The pay checks were sealed with a part cut out, so you could count the bills without opening the envelopes. 

One December 15, one of my young female staff invited me to lunch because it was the first time she received a raise.

We went to Watercress, and when the bill came in, she forgot all about the spirit of Christmas, and I had to pay the whole bill.

You could say she got the raise not me.

...but I didn't get one. I dropped her home quite inebriated and her boyfriend opened the door.

ole people tred

me nevah wuk in GY

the raise these public servant get for the Christmas go to palm court and see them boys spend it in one hr

de reasen dem decide fuh pay on the 16th also is because yuh choke an rab phamily would ah wait fuh dem. Dem jess want fuh be careful. Nah feel too bad.

i told my family to stop choke and rob people if they want to thief let them join the ppp government its natural 

I remember December 15, 1972.

I got my pay and collected my share of a box-hand I was throwing with my co-workers. Altogether, the equivalent of three months' pay.

Immediately after work I walked to Acme Photo Studio on Regent Street and bought myself a German-made Agfa instamatic camera. It used 126 film cartridge and flash cubes. Each cube gave off 4 flashes. The print pictures were 3.5 inches square.

I worked that camera like a slave-driver. Not only personal pictures of friends and relatives.

I took an interest in kokers as a photographic theme and produced snapshots of almost all Georgetown kokers and some countryside ones.

The weekend before the infamous 1973 elections I accompanied Mrs Janet Jagan to a campaign meeting at Windsor Forest. My handy Agfa camera was put to work.

Two weeks after the elections Dr Jagan invited me to join him on trips to Canal #2 Polder and the Courentyne. I took pictures of Dr Jagan speaking at public meetings.

One day I was walking through the Berbice car park when I noticed carpenters demolishing the King George V Hotel at the junction of Commerce and Longden Streets. Knowing that a historic building was soon to go, I took pictures of it. In the 1920s thru 1940s the King George V was a top hotel in Georgetown.

On May 31, 1974, the trains ran for the last time from Vreed-en-Hoop to Parika. I armed myself with my camera and a notepad and rode on the train, taking pics of the driver and chatting with him too. Later, I wrote an article, attached the photos, and sent them to the Mirror newspaper. They published it in the centre-spread.

And so it went, pictures at the zoo and gardens, pictures at Parika and Leguan, pictures on top the Pegasus Hotel, etc.

All of that and more, the outcome of spending some of my pay on December 15, 1972.

I was on that train for my first (and last) train ride. Post the picture so I can see if I am in it.

Exciting life there Gilly, but did the East Coast train stop before the West Coast one? I thought it was before 1974.

Gilly, your December 15 investment certainly captured some historic moments.

Thanks for sharing these warm memories.

ksazma, I regret I'm unable to post the pictures.

Here's what happened: When my wife, son and I migrated to Canada 17 years ago, we brought only three suitcases containing personal effects, a few books and pics of myself and family. All the other photos I had left in the care of a close friend who himself migrated to Florida some time ago. The last time I asked him, he confessed that he had disposed of them. I felt sad but understood; he didn't have a sentimental attachment to the photos.

While we're at it, I must mention that when Fidel Castro visited Guyana in September 1973, I took a few pics of him and Prime Minister Burnham arriving on Avenue of the Republic to lay wreaths at the Non-Aligned Monument. I stood on the west edge of the canal to get those shots.

Then, in 1974, a Brazilian frigate landed in the Demerara River. I stood at the goods wharf aback Stabroek Market with my camera to capture the frigate.

All those pics were in the bundle I left with my friend.

I'm sure you would appreciate the high material and emotional cost we pay when we leave our homeland to live in a strange land.

Those pics were priceless, but you are correct. We had to leave valuable items  behind, even valuable friends and memories. 

old people reminiscing

Hey y'all watch it! Raymond and freaky I talking to.  I worked in Guyana. 

my salary was to pay back my mom what I borrowed all month and the cycle starts again.

Waan ah dem name Bharat Jagdeo. He ah you olda brudda.

CORRECTION: The Georgetown-Rosignol railway stopped running in 1970.

My sincere apology.

Thanks to the esteemed comrade who brought it to my attention.

Sometimes Gilbakka is liable to slip-slide like a mud cuirass.

Chameli, I just checked a 1974 calendar online and I must admit that you are correct. June 30 that year fell on a Sunday, May 30 did not. The last train ran on the last Sunday of June 1974. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.

Again, Gilbakka slipped like a mud cuirass. My apology.

Bookman I now remember you there at the Non-Aligned Monument.  I remember you walking up to the edge with the camera.  I think there were two other guys there not far from you.  They were also in the PPP.  There was a crowd of people there also standing around on the street paths surrounding the Monument area.  Burnham was sitting next to Castro in a car that came up to the Monument area.  You were a young man in those days.

Wally, you were there too! Yes, I did walk to the edge to take out the photos. A few feet behind me was UG political science lecturer Dr Sheik Insanally with a placard.

I would hope so.

Frigging Frigate

I know what you mean about leaving valuable stuff in Guyana. I wish I had brought my red phone.

...no shit! hehehe