Rupununi Farmer celebrates 100 years.
While calling for Guyanese to reflect on the important role of families within our society in observance of International Day of The Family, Minister of Social Protection, Hon. Amna Ally took time out to visit the Hamilton’s Family at Princess Street Lodge in celebration of Mr. Horace Hamilton’s 100th birth anniversary.
Mr. Hamilton was born on the 15th May 1917 at Gibraltar, Berbice in then British Guiana. He is the lone survivor of six siblings who all lived past the age of ninety; however he is the only one to attain centurion status. His family says “His will to live is puzzling to many even when they all gave up on him; he kept the hope of being alive to see a century”. He is described by them as an “inspiration to his family and friends”
Mr. Hamilton married Mary Singh Hamilton; the union saw ten children, two of whom were present as he celebrated this milestone today. Up to the age of ninety-six Mr. Hamilton farmed tomatoes, peanuts and various other goods in the Rupununi, where he lived for the most part of his life after moving there in the 1950s. He enjoyed a very quiet life on his farm, which is still in operation today. Horace Hamilton enjoyed writing poetry and wrote over 50 poems over the last few years.
As his birthday is the day the world celebrates International Day of Families a snippet of one of his poems depicting Family can be viewed
below:
“How sad to know of a broken home, harder still, when you’re left alone, it is indeed a grievous thought creating sorrow and pain in one’s heart … Children often go astray, never stop to roam, no one to guide them on their way because of a broken home, lovers, husbands and wives, pay heed and take advise, avoid a broken home or you would be left alone”
Mr. Hamilton’s poetry coincides with the views on family by Minister Ally who in her statements today mentioned “the family is one of the welfare pillars of society and is essential for the socialization of children and their individual well-being”
Horace Hamilton spent his one hundredth birth anniversary among relatives who offered him best wishes and reflected on days when he was stronger. He was presented with a hamper and a card by Minister Ally who shared the moment with the family. A book of Mr. Hamilton’s favourite poetry, along with some of the poems which Mr. Hamilton would have authored, was then presented to the Minister.