Now or Never: Glimpse into a lesser-known village

By Michelle Joseph- It is quite fascinating that we live in Guyana yet remain unaware of the small villages nestled within larger, more well-known communities, many of which have rather unique names.

We frequently hear about certain villages—places like Buxton, Victoria, Enmore, and Sandvoort, which are renowned for their distinct histories or contributions. But what about the smaller villages situated between or adjacent to these famous locations?

These lesser-known villages surely have histories of their own, waiting to be uncovered. For example, some allege that the people of Sandvoort are direct descendants of Kofi, a national hero. Perhaps it’s time we turn our attention to these often-overlooked communities and revisit the history of Guyana in its entirety—the events that shaped our culture, identity, core values, and religion against the backdrop of our existence in this diverse country.

While some may argue that history belongs in the past, I believe it’s crucial to document life events. In my humble opinion, these stories should be preserved for future generations. This brings me to the village of Now or Never, located between Bushy Park and Drill in Mahaicony.

During my visit, I wandered around this quiet little village for a while before sitting down with the Bacchus family—a husband and wife who kindly shared their story.

Mr. Harold Bacchus told me that the village of Now or Never has always been a farming community. The residents are rice farmers, cash crop growers, and many plant their own food, making the village largely self-sufficient. The village stretches 50 rods from Bushy Park to Eastern Now or Never. Most of the women are homemakers, while the men work on the farms.

I also had the privilege of speaking with Mrs. Sheila Sheppherd Bacchus, Harold’s wife, who proudly revealed that she is the great-granddaughter of the man who first leased the village. Samuel Aloysius Sheppherd, a Scotsman who emigrated to Guyana with his two brothers, became the owner and developer of Now or Never.

According to Mrs. Bacchus, the village was originally leased for 99 years, and while the lease has since expired, the villagers continue to cultivate the land. They hope to one day legally acquire ownership of the farmlands.

This village attracts tourists for a unique reason. It has a small traditional cottage (seen above) and garden and other attractions on a property, referred to as a ‘fairy tale’ experience. Many stop by to tour the property, have on fun on the premises, do photoshoots and use the backdrop for wedding pictures.

According to the story, the house was built by Nadira Puran, who wanted to fulfill a childhood dream of creating a little fairytale house nestled within a beautiful flower garden.

The villagers of Now or Never are of mixed ancestry, with Afro-Guyanese and Indo-Guyanese families living side by side in harmony. It is a close-knit community where neighbors help one another with food, childcare, and other kind deeds.

Mrs. Bacchus also mentioned that the residents still feel safe enough to leave their doors unlocked, as the community looks out for each other. Crime is either extremely low or non-existent at times.

She shared the story behind the village’s unusual name: during the negotiations for the plantation, her great-grandfather was determined to purchase the land despite encountering some difficulties. With conviction, he declared to the owner that the property must be bought “Now or Never,” hence the name.

As I walked through the village, I noticed its peaceful and serene atmosphere, with lush green vegetation, fruit trees, rice fields, and above all, kind and amicable people. They live in love, peace, and harmony.

I can only hope that one day all of Guyana can live like the folks in Now or Never, Mahaicony.