Mahaica resident Ruby Hunte is 96 not out!
DPI, Guyana, Saturday, November 10, 2018
Ninety-six-year-old cricket lover, Ruby Latesha Amanda Hunte, also known as Cousin Ruby, kicked off her birthday celebration with a surprise visit from the Minister of Public Health Volda Lawrence.
Born on November 10, 1922, Hunte lives in First Street, Jonestown, Mahaica and is the mother of ten children (five of whom are deceased), grandmother to 13, great-grandmother 0f 22 and the great-great-grandmother to one.
The nonagenarian reflected on her life as a young school girl attending the Mahaica Scot School as it was known then; it was later renamed the Mahaica Primary School. “My mother was so poor I didn’t get my full education, when I was in fifth standard to go over to sixth, I had to leave school…”
Ruby never shirked from work. Being the eldest of five children, after leaving school in 1938, she joined her grandmother and began working at the estate in Mahaica to support her family. Her work ethic continued later in life and following her marriage in 1951, she spent many years as a market vendor plying her trade in both Georgetown and Mahaica.
Ruby was also fond of a good party and found the time to enjoy herself. “When I was young, I used to like sport (party) and I liked to dance, I went to many parties and had an enjoyable time,” she recalled. However, she noted “at this age, this is time for my grandchildren and my children. I worked hard to raise them.”
With the dedicated support of her children and family members, Cousin Ruby remarked that she is not short of anything good. Apart from her love of cricket, she now enjoys long ‘gyaffs’ with her family especially her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Ruby loves sharing several ‘ole time stories’ also about her life in Mahaica when she was younger with them.
Cousin Ruby noted youths today are vastly different from those back in her day. She remarked that discipline and community involvement in a child’s development was the key to raising respectful children. She still maintains this standard.
Minister Lawrence presented gifts and tokens to the 96-year-old, on behalf of herself and President David Granger.
While in Mahaica, Minister Lawrence also paid a visit to 101-year-old Cecil Harris who resides a short distance from Ruby Hunte. Harris boasts of his ability to speak extensively about the history of villages such as Ann’s Grove and other communities.
Delicia Haynes.
Images: Jules Gibson.