Dating in the 592: Love, Licks, and the Lil Lies We Tell Ourselves

Romance or Ruckus?

Let’s just start by saying this: dating in Guyana is not for the faint of heart. If you thought finding love in the hot sun would be romantic and easy-breezy like a Banks beer ad, yuh bettas think again! Dating in the 592 is more like a cokes bottle flick pun it head top—a burst of pressure, noise, and sometimes, a big sticky mess.

Gender Roles? Chile, That Bottle Buss Long Time

We’re living in a paradox of confused expectations and shifting desires. On one side, there are hyperindependent women—boss babes, big job, Vessel-owning, gym-going, minding-their-business-while-looking-snatch kinda gyals. They’ve built thick skin in a society that doesn’t allow softness to thrive.

They love love, but not enough to beg for it. Choosing a partner feels like Russian roulette—and lately, women aren’t walking away with their lives.

Modern Men and the Soft Life Dream

And on the other side? Men craving princess treatment—low-key or high-key.

Once upon a time, men were expected to protect and provide. Now? They’re pulling out receipts and resumes asking, “So what exactly do you bring to the table?” Meanwhile, the actual table lean like Parliament building during budget cuts. Nobody brought chairs. Nobody brought cutlery. Just vibes and unhealed trauma.

Some modern Guyanese men want love—just not at the expense of effort. They want a woman who does it all, and still rub dem back like a lil’ soldier come home from war (the war being traffic on the East Bank and two calls from their mother).

Women Are Tired—Bone Tired

After generations of holding down men—even the community bicycle types—women started holding down themselves. And when they chose peace over performance, they got labeled “too masculine” or “too hard.”

Truth is: they had to be hard. Not because they wanted to be.

The “I Don’t Need a Man” Era

Now you hear:

 “I don’t need a man for anything.”

And guess what? She might be right. She can fix her car, open her own wine, manage her finances, and still buy her nephew a tablet. But under all that strength is someone soft, tired, and secretly wishing for consistency, kindness, emotional intelligence—and someone to kill the cockroach.

But that energy can be intimidating. Men often misread it as a locked gate. Some don’t try. They move on to someone “easier,” and the cycle continues.

A Nation of the Guarded

The result?

Everybody vex. Everybody guarded. Everybody reposting healing quotes on Instagram.

We’re stuck in limbo—wanting love, but fearing it. Swiping left and right. Going on awkward dates at MovieTowne or Grand Coastal. Emotionally constipated but pretending otherwise.

Women are wondering, “Can I be soft with him?”

 Men are wondering, “Is she here for the free brunch?”

The New Definition of Romance

Today’s romance? It’s who buys you food without asking for a favor after. It’s who replies quickly, who watches your story but DMs you anyway, and who sends “wyd” texts at 2 a.m.

And the “I miss you” messages? Usually come when Amazon Warriors winning—or their actual girlfriend vex.

Still… There’s Hope

Yes, even with old-school aunties pressuring you to “settle down” and young men thinking therapy is witchcraft, there’s hope.

Hope in the small moments:

• Someone saving your number with a heart emoji.
• A woman still making soup when her partner sneezes.
• A man gripping your hand while crossing Regent Street traffic like your life means something to him.

Trying, Together

We’re all just trying:

• To unlearn toxic patterns.
• To love without losing ourselves.
• To communicate without shutdowns or blowups.
• To show up without disappearing.
• To hold space without running away.

Contradictions in the 592

Dating in Guyana is a dance of contradictions:

• We crave partnership, but fear dependence.
• We want stability, but hate routine.
• We say we’re done, but still peep stories.
• We’re “over it,” but still show up cute—just in case.

All while pretending not to care when we actually do.

The Big Lie We Tell Ourselves

Maybe the biggest lie?

 That we’re fine being alone. That we don’t need anyone. That love is overrated.

But when the Wi-Fi gone, the rain falling, and the kettle whistling in a quiet house… we know better.

Love is Still Possible

So maybe dating in the 592 isn’t easy. But it’s real. It’s messy, dramatic, warm, and full of “if yuh know, yuh know” moments.

And maybe—just maybe—the right person won’t just bring the table, but the chairs, a fan, a lil tablecloth, and the patience to build, together.

Until then?

• We outside... but cautiously.
• We dating... but discerning.
• We loving... but with eyes open and boundaries intact.

Because in the 592, love is still possible.

It might take time, healing, and a lot of laughs at the madness.

But it’s out there.

And if you ask me—it's still worth flicking the cokes bottle one more time.