THE Moraikobi Women’s Self Skilled Group now featuring at the Indigenous Art and Craft Exhibition at the Sophia Exhibition Park, presents a classic demonstration of their creativity, ingenuity and resilience in keeping their culture alive. And having worked for months to put together a fine display of items made mainly of tibisiri, the women have made a big impact on viewers at the exposition.

Proudly displaying the group’s more than 100 pieces of unique and exquisitely designed works of art, is Ms. Elizabeth Dick, mother of nine (2 deceased); grandmother of 15 and great-grandmother of two.
The matriarch who has made Amerindian craft ever since she was a young girl, is proud to announce that all her offspring and grandchildren are, in some way, involved in pursuing and preserving the art.
Among the wide variety of colourful and eye-catching items on exhibition are hats, crowns, fruit bowls, trinket boxes, placemats, tibisiri costumes and more. The most recently introduced creations from the group are attractively designed cellular phone cases being sold at affordable prices.
MARKETING
But Dick’s one concern is that even though the residents expend time, energy and monies to make the products, the big problem facing them is lack of marketing outlets. She said there are no assured markets for the items made and so that can serve to demotivate the women.
“What we need is a craft centre to store the items we produce – somewhere where we can display them so that when tourists come into our village they can readily see them and hopefully buy them,” Dick said. Notwithstanding, it is not very often that they are visited by tourists.
Moraicobi, the only Amerindian Village in Region 5, is situated about two and a half miles up the Mahaicony Creek. Travelling time from the Mahaicony Bridge by speed boat is about three hours one way. It has a population of about 1500 who are mainly descendants of the Arawak tribe, and are largely Christians, being either Anglicans, Pentecostals or members of the Church of Christ.
Founded more than 100 years ago, the village had as its first religious denomination – the Anglican Church, which established St. Francis Anglican Primary School, and which continues to meet the educational needs of the entire community. The village is subdivided into four zones, namely: Lakers (Lake Head); Labadee; Backdam and Landing.

The main economic activities of the community are lumbering; farming and production of art and craft. The village has a school, health centre, multi-purpose centre, churches; about eight shops, four of which are rum shops, an electricity supply system, a GT&T public phone booth and a market place.
CRIME-FREE
Dick said there is no police station in the village, and there is probably no real need for one right now, since the community is largely crime-free. However, even though there are a few rum shops, alcoholism is still not a real problem in the community, she said, adding, “But I hate drunkenness and I hope it doesn’t affect our youth population, for that would be the beginning of sorrows.”
Dick also said she is heartened to see the young people in the community engaged in productive activities on Sundays, such as going to church, playing cricket, basketball and football. She credited this to a good job being done by community leaders such as the Toshao, Mr. Colin Adrian who is himself a young man; health worker, Ms. Mary Jordan – all of whom are among the party currently visiting Georgetown for the Exhibition.