Vincent Roth, A Life in Guyana, Volume 1: A Young Man's Journey, 1889-1923
For those old enough to have known Vincent Roth, his memoirs: A life in Guyana Volumes I & II will be familiar ground to examine his immense contribution to Guyana and will define him as an adopted son of the soil.
Edited by Michael Bennett (Roth's son-in-law), the volumes are a passionate, life history of Roth's years in Guyana's hinterland that go back to the 1890s when he travelled here from his native Australia.
Thirty-seven years after his death, the memoirs, which Roth had intended for his family have been published and were launched at the National Art Gallery - Castellani House - on Thursday.
The memoirs cover Roth's contributions to journalism, historical writing and his work as a nominated member of the National Assembly as well as his work at the museum and the zoological gardens. Volume I covers the period 1889-1923, and Volume II, the period 1923-1935.
Lloyd Searwar, former Director of the Foreign Service Institute, recalls that Roth was the kind of writer who had a tremendous need to transform experience into words. Of much interest in the volumes are Roth's writings of his life and times in British Guiana from his arrival, in 1907 with his father, Dr Walter Roth, who was assigned by the colonial government as a Government Medical Officer and Magistrate in the Pomeroon, to his departure from British Guiana in 1964.
During his 57 years in British Guiana, Vincent Roth was employed as a surveyor in the upper Demerara river and in the North West District, and as Warden of the Mazaruni - a post which combined being magistrate in the area - tasks which brought him into the hinterland, a world far from the proprietors of colonial Georgetown.
Searwar, who knew Roth and wrote a foreword to Volume I, said Roth was completely oriented to Guyana and made an important contribution to the mind and imagination of Guyanese.
""Roth's contribution was unique. It was not the Elizabethan imagery or the scientific works of great explorers. It tells of Guyana's hinterland, life as it actually was lived. Really it was Vincent Roth writing to Vincent Roth.""
In his foreword, Searwar said Roth made Guyanese aware of their vast hinterland, rich with history and resources, at a time when creative writers such as AJ Seymour and later Martin Carter were deepening the awareness of the Guyanese people of their country.
His book, The Legend of Kaiteur, has been generally regarded as the retelling of an authentic Amerindian Legend and was transformed into a narrative poem by AJ Seymour, becoming part of the Guyanese imagination, Searwar said.
Poet and author, Dr Ian McDonald highlighted the role of Peepal Tree Press, which published Roth's memoirs and the publisher, Jeremy Poynting at the launching. He said Poynting has over the years published works mainly from the Caribbean. McDonald said Roth's memoirs are a great addition to Guyanese history and literature, adding that the volumes are an exciting read.
Major General (retd) Joseph Singh was instrumental in arranging with the editor and publisher for a consignment of the memoirs to be allocated for distribution and sale in Guyana.
Former President Janet Jagan also spoke at the launching. The event coincided with the works currently on display at the gallery in celebration of Amerindian Heritage Month.
