Columns & Blogs

This is Peereboom on the Berbice River, Guyana.

Here, on March 03, 1763, a huge force of rebellious slaves converged on the Dutch planters' house. Stalemate ensued, and so the warring parties agreed a cease fire, with the Dutch being allowed to head for their boats. What happened next would set the mood for the war to come.

As the youngest of four and the only boy, it was already difficult for me to find a place to shine, but I have a little shadow following me behind.

This shadow was an unusual shadow. Other people couldn’t see it but me, and a few others already had a shadow of their own. This shadow is called Cystic Fibrosis (CF). CF is a genetic disease that affects my immune system. I was diagnosed at birth and it never let a ray of sunshine creep over my head.

As a teenager growing up in Guyana I listened to music from almost every genre. Many of the lyrics from those songs of that time were used to "chat up" the young ladies with varying degrees of success.

While not faithfully mirroring true events, the idea came for this story is inspired by certain character moulds that can still be found in Guyana. The characters and events are invented and placed against the backdrop of Guyana’s as yet untamed hinterland. I hope most readers take the intersection between fiction and fact for granted. For those who do not, be warned.

Although I'm not Catholic, I am very pleased to hear that the Vatican has elected a pope from South America. It's long overdue. The continent provides 40% of the world's Catholics, and no one institution has had such an influence over this continent. At one stage (1609-1768), it even presided over a utopian state, here in Paraguay (pictured) managed by the Jesuits.

This is the back of the Stabroek Market, Georgetown (Guyana), which, in the late 18th century, had been a slave market. Here, after many days at sea, the African captives got their first sight of the then-Dutch colony of Demerara.

In a few weeks time, I'll be heading out to Poland to launch 'Wild Coast', the book of my travels in Guyana, Suriname and French Guiana. There were several points in my journey where my path crossed with Poles.... Here are three of them. Can you think of other Polish-Guianese connections?

This is New Amesterdam (Guyana), where the Berbice enters the sea. Here is a great, blank estuary, the colour of sharpened knives. I remember thinking how bright it seemed, and how the only shapes were two straggly lines of attenuating mangrove. Out in the glare nothing moved except dolphins, forming soundless hoops of pink and grey, before vanishing in rings.

Today, on World Book Day, we celebrate the best of books, and it's a great occasion for young and old. But part of the fun of books is evaluating them. You'll hear alot about great books today .. but what about the bad ones? Here is my list of the worst travel books:-

For the poor he was a hero, bringing a much-needed redistribution of wealth. For others he was a tyrant, wrecking the economy with populist policies. Either way, he made an indelible impression on his beautiful country, Venezuela (pictured), as a I discovered six years ago.