Geeklog Site

Linden History Series

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 14:17:18 -0500

Did you think that
Mackenzie was discovered by
George Bain Mackenzie, the geologist who started
the bauxite plant? Do you know the significance of the
court house at Christianburg, one of the longest standing
buildings in the area, as well as the significance of the
wheel behind the courthouse? Have you heard of Maria
Elizabeth, Three Friends, Noit Gedacht, Speightland? Do
names like Alli*censored*, Paterson (Patterson), DeNiewerkerk,
Spencer, Blount, Binning etc ring a bell?

Well, let me take you back to times before Mackenzie.
Yes, there was life before Mackenzie, and I�ll fill
you in. For those who do not know, in 1914, George
Bain Mackenzie, an American geologist of Scottish
descent, arrived at Wismar in a small canoe paddled
by an Amerindian, ostensibly to check out reports of
bauxite found in the area. Even before Mackenzie, as far back as
1868, according to one report, government geologists had discovered
rich bauxite deposits at Christianburg, but it was not
until 1906 that Sir John Harrison, Director of Science and Agriculture,
confirmed that the discovery was indeed bauxite. Between
1910 and 1911, Sir John published a series of papers in a
Geological Magazine about the discovery, and shortly thereafter,
between 1913 and 1914, two permits to explore for bauxite at
Christianburg, Wismar, and Akyma were issued to a Mr. Evan
Wong (Memorandum on the Occurrence of Bauxite in British Guiana,
Argosy, 1937). The next move was to acquire thousands of
acres of land on behalf of the Demerara Bauxite Company
(Demba.) It was around this time that Mackenzie appeared.

What most people are not aware of is that a vibrant community
existed before Mackenzie arrived. As a matter of fact, the Dutch,
who lived in the area before the British, had established sugar
plantations in upper regions of rivers before the British began to
cultivate the fertile coastlands. Wismar, one of these plantations,
once owned by an Englishman named Anthony Somersall, was
bought by John Hoo-a-shoo, grandfather of a later Evan Wong
who worked at Demba prior to nationalization. The Hoo-a-shoo
family also owned the Planba mines which they eventually sold
to Demba. Plantation Christianburg, later owned by John
Dalgleish Paterson, employed over 2,000 workers, mainly in the
woodcutting business (see adjacent view of the great house). Paterson
began buying up as much land in the area as he could get
soon after his arrival at Christianburg. Later, he bought up tens
of thousand of acres all the way to the Essequibo. The Paterson
story is one that has intrigued many over the years.

Paterson, reputedly a Scottish army major, acquired Plantation
Christianburg, a sugar estate, from a Dutchman named Christaan
Finet shortly after his arrival in the area in 1810, over 100 years
before Mackenzie came. It was Paterson who consolidated and
even monopolized the woodcutting business in the area, establishing
one of the first water powered sawmills in then British
Patterson�s great house of the 1800s, which later became Christianburg Court House. continued on page 7
page 7
RH Carr plying the Navigational Channel of the Demerara River.
Photo credits: For the historic early photos in this article, The Lindener thanks Messrs. Paul
Mueller and Joseph Murray. A special thanks to Mr. Evan Wong of USA, formerly a Demba
Services� General Superintendent, for the information on the roles of both his grandfathers
in establishing the Mackenzie bauxite era.

Some photos were digitally corrected and/or colorized by The Lindener.
Guiana. Paterson had contacts in Georgetown, such as the Bookers
brothers, and a great deal of the wood used for Georgetown
buildings came from his sawmill. He even built his great house,
now the court house, which has stood the test of time. Some may
remember that there was a long stelling in front of the court house
as well as two cannons. Paterson sounded these cannons when
many of his friends and business partners visited him. In his book,
Twenty-Five Years in British Guiana (1872 � 1897), Henry Kirke,
a Dutchman who was the Sheriff for the Demerara area, recalled
visiting Paterson�s great house and meeting Mrs. Paterson (Jane
McKell) and her son John Jr. who were running the business.

Kirke expressed astonishment at the house which he described as
�one of the best built in the colony�, and he described the opulent
interior which was comprised of furnishings which Paterson had
brought from Scotland. Today, most of the stelling as well as the
cannons are long gone, but the waterwheel from the sawmill still
remains, a solitary monument to the past (see above).

Paterson had a dozen children with two colored women,
Elizabeth Hill and her niece, Jane McKell. Though he did
not marry Elizabeth, who bore him five children, he did marry
her niece after sending Elizabeth to live at Plantation Amelia�s
Ward, which he also owned. When Paterson died in 1842
(his will was probated by one of the Bookers brothers), his
heirs sold some of the land that he had amassed. In the
late1890�s, Paterson�s son sold the entire estate, including the
sawmill at Christianburg, to the government for a great deal
of money since the government wanted to build a light railway
system connecting Demerara and Essequibo. This railway
system was needed because of the dangerous rapids which
impeded the transportation of goods to the Essequibo area.
The idea was that goods could be transported to Wismar via
the Demerara River then sent by rail to upper Essequibo.

Sprostons acquired the contract to build the railroad.
History states that Paterson arrived in 1810 with two companions,
Blount and Spencer, who also settled in the area.
Blount acquired land at Old England, and Spencer lived at
Three Friends, which he named in honor of himself and his
two companions, Paterson and Blount. In her book, Run
Softly Demerara, Zahra Freeth described Spencer�s great house
on a hill as being complete with a moat and drawbridge. Spencer
became a Postholder, essentially a government agent for
Amerindian affairs. He lived with Hannah Simon (Simmons),
the daughter of an Amerindian chief. The Spencer line is
also interwoven with that of Robert Frederick Alli*censored*, a
Scotsman who lived in the area before the arrival of the Three
Friends (Blount, Paterson, and Spencer) in 1810. Hannah
Simon had a daughter, Nancy, for R.F. Alli*censored* and that
daughter later married Spencer�s son, John Jr. Their daughter,
Maria Elizabeth, had part of the bauxite mining area
named for her.

The old sawmill waterwheel which operated at Plantation Christianburg, is still there.
The Christianburg lumber operations taken over by the Government and operated by
Sprostons to supply crossties for the Rockstone railroad and greenheart dock pilings.
Paddle-wheel steamer freight at lumber-mill stelling on the Demerara in late-1800s.
continued on page 8
The acting treasurer of the newly
formed D.C. Metro Chapter/ LFU,
Carmen Barclay Subryan was born
in Linden, where her ancestral roots
run deep. She attended Christianburg
Scots School, Mackenzie High
School, and Guyana Teachers College.
In 1968, she left for Howard University
where she received her B.A.
(Honors), M.A. as well as a Ph.D. in
1983. She has been on the faculty at
Howard University since 1974.

Always deeply interested in her roots,
Carmen has written two novels about
life in the Mackenzie area. The first
one, Black-Water Women, explores
the lives of four women in the area,
and the second one, Black-Water
People, is a historical novel about her mother�s family, the Alli*censored*s, one of
the first European families in the area. She is currently working on her
third novel, Black-Water Children. Carmen can be reached at
csubryan@howard.edu.
About the Author
The Alli*censored* story is particularly interesting since in the 1950�s
the family was forced to sue the bauxite company which was attempting
to displace them. Incidentally, they won the lawsuit because
Alli*censored* left a will, which was probated in 1822, giving his
plantation, Noit Gedacht (Retrieve), slaves and all, to Ann
Mansfield, a colored woman, and their eight children �forever.�

The story of how Mackenzie used deception to acquire much of
the Alli*censored* land, which included Speightland, supposedly to develop
orange groves, is well known in the area. Alli*censored*, who had
arrived in the area in the late 1700�s, more than 150 years before
Mackenzie, had become the fast friend and business partner of
John D. Paterson, whom Alli*censored* trusted to be the executor of his
will. Because of the will, Alli*censored* descendants were able to win a
favorable settlement with Demba which was attempting to displace
them so that it could build the alumina plant. But the Alli*censored*
line extended far beyond Retrieve. In the 1890�s, Kirke wrote of
visiting Seba (Sebacabra) in the upper Demerara, which was owned
by an Alli*censored* who had a white Scottish wife.
Numerous descendants of the Alli*censored*s, Blounts, Patersons,
and Spencers still live in the Linden area, their lives intertwined
Carmen Barclay Subryan
An old family plot at Speightland.

not only with each other, but also with numerous others who
have settled in Linden. Thus, when you hear of names such
as Binning, Barclay, DeClou, Flemming, Gittens, Van
Gronigen, and Yansen, among others, you are hearing of descendants
of Europeans who lived in Linden long before Mackenzie
was even a dream.

SAS issues ultimatum

Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:56:35 -0500

The Stevedoring Association of St. Kitts (SAS) has given an ultimatum to the St. Kitts Shipping Association (SA) stating that if prolonged negotiations do not reach a positive conclusion by 15 Jan., then industrial action would be taken. President of the SAS Ian �Patches� Liburd told the SUN that negotiations have been prolonged for quite some time and it appears as if the association is using this tactic to frustrate and provoke the stevedores.

New Years Eve Party

Sat, 29 Dec 2007 10:54:38 -0500

Navis Customer Wins Prestigious Caribbean Shipping Association Award

Thu, 08 Nov 2007 10:13:59 -0500

Navis, the global leader in enterprise software solutions for logistics asset visibility, control and optimization, congratulates Sociedad Portuaria Regional De Cartagena (SPRC) for being named �Best Container Terminal� for the third consecutive year by the Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA). The Port of Cartagena won the award in mid-October at the 37th annual general meeting of the CSA. SPRC is considered a major logistic center and a tourist destination in the Caribbean. It also serves as a major transshipment hub with more than 420 ports in 110 countries. SPRC has used Navis solutions for 10 years, specifically Navis� SPARCS terminal operating system (TOS), Navis� Quay Commander, Navis� AutoStow, Navis� Expert Decking applications and Navis� PrimeRoute for ITVs. �We�re thrilled to know SPRC was selected because of its efficient port operations and reliable customer service,� said Deane Stuart, Navis� vice president of maritime sales for the Americas. �We believe Navis played a significant role in the port�s selection for this prestigious award, for a third time.� Because of the Navis software, SPRC has increased its productivity, quadrupled its throughput, and optimized its workload, without hiring a single new employee. SPRC decided more than 10 years ago to replace its in-house system with the SPARCS TOS. �We have become a reliable and efficient port with SPARCS,� said Eduardo Bustamante, Director of Systems and Telecommunications at SPRC. �Before implementing SPARCS, we had inefficiencies and high cost operations. SPARCS real-time reliability helped us improve our yard situation in a major way.� Bustamante continued, �SPRC is able to react and implement more strategic measurements using the Navis software. As we have grown we have being stressed in giving better services and productivity to the vessels. The real-time information SPARCS provided and its optimization tools has been the key to our market success.� For example, since upgrading to the SPARCS TOS, the port increased throughput from 231,549 TEU in 1997 to 468,864 TEU in 2004, a 105% increase. Today, SPRC�s current throughput is 788,374 TEU. The SPARCS TOS enables SPRC to fully automate and optimize vessel, yard allocation and equipment dispatch with minimal worker direction or interaction, which means faster, more efficient load and discharge. The terminal has also doubled its container handling now that it has the information technology to help manage larger vessels that can accommodate more containers. About Navis Navis is the global leader in proven, mission-critical solutions that provide asset and cargo visibility, control and optimization within the global supply chain market. Founded in 1988, Navis was the first company to automate marine terminal operating systems (TOS), improving productivity, velocity and visibility of cargo movement through port and intermodal facilities. Today, Navis continues to deliver advanced technologies to supply chain nodes in more than 50 countries. Navis� SPARCS N4 is the world�s leading TOS that enables logistics providers, such as APM Terminals, APL and Dubai Ports World, to meet or exceed their business goals. Navis core technologies adapt for adjacent markets providing integrated logistics solutions like Navis� Yard and Navis� Edge Manager to optimize yards, rail and distribution centers for Navis customers like Johnson & Johnson, Wal-Mart and Coca Cola Bottling Company. Navis� suite of products streamlines the flow of goods or �connect the docks� from major ports to some of the world�s largest warehouses and retail chains. Navis partners with leading companies such as Psion Teklogix, IBM, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS and Motorola. With headquarters in Oakland, California, Navis has offices worldwide. For more information on Navis, please visit www.navis.com.

Another German ship for Jamaica - CFS Paradero arrives Nov 13

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:14:43 -0500

The Jamaica Ship Registry (JSR) registered the second German-owned ship, CFS Paradero, on Thursday, October 25. The first to be registered with the JSR was the CFS Pafilia, which was registered in May 2006. Like the CFS Pafilia, the CFS Paradero is operated by the Bremen-based Harren & Partner Group. Thus, continuing what has been so far a viable partnership between Harren & Partner and the JSR. The 139.6-metre vessel was christened in Bremerhaven, Germany, on October 26. The 972 TEU container feeder was christened by Anne Gr�nwoldt, daughter of Peter Gr�nwoldt, one of the principals of Harren and Partner. On hand to witness the naming and christening was Claudia Grant, deputy director general of the Maritime Authority of Jamaica. Peter Harren, in his christening speech, gave a background to their foray into Jamaica which, he notes, started in 1999 with the container vessel Pampero, "which was the foundation for the development of a successful container line in Jamaica". Good relationship Harren attributes the fact that a second vessel from the Harren and Partner Group will carry the Jamaican flag to the "good relationship with the local representatives of the port and the maritime authorities". He went on to mention that they are intensifying cooperation with the Caribbean Maritime Institute through their support of the training of the cadets for deck and machinery by making available a nautical officer and a technician to assist. The CFS Paradero was built by the Rolandwerft Shipyard in Germany. It is a multi-purpose container vessel with gross tonnage of 8,246. The CFS Paradero should arrive in Kingston on November 13.

Direct shipments from Panama

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 07:12:26 -0500

Miami-operated SeaFreight Line Limited has commenced weekly, fixed-day service calls from Manzanillo International Terminal, Panama to Grand Cayman. The new service began with first vessel leaving Panama on Tuesday, 30 October and will continue every Tuesday thereafter. The service from MIT Panama to Grand Cayman will be weekly, with a seven-day transit. The company announced that it had appointed CB Fenton Panama as Agents in those respective markets. �This is an exciting time for us as we continue to expand the services that we can offer to our clients. Panama is a traditional and growing trading partner within our area and our schedule will present great opportunities for cargo to and from Panama with very attractive transits,� the carrier said. The Cayman Islands Chamber of Commerce led a fact-finding mission to Panama in January 2006, followed by two trade missions to the Central American country. �Panama and in particular the Free Zone in Colon, has looked like an attractive alternative to Miami for Cayman to buy goods,� said Wil Pineau, Chief Executive of the Chamber following the original trade mission. William Piguero, owner of Sounds & Things and a leading official in the trade missions to Panama, said the latest development is good news for businesses in the Cayman Islands and Panama. �We�re excited to know that SeaFreight Line has seen the importance of the market to both countries,� he said. �We�re hopefully that this will be of great benefit to merchants and SeaFreight Line.� MIT started operations on 16 April 1995 at a location near the Atlantic opening of the Panama Canal immediately adjacent to the Colon Free Trade Zone (CFZ). MIT offers efficient and reliable port services to shipping lines transiting the Panama Canal or serving the South America and Caribbean region. MIT has direct access into the CFZ and highway access to the cities in the Republic of Panama and other Central American countries. During the last Chamber visit in March 2006, delegates discovered that brand name clothing and shoes were available at 30 to 40 percent less than costs in the US. Electronics were estimated to be 10 to 15 percent less than in Miami. It was also apparent that there was a broad range of products available for many industries including construction, telecommunications, food and beverage, and household furnishings. SeaFreight Line has been providing ocean transportation services for 15 years and currently operates 5 x 1,000 20-foot equivalent units (TEU) and 4 x 500 TEU vessels between Florida, the Caribbean and North Coast South American Trades. In addition to the new port of call, the carrier already offers weekly fixed-day service between Jacksonville and Port Everglades Florida and Aruba, Barbados, Bonaire, Curacao, Grand Cayman, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Margarita, Montego Bay, St Lucia, St. Vincent, Suriname, Puerto Cabello and LaGuaira, Venezuela as well as a twice-weekly service to Kingston, Jamaica and Point Lisas, Trinidad. The carrier offers various sizes of dry and refrigerated containers as well as accepts break bulk cargo such as boats, vehicles etc. on flat racks.

Region's maritime sector urged to lobby CSME

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 09:10:00 -0500

Sacha Vaccianna, trade expert with the Shipping Association of Jamaica, addresses participants at the 37th annual general meeting of the Caribbean Shipping Association, held recently in Santo Domingo. Vaccianna's presentation was entitled 'CSME - Are we ready? Implications for the Maritime Sector'. - Contributed Sacha Vaccianna, trade expert with the Shipping Association of Jamaica (SAJ), is urging the Caribbean maritime sector to "lobby for immediate action on a CARICOM (Caribbean Community) Regional Policy". The SAJ official advocated for "regional incentives to promote the development of regionally owned shipping and for harmonisation of shipping legislation" within the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). Ms. Vaccianna made this call during her presentation entitled 'CSME - Are we ready? Implications for the Maritime Sector' at the Caribbean Shipping Association's (CSA) annual general meeting, held recently in Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic. She also encouraged the region's maritime industry leaders to lobby for: The removal of remaining restrictive legislative and administrative practices to doing business. Policies that give more favourable treatment to CSME services and less favourable treatment to non-CSME competing services. Free movement of skilled persons to include pilots and seafarers. Change in local cabotage laws to make CARICOM-owned lines benefit from equal treatment/access to cargo. In her well-received presentation to the more than 200 participants at the conference, Ms. Vaccianna told the shipping executives that "although the CSME is not a panacea, there is no doubt that a larger market will benefit those who trade in it." She also pointed to the experience of the European Union in which the creation of a single economic space has provided immense benefits to Europeans. Looking at Ireland's experience as part of the EU, Ms. Vaccianna showed how the EU's regional policy played an important part in the transformation of the Irish economy and stated that the Irish experience contains many lessons for CARICOM states.

Sunday November 11th: Caribbean Church Service and Thanksgiving

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 14:50:52 -0500

Saturday December 22nd: Annual Christmas Party,and Shawn Feilds Birthday Party Men:�BYOB & Ladies:�Bring-A-Dish at 3937 Keeley Dr Antioch. TN. 37225 Contact Info Lennox: 615-500-1106 Jersen: 615-293-3208 Marlon: 615-589-0634

Greater buying power may soon be available

Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:37:12 -0500

When International Distri-butors of Grand Bahama Limited opens it doors next Friday, it could mean a greater buying power for Bahamian consumers and retailers.

President Roy Deffler met with Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham last Thursday and is confident that the original business licence, which only allowed International Dis-tributors to supply to countries outside of The Bahamas, will be changed.

"The Chilean fruit growers start shipping product to the U.S. the middle of November and it runs for a six month period through April. What happens now is this product will come in to Freeport, be taken off the major ships, put in other vessels, shipped to places like St. Thomas, St. Croix and Grand Cayman."

Anyone in The Bahamas who wants to purchase that product, he pointed out, would have to send their order over there and the product would have to be reselected out of the International Distributors' warehouse, placed into a container and shipped back to Grand Bahama.

One major issue is that fruits and vegetables deteriorate with time, Deffler pointed out.

"If I can save the Bahamian people and the retailers money by bringing it in here, just ship it from here, who's paying the extra cost of shipping over to Florida and then back here. We are, you and I, when we go to the grocery store," he said.

"Because the retailers, they have their profit margin they have to make and if that case of product costs $2 to $3 more because of shipping charges, who's going to pay for it, us?

"The prime minister fully understood that and like I said it made sense. And it's just common sense. So I hope we're going to change that," he said.

The International Distri-butors President said he has spoken to operators of businesses in Grand Bahama such as The Home Centre, Kelly's and Dolly Madison and they support the move.

"They all want to buy and we can certainly supply them if we're given the opportunity," he said.

Admitting there have been some hurdles over the nine months of construction, he adds that it is to be expected as in any business endeavour.

He commended ABC Construction and everyone who had a hand in the project.

Phase I is built on five of the 20 acres and consists of 86,542 square feet. Phase II and III will each consist of 200,000 square feet.

"When we're done with this, its going to look like the letter 'H.' All of the electrical plumbing and all of the pipes for those two expansions are already in the ground. We're all ready to go," said Deffler.

"We've got the plans for the second phase which is going to be southern end of the building 200,000 square feet of freezer and is expected to take two years to build out."

Phase III will take place soon afterwards and the buildings will all be connected.

Deffler also revealed that the business plan has changed tremendously as a result of the opportunities, noting that there are intentions to purchase another 20 acres of land situated directly behind the existing building to construct another 800,000 square foot warehouse.

"We have an option to purchase them and we're going to exercise that option actually next week. We're going to notify the Grand Bahama Port Authority that we want to exercise the option," he said.

"So when we're all done here we want to have close to 1.5 million square of space," he disclosed, which is typically what the company has in Pompano beach and California.

READY FOR BUSNESS � International Distributors of Grand Bahama President Roy Deffler said that the new plant is ready for its official opening, which is set to take place next Friday. (Photo by JENNEVA RUSSELL)

By LEDEDRA MARCHE lededra@nasguard.com

Tortuga salutes soldiers in Iraq

Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:21:45 -0500

An authentic taste of the Caribbean brightens the off�hours for an 11�man Military Transition Team serving at a joint security station in southwestern Baghdad. Front row, from left: Sergeant First Class Edward O�Leary, Utica, New York; Sergeant First Class William Enriquez, Queens, New York; Captain Rick Pounds, Phoenix, Arizona. Back row, from left: Captain Chadwick Swenson, Rockford, Illinois; Master Sergeant Randolph Washington, Petersburg, Virginia; Major Kevin Nicholas, Gallipolis, Ohio; and Staff Sergeant Anthony Troche, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. Photo: Submitted A relative of Captain Chadwick Swenson brought this group to the attention of the Tortuga Rum Cake Company. When the unit first arrived in Iraq earlier this year, they were stationed in the north and began collecting humanitarian aid from home to help the local villagers. Tortuga employees donated clothing, toys and hygiene products and the company covered the shipping. Of course the packages also included some delicious Tortuga Rum Cakes for the soldiers. Once the MiTT moved to Baghdad, they had to stop the aid collections. However they have still been able to receive some additional Tortuga rum cake shipments. Composed of officers and senior sergeants from different backgrounds and military skills, the MiTT works directly with the Iraqi military to coach, teach, advise, mentor and train as well as going into combat with them. "Captain Swenson�s emails have put a very personal face on the war in Iraq. We are so proud of these men and all the soldiers who are serving throughout the world," Monique Hamaty�Simmonds, president of Tortuga Imports/Tortuga Rum Cake Company, said in a press release. Families frequently send Tortuga Rum Cakes to soldiers overseas, and the company has a tradition of sharing its rum cakes with US troops. In 2003, Tortuga sent cakes to the 313th Army Military Intelligence Battalion when a request came in from their chaplain�s wife. A letter from the wife of a US Air Force firefighter with the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron resulted in cakes sent to Kirkuk Air Force Base in Iraq for Christmas of 2004. In March 2006, cakes went to the 408th Personnel Service Battalion stationed in Adder, Iraq. WHO THEY ARE Founded in 1984, Tortuga Rum Company, Ltd. is a family owned and operated business based in Grand Cayman with franchise bakeries in Jamaica, Barbados and the Bahamas. Tortuga Imports, also known as the Tortuga Rum Cake Company, handles worldwide distribution, mail order, food service and online sales from Miami, Florida. Considered the No. 1 export of the Cayman Islands, Tortuga Rum Cakes are shipped to 70 countries around the world. The complete line can be ordered online at www.tortugarums.com or toll free at 800�444�0625