History
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.
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 death. As well as running the Troop he was a member of the Training Team and served on the Executive Committee.
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. Sea and Air Scouts no longer exist.
Scouting in Guyana was probably at its peak around 1969 when their Diamond Jubilee was celebrated and the 3rd Caribbean Jamboree was held there in August. In 1974 the government formed the Guyana National Service, a compulsory youth organization. This affected the Scout Movement's numbers. Some leaders joined the National Service where they were paid. While there was no ban on Scouting during this period the movement was obliged to keep a low profile. With changes in the political situation came renewed support for Scouting in the 1980s.
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.
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