Guyana Stories by Peter Halder
The Jordanites
by Peter Halder
Colonial Era
Religion played a fundamental role in the British administration of its colony of British Guiana.
It was most probably the policy of the British that in a multiracial country with many races- African, East Indian, Chinese, Portuguese, the indigenous Amerindian, European and their inter-mixtures- and with different cultures and religious practices, the foundation, growth and spread of the Christian religion, could and would convert, indoctrinate, assimilate and unite the many races into a united nation. The colonialists went further. They recognized that the older generation was probably beyond conversion, indoctrination and assimilation, so their policy was to focus on the children, the new generation.
Churches dotted the landscape of Georgetown and environs, as well as the countryside. Read More »
Comments
I had contact with three Jordanites in my childhood. They lived in a commune way up the Demerara at a place called Zion. They would journey the Demerara River every few weeks to sell primarily delicious corios and other forest fruits.
They were known in the community as “brother” and were very kind and peaceful men. They wore their customary white turban, long white robe and carried a staff also. My father even bought a little black puppy from them whom we called Bruce.
In one noticeable thing about them is they appeared to have all the time in the world and was never hurried. They only used their tiny outboard engine “with the tide”, preferred paddling or just camping in their boat alongside the river and waving in friendship to all who passed by.
I visited Zion Hill often in the late 1950s. It was next to Seba Quarry.
I was brought up as an Jordanite, i grow up at Berbice