Incredible people, history - stories

Mrs.  Foo owns and runs a guest house in Lethem; her son works with her.

Mrs. Foo and son

Mrs. Foo.  I don't have the words to say how incredibly honored I am to be among such important and humble people.  Mrs. Foo is a true educator and truly dedicated to the positive future of Guyana and its people.  She fell in love with Lethem when she came many years ago to work teaching about food preservation to women and she never left.  Mrs. Foo is dedicated to contributing to the lives of women.  She is an oral historian, a pillar of the community, and she is Guyana women's history. 

Mrs. Foo lost her first husband after 3 children and fell in love and remarried Mr. Foo.  Today Mr. and Mrs. Foo are still together over 40+ years and they are still in love.

Mr. and Mrs.  Grimmons.  I am in total awe of this man and his wife.  Of course, it surprises how little I know of my Guyanese history and my roots.  Only a documentary can tell this couple's story.  Here I will share the strength, courage, and determination of two people; And their story is a Guyanese history story.

The beautiful and peaceful residence of Mr. and Mrs. Grimmonds

Around 1969, after the Rupununi Uprising, coastlanders were chosen to relocate to the Rupununi; they were promised a certain amount of land.  Mr. Grimmonds was farmer and a man who cut cane; he was one of 20 men chosen for the area; they arrived and were placed in a camp; they were given 3 months to clear the land.  Of the 20 men only 3 men stayed.  Mr. Grimmonds fell in love with the land and the quiet; he survived the hardship and the difference in terrain; he returned home and brought his wife and four children.  Together they made a home and a life. 

 Today Mr. and Mrs. Grimmonds still manage their land together - 45 years of marriage and they are still in love. 

Mr. Gimmonds and Mr. Johnson

Two handsome and determined friends and pioneers.  These two men entered the Rupununi in search of a future; they stayed and contributed to culture and the building of the country.  Mr. Grimmons was a farmer who developed land; planted food; raised animals and delivered them to markets that extended as far as Georgetown.  Mr. Johnson (to the right) left Berbice to drive cattle back and forth; these journeys lasted 2 weeks.  He survived the uprising; he bought land; he built a hotel; he bought a ranch; he started a gas station.  

Both men have children who continue the work.  Mr. Johnson has also been married for over 35 years

Joyce, Mr. Johnson's daughter, Mrs. and Mr. Gimmonds and Mr. Johnson the owner of The Takutu hotel, the Takutu gas station and a ranch

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