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Logo of the Scout Association of Guyana

Scouting in Guyana

The Scout Association of Guyana was founded in 1909 in what was then British Guiana under the leadership of Sergeant Major George Manly, a member of the British Regiment stationed there. The first Scout Troop was formed at Queen's College.

The movement spread rapidly, with Troops being attached chiefly to Church schools. There were few open Troops in the beginning, but one which flourished was Troop 39. It was the first Troop to make the overland journey to Kaieteur Falls. This Troop produced some of Guyana's finest Scout Leaders - including two Chief Commissioners, D.B. St. Aubyn and Lawrence Thompson, and 4 Assistant Chief Commissioners for Cub Scouts.

BG Scout Leaders 1954

Scouting spread from the county of Demerara to the county of Berbice, where a renowned Troop, Lady Davson's Own, was formed.

Scouting emerged in the county of Essequibo in the 1940s with Troops mostly attached to Church Schools. A troop was started at Onderneeming Boys' Reformatory in Suddie. Sam Cummings, an instructor at the School, was the first Scout Leader, followed by the Headmaster, a Mr Kissoon. There were a few Troops and Packs in the Pomeroon and Rupununi districts. For many of these Troops the departure of the resident Priest meant closure of the Troop. A Troop was run by Canon John Dorman, a Gilwellian at Kamarang, Upper Mazaruni, catering mainly for Amerindian boys.

Another prominent Troop is St Stanislaus College Troop, catering for Roman Catholic boys before the school became co-educational. Among its leaders is Father Bernard Darke, S.J., a Gilwellian who made a great contribution to Scouting in Guyana before his tragic death. As well as running the Troop he was a member of the Training Team and served on the Executive Committee.

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6 cent stamp celebrating 3rd Caribbean Jamboree 1969

The Scout Association of Guyana joined the World Organization of the Scout Movement in 1967. Guyana was able to boast of Land, Sea and Air Scouts and Rovers in the 1960s. Regrettably Sea and Air Scouts no longer exist.

To obtain the highest rank in Guyana, a Scout must pass the normal proficiency tests, and, in addition, must be able to obtain badges in agriculture, which prepares each Scout to feed himself from his own produce.

Leader Training

Basic Practical Course for Leaders, Georgetown, Guyana - January 1971

Many of the Anglican and Roman Catholic priests who came from England to serve in Guyana were Gilwell Scouters, including the late Archbishop of the West Indies, Dr Alan John Knight, who served on the Colony Scout Council for many years and welcomed the Cub Pack from St Gabriel's School, Convent of the Good Shepherd, who held their meetings on the lawn of his residence, Austin House, for many years. A lack of official trainers in Guyana had Scouters train at Paxdale, Trinidad for many years. Brian Fox, seconded from England in the 1950s spent about three years training leaders and expanding Scouting. It was in this time that British Guiana's Scout Training Team was formed.

Presidents

Presidents of the Scout Association have included:

Commissioners

Early Commissioners were referred to as District Commissioners. In 1920 their title was changed to Colony Commissioner. Commissioners of the Scout Association have included:

Cubbing in Guyana

Cubbing in Guyana started in 1926, the first pack being St Barnabas Anglican Church, under the leadership of Mr Braithwaite. The first ACC Cubs was Mrs Isadora Walton, Cubmaster of Pack 39, who did a great deal to spread this section of the Movement.

The first Guyanese Cubmaster to be trained at Gilwell was Evelyn St Aubyn who succeeded Isadora Walton as ACC Cubs around 1938. George Manly's grand-daughter, Daphne Manly, ran Pack 39 for many years.

Census

Girl Guiding

Girls in Guyana are served by the Guyana Girl Guides Association, with 819 members (as of 2003). Founded in 1922, the girls-only organization became a full member of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 1969.



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