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Reply to "Belvedere Inn, Berbice, Guyana"

 

Chief,

I have known Ron Seepersaud since the 1950s  at Old Albion, but we became closer friends in the early 1960s, when he knocked on our Belvedere door at four one morning, asking friends to donate blood for his mother emergency surgery,  at the  old New Amsterdam hospital.  It was during the British time and breakfast afterwards was brandy, with cheese and  crackers. Dem bhai got lightheaded with less blood and too much brandy.

The Belvedere Inn building was once a sugar worker's co-op store, where bulk food  items were sold cheaply. The co-op did not work out well and the building remained vacant for a long time.  I have some earlier photos of the building and also in the 1970s.. In the following years, most of the building material was stolen  and all that remained were the concrete foundation, with an opening day  memorial plaque that is still there today, as part of Belvedere Inn.

I believe Ron had seven sons, some are not alive. No daughter. They managed Belvedere Inn  business at Belvedere and Rose Hall Town, when Ron and his late wife moved to  Canada.

Ron's  FIL  was a school furniture maker, locate near  Albion Multiplex, close to the main entrance bridge.  I know when Ron was courting his wife. He used to stand on the bridge and sing her Jim Reeves love songs while playing  his guitar. One time the FIL threw an old pot at him  and broke his guitar strings. On their wedding day, the FIL gave Ron a new set of guitar strings  and said he was sorry for throwing the old pot, because he did not knew what Ron's intentions were for his daughter. Ron said thank you Pa.

Ron bought the building  lot, what was left of old co-op store  and built Belvedere Inn, first only as a bar,  that was very different than what it is today. It was only a one floor building, then later he added the upper floor restaurant.

Ron was one of my best friends at Belvedere and  he never forgot how we supported his mother in an emergency.  When I visit Guyana, he gets upset if I don't see him and he always plan a party with special  food at his house  with his family  and other friends.  I have many photographs of Ron and his family from the 1960s to 2000, that I will put together for his children.

The last time Ron visited Guyana and  returned with a stroke, I sent him some photos I took of a   hunting trip we had.  I believe it was with a guy name Doobay who had to leave Wismer. Ron and family attended the Williamsburg Lutheran church, where Rose Hall Town Mootoo took photos of our youth group, with Pastor Munroe.  In the early 1960s, his parents lived at Belvedere Public Road, close to Nigg Post Office  and had Sunday school classes, that was attended by  the children in nearby villages.

Ron was a community supporter and a very generous man. The Lions Club you mentioned  was a big part of his life. Their hall is located at Hampshire and my other Belvedere friend Sonny Sukhai was also a long time club member and school furniture maker. They link well with my Berbice Kildonan friend Bob Y.,  another long time Lions Club member,  in Tortola, British Virgin Island, where  I visit often and participated in many Lions Club activities.  Bob will be a welcoming host if you should decide to visit. There are a few hundred Guyanese living there, many from Berbice. .

I will miss my frequent phone calls to Ron. We always catch up with what the boys like Leon McKoon in England and others are doing.  I was once on a two week trip with Leon from Albion to Charity. . He is also a fun guy, but not doing  well heath wise..

Ron was a good friend and I will miss him an awful lot.  

RIP Ron Seepersaud, on this day of your funeral.

Tola
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