THIS week on Focus on the Village, we take you all the way to the West Bank Berbice Village of Ithaca. Stories by Michel Outridge and M. Margaret Burke. Photos by Samuel Maughn.

Born and bred in the sleepy and quiet West Bank Berbice village of Ithaca, Joylin Cummings has refused to just sit by idly and opted to become an entrepreneur.
Fully aware that life in that far-off village cannot be fast-tracked, Cummings added that she is pleased about being self-employed.

“I feel empowered because I am working on my own, I have my business and that is enough for me and my daughter to get by,” she said.
The 43-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that even though her business is not large, she is satisfied with her achievement in founding her small grocery shop.
The mother of one said that she would take vegetables from the farmers in the village and sell it for them at her shop.

When this newspaper visited the village last Tuesday, it was observed that several freshly picked garden pumpkins were on the counter in the shop for sale.
“I know I am serving my purpose in life, I am doing the job I like and in my own time and one of the things I take great pleasure in is interacting with people and by selling their vegetables it makes me feel good,” Cummings said.

She seemed to be at the right place and at ease since she blended into the landscape naturally enjoying the cool country breeze while manning her shop in the presence of her daughter.

Country life
She described life in the village as quite simple, comfortable and with the population of about 100 residents they all know each other and the atmosphere is peaceful and free of conflict.

“For you to be comfortable here like anywhere else in Guyana you have to work and if you do life is good and life here is no different from other villages even though we are far away from the city,” Cummings said.

She stated that most people are employed at the nearby Blairmont Sugar Estate, while others have jobs in other communities along that West Bank Berbice corridor.
Cummings pointed out too, that many people have small shops in the village which are tended mostly by the elderly folks.

She explained that beverage trucks would come into Ithaca to deliver soft drinks among other things so they really do not have to go anywhere to buy things they need in their everyday life.

Cummings added that other things are sourced from the Rosignol Market which is almost like a small town, outfitted with gas stations, banks and other businesses.
“I am comfortable with my life here, we live very simple and go about our business in a peaceful way and with about 100 residents everyone knows each other and I think we are not missing anything back here.”

Rusty water
As the Pepperpot Magazine was exiting Ithaca, the reporters encountered two youths, Rondell Edwards, and Joshua Smith.

Edwards said to manage one must work to survive and his way of making an honest living is his wash bay business and he is also a part-time taxi driver, which supplements his income.

The 22-year-old voiced his concern about the poor quality of the potable water supply in the village, stating that it is very rusty and is hindering his business.

He explained that he recently started up his wash bay which is in front his house and with the present ‘rusty’ water people do not want to wash their vehicles there because they do not want stains on their cars.

To keep his business open, Edwards said he has to source purified water to wash cars and that is not financially viable given the fact he recently started operations.

Edwards is hoping it rains so he can store rainwater to keep his wash bay business functioning.

“Honestly I get used to this country life but you got to do something for a living, you cannot just sit at home because that is not useful to anyone and you can manage if you have a job,” he said.

Edwards added that in his 22 years the thought of leaving the community has never dawned on him and he has no plans to move away.

Meanwhile, Joshua Smith, a student of Mahaicony Technical Institute told this newspaper that although they have a community centre they need a proper facility to engage in sports activities.

He added that there is a need for recreational initiatives to be implemented in the village for youths.

Smith would also like the village to benefit from an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) hub with computers and internet service so they can keep abreast with the latest news.

In that community, he pointed out that life is simple because you either become a farmer, work at the estate or seek employment elsewhere.