man was rescued knew how to perform artificial respiration or CPR. This may or may not have saved at least one young life, we will never know.

To add to the sadness of this situation, the bodies were transferred to Lethem Hospital mortuary where they were to await post mortem. Upon arriving at the hospital it is learned that the cooling unit in the morgue was not in working order. Compound this with the fact that there was another body already there with the family having to provide ice to hold the body for several days. What a sad thing for all the families involved to think that no one had bothered to check and report the fact that the cooler was not in good working order.

Now we arrive to Saturday night when the family arrived with the coffin ready to prepare the body of their son for burial, only to find that even though the cooling unit was now working no one had bothered to replace the lights in the morgue. Anyone passing by would have been shocked to see a candle lit body surrounded by grieving family observing the body being washed in preparation for burial.

One can only hope that the next family does not have to go through this type of stress before a loved one is put to rest.

Since I my self am an avid fisher, and fished the area of the creek where the fellow was bitten, I can only offer my wishes for his speedy recovery. I truly feel that this was an unpreventable freak accident and it will certainly not keep me from fishing, where as the other tragedies of the week were all preventable.

So what you ask can be done?

Education, of all the citizens of the Rupununi as far as being responsible for your behavior and actions. If you drink, do so responsibly, for you will be held accountable for your actions. All citizens need to show respect for not only others but also the property of others.

Education as to the proper procedures and precautions to be taken when using a gasoline or fuel burning pump. Were the operators manual read, which clearly warn of the dangers from carbon monoxide fumes and other hazards involved with the pumps operation? Anyone having dealing with this sort of equipment should be made aware of the possible dangers involved, trained to handle and operate the equipment in a safe manner.

Education as far as basic artificial respiration and CPR, which could possibly save a life. This should be taught to every man, woman and child in the area. No one is too young or too old to learn the basic technique. It is the right of every resident of this remote Rupununi to have this basic knowledge. Speak up and ask for the training.

It is also the right of every resident of the Rupununi to expect to find a clean, well maintained mortuary facility when its services are required. You expect no less from the hospital when admitted, why expect less for the non-living.

It is everyone’s responsibility to speak out to the people in charge.

Passengers who use any transportation service should demand that greatest care be taken by the persons responsible for maintaining, driving, and providing that service to insure they arrive safely to their destination.

The very nature of a spinning object makes it prone to disturbances when obstacles are encountered, but like our earth itself, balance is retained and the spin continues. So to will the Rupununi continue to Spin.

The night sky has held a fascination for me since my arrival here. Never have I seen the night sky so clearly or the stars as bright as here in the Rupununi.

I would like to share a story I told two little girls 2 years ago, when their brother died of complications resulting from a fall from a tree which left him paralyzed.

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On that late October evening I sat with these two sisters and lit a single candle for Jeffery when the first bright evening star appeared. I explained to them my belief that each of the stars in the sky was a hero who had passed on, and that the brightest stars were the newest heroes to join the celestial display. During the course of the evening the girls shared with me memories of their hero. Of course as always happens sooner or later you see a shooting star. This was explained as a hero coming back in the form of a new born, who would grow up to be someone else’s hero here.

Rupununi, look to the sky, you have two new heroes. Take heart they will always be there shining bright until such time as it is deemed they should return and once again be someone’s Hero.

30/11/04 Shefishs

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