Sunday, January 16, 2022
“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” —Helen Keller
Colbert who is also known to many as Dave was my brother-in-law (Bonai). He was a simple, humble, loving caring, giving man, a man who never had many demands in life. Growing up in Guyana, I knew him since I was 16 years old. He worked alongside my father in the Annamanthadoo Rice Estate in Better Hope. He was my father’s righthand man, who later married into our family. He worked at the estate until moving to Canada. Like my father, he was always a quiet, disciplined, hardworking man, a man of few words; but his hands, his actions spoke to his character, it spoke to who he was.
Bonai was an unlicensed mechanic (in Guyana mechanics typically learn their skills/trade on the job). He was better than most mechanics on the Essequibo Coast. Every summer he and the estate workers would service the tractors by striping them down to nuts and bolts, and amazingly would refit them back, in perfect working condition.
He loved the game of cricket and gardening. He had magic touch with his home gardening. He would spend many weekends watching cricket with my father in Markham. When my father would visit him, he would be glad, as they got to sit and enjoy watching a game of cricket and talk old-time-stores, reflecting on the people and life in Guyana.
Bonai and I have a special connection, that will live on forever. As some may know my nickname is “Spokes”. Many do not know, but that name was given by Bonai.
As my father would say, “cricket is a game of great uncertainties”; and so is life. Bonai will be greatly missed by all the families in Guyana and here; but his memories will live on. The Saunders family is sad today. Yes, life is such. We pray that God keeps him close, and he gets reunited with his loved ones. Perhaps enjoy the game of cricket played in heaven with daddy.
