‘With Arya Samaj help…

By Jeune Bailey Van Keric
THEY lived a life of abstract poverty, struggling for betterment seemed too distant to envisage.

The new house

Their house had a porous roof, no walls, flooring crumbling in a yard with overgrown vegetation, no potable water, electricity nor sanitary facilities, conditions which Gladys Madramootoo called ‘Moon’, 61, and her only son, David, 45, had to endure at Lot 26 Reliance Settlement, East Canje, Berbice.

But, since August, things have changed. Although there are no furnishings, they now occupy a new edifice, through the generosity of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir Humanitarian Mission in the United States (U.S.).

When the Guyana Chronicle visited her last week, the female beneficiary expressed a million thanks to those who were instrumental in allowing them to now dwell in a newly constructed concrete building.

Her son, David, a drainage and irrigation foreman employed by Canefield/ Enterprise Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC), in East Canje, was at work but she had the company of the dogs she cares for and their litter.

Gladys Madramootoo, seated on the worn sofa, in her new house reflects on life in the past

Pandit Suresh Sugrim, President of the New Jersey Arya Samaj Mandir Humanitarian Mission, said his organisation has been targeting vulnerable groups across the society when he saw the Madramootoos’ home, after someone had informed him of their situation.

He said he was appalled and pledged to help them.

Supported by the Regional Administration in Region Six (East Berbice/Corentyne), Sugrim said workers from the Canefield/Enterprise NDC were tasked to clear the dense foliage in the unfenced yard while Memorex Construction, a subsidiary of Amaco Inc, of New Amsterdam, supplied free labour to erect the 20 feet by 30 feet one flat, two-bedroom concrete house, at an estimated cost of US$6,000 (G$1.2M).

The house is expected to be furnished by Guyanese Women in Development (GUYWID), a non-governmental organisation (NGO).

Meanwhile Gladys Madramootoo, a petite widow, said she would have died living under her previously inhumane conditions.

However, with tears in her eyes, she acknowledged there is a God who answers prayers.

David and his mother Gladys Madramootoo standing in front of their previous home prior to it being demolished

“Many times, when it rains, I would seek shelter under a wooden table and cry, while asking myself when would it be over,” she said.

Speaking to media personnel, who witnessed the demolition of her dilapidated house, Madramootoo recalled moving to the place at age 13, following her marriage to her husband, Daniel, who was employed by GuySuCo as a ranger.

The house was then owned by her now deceased uncle, who had raised and given her the wooden building as a wedding gift.

She said life has had its challenges since the death of her younger son, then aged eight years, followed by the passing of her husband in 1983.

She said, following his retirement, he had worked as a security guard but he suffered a stroke and their savings were spent on medical bills.

Madramootoo said, 11 years after her husband died, high winds blew the one-bedroom house off its pillars and it remained on the ground since. The cost of building materials escalated and it was difficult to raise funds for the repair.

Her son David said he never asked anyone for assistance, despite receiving promises which are still unfulfilled.