‘Moment in time’ as Santa arrives at Arrowpoint
… bears gifts for children of Amerindian communities
Guyana Chronicle
December 28, 2003
IT WAS ‘the moment in time’ for children of the Amerindian communities of Santa Mission and Aratak Village when Santa Claus arrived at the Arrowpoint Nature Resort, Kamuni Creek, two Saturdays ago.
He took them a lot of goodies for the festive season as they assembled at the Resort for their grand annual Christmas party.
The children look forward to the traditional yearly meeting, hosted by Roraima Airways Limited, with great excitement. But he appears at the venue via a different means of transport every time, springing a surprise that thrills his little friends, who usually travel by ferry up the dark, winding waters of the Kamuni Creek.
The real excitement is to find Santa some place on the Resort after he arrives. This year, he also did so by boat at about 13:10 hours.
Eagerness was evident in the eyes of the gaily attired 86 children between two and 14 years old, escorted by their schoolteachers and Headmaster, Mr. Gordon Cheong.
They were told by Resort Supervisor, Sonia Khan, that Santa was hiding somewhere around on the complex. She led the ensuing search, asking, “Now children, where do you think Santa Claus might be?”
Some shouted, “under the house (main cabin)”, in response. “Really? Well, if you think so, let’s go and get him,” she urged.
They all took off with enthusiasm, sprinting up the sandy beach towards the main cabin. They peeped into every possible secluded area under there, but did not see any sign of Santa Claus.
So Khan then suggested that he might be upstairs. They followed her and went there. There was no Santa.
The children were determined. He had to be found.
Santa Claus over the years appeared by helicopter; wave runner - speeding up the Camuni Creek and through the jungle on an AVT (All Terrain Vehicle).
Last year, he arrived by canoe, rowing down the Camuni Creek. The children must have remembered that because after leaving the cabin, they ran down to the Creek, hoping to see him there.
This search was futile. Khan then asked them to follow her up the sandy slope leading to the mouth of the jungle trail.
Then the ‘moment in time’ finally arrived. An exhausted Santa was seen struggling to bear the weight of a bag laden with gifts for the children.
He came through the forest and was riding down the slope towards the complex when the children spotted him. They ran to him.
“I ride all the way from the North Pole to come here in this hot place to bring you presents my little kids”, he said in a breathless voice, staggering down the slope and eventually retiring on the steps of a cabin.
The children, holding onto his gift bag, accompanied him to the main cabin where the party was being hosted. They all sang Christmas carols and danced with Santa after receiving their gifts; feasted on sumptuous food and drinks and played games before leaving at about 16:30 hours.
Headmaster Cheong commented that the annual party is an occasion much looked forward to by the communities of Santa Mission and Aratak Village.
He noted that as the party date approaches, parents would make special efforts in preparing the children to have a grand time on that day.
Arrowpoint’s proprietor, Gerry Gouveia, is also keen on arranging on the event annually. He says once Arrowpoint exists, the children’s party should go on.
Gouveia’s firm, Roraima Airways Limited, also contributes significantly to the two communities in the areas of education and employment. – (JAIME HALL).