The Achievements of Women Descended from the 19th century Chinese
Immigrants. (Part 2)
By
Cecilia McAlmont and Margery Kirkpatrick
Introduction
In the previous article, a brief account of what was called “the Chinese Experiment”, the
implications of the immigrants and their descendants becoming Creole, and one female
immigrant, Loo Shee, her descendants and their achievements were discussed. Those
discussions will continue in this article.
As was mentioned , the path to middle class status for the descendants of the immigrants
came through the acquisition of higher education and entering the professions, especially
law, medicine and other sciences, accountancy etc. Consequently, given the relatively
small percentage of Chinese in the total population their achievements, especially the
male descendants in these professions are remarkable. However, as will be demonstrated,
like women worldwide, the achievements of the women descended from the immigrants,
though very significant often extraordinary, have tended to be in those professions that
are associated with women’s traditional caring and nurturing role – education, nursing ,
social issues. However, it will also be shown that from as early as the first generation,
some women have also made their mark in non traditional areas.
Luck Khan Hee aka Lok Ah Me aka Luck Kim Hee aka Isaac Luck Ah Me and his
descendants.
The achievements of the female descendants of this immigrant who arrived on the final
ship, the “ Darthmouth”, March 17, 1879, amply demonstrate the above. He himself or
rather his aka’s demonstrate how the names of the Chinese immigrants either by choice,
conversion to Christianity or ignorance of the authorities were changed, shortened or even
anglicized over time. This subject is amply dealt with in Trev Sue-A-Quan’s Cane
Reapers: Chinese Indentured Immigrants in Guyana. He took the final aka Isaac after
his baptism. The surname of his descendants is now simply LUCK. More than half a dozen
of his sons and grandsons were in the professions of law and medicine. One son, J.C. Luck
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established Central High School and his grandson, Ray, broke the family tradition by
becoming a famous Concert Pianist. His grand daughter, Stella Elisabeth, became principal
of Central High School established by her father. His great grand daughter Beverly,
obtained the Hilda Serage Medal at Bishops’ High School and was Guyana scholar in 1956.
Another great grand daughter Andrea Leslie became a researcher of Chinese families while
her sister Denise Elisabeth Lam, lectured at the University of Guyana. Yet another great
grand daughter Jennie Victoria Robeiro, became a social worker in the Pomeroon and has
been honoured by the government with a Medal of Service. Breaking out of the mould, on
the death of her husband, his daughter Victoria Lam successfully operated a wholesale and
retail business in Water Street. His great grand daughter Constance Felicia Kranenberg
became an Accountant with the Guyana Bauxite Co. and her daughter Caroline Correia
runs her own business.
Wong Yan Cheong and his descendants
Like Isaac Luck Ah Me, he also arrived on the “Darthmouth” with his three married sons
and his five year old daughter Wong in Lan/ Leow. His great, great grand daughter, Rose
Wong’s great grand daughter, Brenda Felicity Hooper was a Guyana scholar in 1965 while
her sister , Janice Elisabeth Shinebourne won the Guyana Prize for Literature for a first
Book of Fiction , “Time Piece” in 1987. In the field of sports, his great, great grand
daughter, Doreen Chow Wah/Lee became the West Indies Table Tennis champion in 1970
and with Denise Osman won the ladies Doubles Championship 1967-1972.
John Ho a Shoo aka Ho Shau and his descendants
He arrived on the ”Corona”, February 23, 1874. His eldest daughter, Asin has the
distinction of being one of Guyana’s first medical doctors in the first decade of the 20th
century. She entered the University of Edinburgh, 1906 to study in the field of Medicine. In
1912 she was a Licentiate of the Royal College of Surgeons at University of Dublin. Her
daughter Gem Ho a Hing became a Junior Champion at Wimbledon, the only Guyanese to
play there.
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HO TEN POW and his descendants
The women descended from immigrant HO TEN POW have achieved much in both
traditional and non traditional fields of endeavour. He arrived here on the “Queen of the
East”, April 1865 with three young sons. His oldest son, Joseph Ho Chung a Cheung was
father of the late President Arthur Chung. One of Joseph’s great, great grand daughters,
Safeeda, Nasir/Ali is a Graphic Artist, her sister Aneesha is the PRO for Court’s Guyana
Ltd. His great grand daughter, Marlene Kwok /Crawford was Deputy Headmistress of
Bishop’s High School and is the author of Scenes from the History of the Chinese In
Guyana.
Another great granddaughter, Debbie Fung was not only a lecturer at the University of
Guyana but was the Ladies Singles Lawn Tennis Champion in 1984 and with her sister
Caryll won the Ladies Doubles Championship in 1974, 1975, 1980 and 1983-1985 while
another, Diane Lee was Sports woman of the year 1986. His grand daughter, Rosalind
Fung/Lee was Miss Guyana in 1956 and also won the contest among the three Guianas.
This earned her the right to represent the three countries at the Miss Universe contest in
Hollywood. His great, great, great grand daughter, Amanda whose mother, Diane was also
a beauty queen won the Miss Guyana contest in 1988.
Chin Chung aka Chau a Chung and his descendants
He arrived on the “Pride of Ganges” July 31, 1863 with three sons, John Chin a Chee aka
Archie Chin and two others. Archie is the grand father of the late Viola Harper nee
Burnham, First Lady of the Republic of Guyana. She contributed in the field of education
as a Latin teacher at Bishop’s High School for many years and later as one of the Vice
Presidents, Education and Social Development in the Desmond Hoyte’s administration.
She also worked tirelessly to improve the situation of women as Chairperson of the
WRSM. Both of her daughters have achieved in the non traditional areas. Melanie is a
Financial Operations Manager and Ulele is a Barrister
Kwok A Fuk ON aka Abraham Kwok Fuk On and his descendants.
He arrived on the “Bucton Castle”, August 1865. His daughter Martha nee Fung Kee Fung
was one of the earliest women in the field of business. She became a landed proprietor who
owned many businesses including a rice mill. She bought two abandoned sugar estates
Waller’s Delight and Ruinzight at Windsor Forest which she rented to tenants to plant rice.
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Martha Street in Windsor Forrest is named for her. The descendants of Abraham Kwok (
the latter part of the surname was not surprisingly dropped) were often interrelated through
marriage. Part of the reason of course was the acute shortage of women. Such unions also
helped to cement and build bridges in business and towards the important goal of achieving
middle class status. For example Abraham Kwok is the great, grand father of Marlene
Kwok/ Crawford who, as was earlier mentioned, is the great, great grand daughter of Ho
Ten Pow .Three of the grand daughters of Jacob Fung A Pen who arrived on the Dartmouth
in 1879 married into the Luck family and were also descendants of Ho Ten Pow. The
achievements of some of these women, Jennie Robeiro,Nancy Ann Lam Jardim and Joan
Fung have already been noted.
Ham Smi aka Ham Siow aka Elizabeth Poon and her descendants.
She arrived on the “Lady Elmer Bruce”on August 15, 1862. Her descendants are also a part
of the intermarriages just discussed. She is the maternal great grandmother of Margery
Kirkpatrick who is also a descendant of Loo Shee. Her other descendants have also
achieved much. Her great grand daughter Eileen Smith Gillette taught mathematics at
Bishops’ High School. Her great, great grand daughter, Amanda Richards was a champion
swimmer. In 1977, she won two gold medals for Guyana in the Inter Guiana games. She is
now an Administrative Manager with Farfan & Mendez and is also on the board of IPED.
Descendants with origins from other ethnic groups.
However, one cannot conclude this discussion without drawing attention to the fact that
there are many men and women who would normally be associated with other ethnic
groups but are in fact descendants of these immigrants. The shortage of women initially
contributed to this. Some of these women and their achievements have already been
discussed. The Minister of Amerindian Affairs, Nasseer and Aneesha Ali Mrs. Viola
Burnham and her daughters. One can also add Fashion Designer, Donna James nee
Ramsammy whose great grand father Ah Wah was one of the early arrivals. There is also
Lawyers Anande and Rafael Trotman, Co founder of the Alliance for change whose great,
great grandfather Lai A Poo arrived on the “Whirlwind” in 1860. He married Leung Shi
another immigrant who arrived on the “Dartmouth” in 1862.
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