Rich, dense foliage flew by on both sides of the road as the speeding minibus made its way to Mahaicony and I was one of the many passengers that were enjoying the fresh country breeze and the almost mesmerising view of sprawling pastures and coconut trees swaying in the wind.

I was bound for Cottage Village located some 37 miles from Georgetown, and truly anticipating my interacting with residents there who was said to be content, jovial and very hospitable. I gazed lazily at the large chunks of

mud left on the road side my roving cattle and the many tractors and trucks that traversed the areas and felt this was evidence of the village’s high intensity agriculture activity.
It was a tussle with the minibuses on the road to overtake the many trucks laden with rice and paddy from their many harvests along the countryside.
Now folks, cottage is nicely bordered by the equally appealing Perseverance to the east and Zealand to the west.
From my many treks around Guyana I would have learnt over time that the prettiest location I have discovered are actually the villages that are sometimes secluded in the middle of ‘nowhere’ or the very dreamy and exotic villages that are not known to many.
It’s always a pleasure to explore these pristine sites and I look forward to such rare opportunities with great excitement and anticipation. What I have noticed also is that some of these villages are not often listed on our priority list of places to visit and I cannot refrain from saying that this is a ‘downright shame.’
So here I was again my heart thumping like crazy as I was yet again give one of the wildest and most scary bus ride ever by a driver seemed intent on having his vehicle take wings and fly off into the afternoon sky.

The Journey
As the minibus ploughed its way amongst heavy morning traffic along the East Coast Demerara Public Road, I gulped in great jets of fresh country breeze and smiled lazily as a green blur of lush rice fields, foliage and idly grazing animals rushed by.
In every village we passed during our journey there was the appealing and pleasant spectacle of residents rushing about on daily errands. At the roadside shops there were semi-large gathering ensuring that they accessed their daily kitchen supplies, while young men were either liming by the roadside on chatting joyously by the roadside.
While the bus ride was a refreshing treat and a nice “getaway” from my always busy schedule, it was rudely interrupted with a few unpleasantries as our ‘speed crazy bus driver’ dashed in and out of traffic, honking his horns at pedestrians, and other drivers who would respond to his brazen intrusion with loud obscenities and ‘lewd finger gesticulations’ that suggested their horrid and vulgar intentions.
When the bus rolled into Cottage some time later, I was seething with anger at his reckless maneuvers and flushing hotly from the tons of vulgar responses thrown his way as a result of his irresponsible actions.

Exploring The Village
At first glance I was about to decide that this village was a bit too forlorn for comfort, but after explorations and investigations, I soon realised that there were lots of activity behind closed doors and shutters. Actually the village was just basking it its midday siesta as residents avoided the scorching ray of the tropical sun.
During this time the village appears almost lifeless, but the minute the sun cools residents seem to surge out from streets and alleyways with a distinct bustle about them that is customarily associated with residents in the countryside.
But the ‘midday siesta’ would remain in my memories for a long time to come, since in all my treks around Guyana, I have never really witnessed a village sleep in broad daylight as the sun seem to scorch its environs with merciless intensity.
In the afternoons the village is abuzz with activity as housewives and young girls rush to get groceries from the very few roadside stalls and outlets available.

But villagers in Cottage most times have to journey to the neighbouring village of Perseverance or to Central Mahaicony some five miles away to get such supplies since there are hardly many opportunities in the village for choices in this arena.
What impressed me as being quite strange was that this village appeared almost dead and void of activity, which was not a customary thing for East Coast Demerara villages. There was not even an animal in the sprawling pasture behind the relatively sparse houses; and as the broiling sun beat down on just a few sheep grazing here and there, I was beginning to think that the silence of the village was just a bit too eerie for comfort.
I was a bit taken back by the extreme quiet of this small village and wondered where in heaven name all the residents could have been. But soon after investigations revealed that residents preferred to remain in doors unless they were engaged in errands that warranted their presence outside of their homes, or were taken up with their varying professions in surrounding villages.

Chatting With Residents

A visibly tired Sharon Cummings who spoke to us from an open window of her home explained that she was home alone with her three-year-old daughter while her common-law husband Patrick Fraser was out plying his trade as a labourer at a rice mill some distance away.
She noted however that while his profession can be tedious and very competitive at times, it however brings in a sizeable daily dollar that somehow manages to take care of their needs in the home.
“Everybady does do either wan jab or anotha in Cottage. Because everybody have to survive somehow or the other. Me husband does go out there every day fuh mek ends meet, and some days he does comeback with almost nothing because is plenty people ah fight fuh duh de same wuk. But we does be thankful and try fuh mek ends meet regardless ah de situation”.
According to Ms. Cummings who has been residing in the village for over five years, the village is indeed a very beautiful and peaceful location where residents live in harmony and in great camaraderie with each other.
I was welcomed there with wide hugs and smiles by the not so many residents who were ready to engage me in pleasant conversation.

My first stop was at the home of 60-year-old Enid Abrams, a grandmother who still bore much merriment in her eyes.
This contented soul explained while villagers do not enjoy the ‘finer things of life.’ They are contented to live in humble happiness enjoying the best life had to offer.
“We ain’t get no fancy business places or big time shops and suck likes. But we exist quite fine and in peace with each other. In this village, everyone looks out for the other and there are no racial differences here. In Cottage, everyone live as one….”
She chatted with me on a bench beneath her house and I could see a pot bubbling on the fireside in her yard emitting an aroma that caused my stomach to growl in anticipation. She explained that she was cooking her favourite meal of ‘split peas cook up rice,’ done nicely with fresh coconut milk which has been known to add that extra ‘zing’ to meals in the countryside.

Being an ‘old soul’ who makes hygiene a priority she was also burning her garbage since no garbage trucks seem to visit the area.
She however noted that she was somewhat concerned about the state of some drains in the village which have become overgrown with vegetation and can leading to flooding should the rains come in torrential downpours.
Forty-three-ear-old John Simpson was all smiles when I stopped to chat with him as he was enjoying the afternoon breeze on the verandah belonging to his daughter-in-law with whom he is staying.
He explained that life in the village was good and pleasant despite the fact that the village did not possess the facilities to facilitate entertainment development and sports.
“Bai dis village really nice and comfahtable, and real quiet. Me really ah enjy livin hea and me nah want guh nowhea else. Awe dese nah get dem fancy places like dem atha village but ah we ah live good hea stil. Awe ah get clean wata fuh drink, electricity, and if awe want sport we just gat fuh catch a car and guh Mahaicony wha dem rum shap and disco deh plenty…. Me really like dis place fuh live in bai….
Some residents are calling on relevant authorities to build a playfield in the village for youth since the village is the home to some very talented upcoming cricketers. While this may

be so, a few mothers lamented that the boys are not able to maximise or develop their sporting skills since there are not proper facilities there to make this possible.
Cottage is certainly lacking in terms of apparent business potential as can be judged from its distinct infrastructure, but villagers are certainly not missing out on anything in particular since they can travel to Central Mahaicony or maybe Mahaica which serves as an ‘economic hub’ that can ultimately satisfy their entertainment, relaxation, social and of course economic needs.
This village is nestled in Mahaicony which is a populated place The estimated terrain elevation above sea level is said to be just above 1 metre.

Touching Down
In no time I arrived at the outskirts of the village and disembarked hurriedly, sending the bus driver some venomous stares as I did so. He of course paid me no mind and just busied himself with collecting the fares from passengers for fear of losing them if they were just as annoyed.
A young man indicated to me just where the borders of the village were and there I was breathing deeply the fresh, crisp ‘country breeze’ as my eyes took in with wonder the cluster of little homely cottages that made of this small village.
Cottage has about just over sixteen households with a population that has not reached three hundred, according to residents. While the village is predominantly inhabited by Negroes, a small percentage of mixed races can also be found.

Enthralling Beauty
This village does not feature majestic buildings, posh shops, fancy stores or elegant boutiques like many others, but what it may top the list with is its quiet existence, fuelled by the humility and charm of its residents and dazzling beauty and simplicity.
The minute I stepped into the village I was swept up in a whirlpool of lush green foliage, surrounded by startling plants thriving naturally alongside bubbling drains and small trenches.
Healthy looking coconut palms waved lazily in the wind, and in each yard there was a bright fusion of fruit trees.
Sheep and cattle grazed lazily in open fields, seemingly savouring their afternoon meals with relish, assured that there was much to serve around for months to come.

In some yards just a few young children dashed about playing, while on street corner a group of elderly men stood chatting, opening their mouths and throwing back their heads as they bellowed their mirth over jovial jokes and mirthful tales.

Cottage Before Time
Today Cottage is a striking fusion of colourful little cottages and a peaceful ambience.
Just in case you are wondering what the village was like ‘donkey years ago,’ elderly Theophelus Primo who has lived there all his life was more than ready to tell with an almost boyish gleam in his eyes and he took himself back to the days when he was a little starry eyed boy chasing after lizards and mongoose in the wide open pastures.
“I barn and grow up in this village and ah neva left it fuh guh live nowhere else. In me time as a lil bai if the village had ten house he had nuff… The whole place was full ah bush and plenty fruit trees like wha yuh still ah see he today. All we could ah see was nuff bush, tall trees and big wide open fields. We nah bin get no shap and dem thing dah. We had to travel far fuh get grocery and good drinking watah. Most people used tuh bile de watah fram de riva and use it fuh drink and to cook food. We nah had no street lights and de place use d to be ‘pitch black’ at night time…”
Mr. Primo explained that as time went by persons descended on the location and began to erect houses; hence today the village is one of the more pleasant little hideouts in Mahaicony.
Although this village is still caught in the grips of gradual development it still holds its almost majestic aura of simplicity that is further accentuated the serene demeanour of residents who exist in great humility.
They are employed as farmers, a few carpenters and masons, while a large number are employed at various entities outside the village.

Entertainment
This village has no possible avenue for any vibrant form of entertainment but that does not seem to bother residents since they can hop into a ‘short-drop car’ and travel to neighbouring villages and have a blast on weekends.
The elderly folks in most cases are contented to purchase their alcohol and drink it in the confines of their homes as they watch television programmes or listen to ‘oldies’ via tape records or small stereo sets.
The youths however prefer to enjoy the many concept parties hosted elsewhere and from time to time or would enjoy ‘chilling’ by one of the many hangout bars that can be found alongside the Berbice area. They eagerly anticipate the massive live shows and parties that are customarily hosted by various promoters at the Mhaicony Community Centre Ground.

Church Influence
Church influence plays a dominant role in the lives of the people within this community. They established themselves where the population was the densest and where bright prospects pertaining to religious and cultural development existed. The development of the political environment grew out of circumstances, which unveiled themselves. As a new people became engrossed with new aspirations, the horizon was necessarily limited. Gradually as education spread, the avenues for expansion and development widened. What appeared distant eventually came within grasp as time rolled on.
Missionaries then are to be given significant mentioning, as they were the first to diffuse edifying influence and scholastic achievement. Most of the residents in this village however are Christians by origin.

Conclusion
It may be sometimes bare of activity, or lack the customary buzz of the more developed villages. But one thing about this location is that it is distinct in its simplicity and the aura of content and humility exhibited by residents.

(By Alex Wayne)