Born and raised in the Victoria, East Coast Demerara community, 33-year-old Alex Dane Fraser formed the Victoria Community Development Council (CDC) in April 2021 to assist fellow residents and bring development to the community.
Thanks to his initiative and efforts, major development has been happening in the community and Fraser said that he is sure this can happen to every village if there are like-minded persons who are interested in moving the community forward.
It takes collaboration with both government and the private sector to get things done and Victoria, bordered by the Cove and John and Nooten Zuil villages, has seen remarkable changes in infrastructure and agriculture, among key other needs of the village.
“For a very long time there were no street signs, so if anyone was coming, we would have to give some very weird directions. With collaboration with Demerara Mutual Life, we were able to have the street signs on every street,” Fraser shared.
A farmers’ group has also been formed, and there has been clearing of lands and canals, and the distribution of fertilisers, seeds, and plants.
“Farmers are better off now than they were before because the Ministry of Agriculture comes in every month to just check on the farmers and help them resolve their issues.”
‘Victorians’ are cognisant of their village’s rich cultural heritage and try to preserve it. In November 1839, 83 ex-slaves from five villages – Douchfour, Ann’s Grove, Hope, Paradise and Enmore – pooled money to buy Plantation Northbrook (now Victoria) for 30,000 guilders.
The first church, built in 1845 by William Wilberforce, was called the Wilberforce Congregational Church. The village also has a community centre, nursery, and primary schools, which have all seen improvement along the way.
