• Guyana
    2005 Yearbook of Jehovah’s Witnesses

    • Branch Construction

      In 1914, Guyana’s first branch office was located at the Phillips’ home, where it remained until 1946. In that year, there were 91 publishers. By 1959, that number had grown to 685, and the work continued to expand. So in June 1960, the brothers obtained a property at 50 Brickdam, Georgetown. With a few modifications, the existing buildings served both as a branch office and as a missionary home. But by 1986, this complex also became inadequate. So with the Governing Body’s approval, a new branch was constructed on the existing site. International servants aided by local brothers completed the job in 1987.

      Like the daughters of Shallum, who helped their father rebuild a section of Jerusalem’s walls, sisters proved invaluable on the branch project. (Neh. 3:12) For instance, 120 sisters, divided into some ten teams, made the 12,000 concrete blocks needed for the project. Using 16 molds, they completed the job in 55 days. And that was no easy task! The concrete mix had to be just right​—wet enough so that the cement would cure properly yet not so wet that the blocks would collapse when lifted from the mold.

      Local brothers served as night watchmen, often coming straight from their secular jobs to the site. Others worked along with the international servants, who taught them valuable skills. One of these young brothers, Harrinarine (Indaal) Persaud, recalls: “My job was to install corner moldings on a window sill​—something I had never done before. I labored at it until I got it right. After inspecting it, the overseer, evidently pleased with my effort, said, “Now you have the whole branch to do.” Today, this young brother shares his expertise with others during Kingdom Hall construction projects.

      Since the brothers had to import certain materials, they needed the cooperation of governmental authorities. As a result, many officials came to the site, including President Forbes L. Burnham and his entourage. All were impressed with the workmanship, as was a local carpenter. “You people are getting first-class work done on your building,” he said. On January 14, 1988, Brooklyn representative Don Adams, serving as zone overseer, delivered the dedication talk.

      On February 12, 2001, ground was again broken for construction​—this time on a new site. Once again, international servants aided by local brothers worked on the project. The new branch was dedicated on Saturday, February 15, 2003. Richard Kelsey from the Germany branch delivered the dedication talk to an audience of 332.

      Many early missionaries returned to Guyana for the program, some for the first time in decades! Then on Sunday, 4,752 from 12 countries​—well over double the number of publishers in Guyana—​attended a special meeting.