Orealla, an Indigenous Reservation located about 50 miles from Crabwood Creek, Corentyne, Berbice is located on the Corentyne River and is managed by a Toshao and a Village Council.
On a trip to the village, the Pepperpot Magazine met Errol “Hector” Edwards, who is the owner of the Launch Service that goes to and from Orealla.

The service has been in existence for about two years and it takes in passengers and cargo from the Skeldon Stelling, Corentyne, Berbice, to the remote village on certain days of the week.

Edwards said that the Launch transports goods and passengers on Sundays from Orealla especially, in the night to Skeldon Stelling and would go to back to the village on Mondays.

He added that they would come from the village on Thursdays and go back on Fridays and it is a four-hour journey by that Launch Service at a cost of $1,000.

Edwards, a resident of Orealla is involved in the logging business and it is only financially viable for him to bring out lumber from that far-fetched community.

“This boat normally works with the tide, it leaves in the early morning hours because the waters are usually rough and it is easier to travel when the tide is better. This service only pays when I bring out lumber and other times I am operating at a loss,” he said.

Radio Orealla
The Pepperpot Magazine spoke to the Deputy Toshao, Randy Herman, who is also the Secretary of the Orealla Village Council. Herman is a broadcaster at Radio Orealla, a father of one, who is a humble servant of the community. He related that Radio Orealla was launched on March 25, 2018, but in September they had their very first local broadcasting.

“We highlight basic things like reviving our language programme. The main broadcaster for that is Lloyd Peneaux, the brother of the Village Toshao, Carl Peneaux,” Herman said.

He stated that they have other radio programmes that are of interest to the people including the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+) project, National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and Labour Laws as it relates to Forestry because their people are involved in logging.

In addition, they have educational programmes for youths and programmes that also include residents’ participation, by way of a song or poem presentation. Herman pointed out that Orealla is a close-knit community of about 500 people and their main source of income is from logging, fishing and craft.

He added that they are trying to introduce tourism as one of their main source of income but it needs the input of all its villagers.

“We have a different approach to market and showcase our products – we have our own transportation means that happens on Mondays and Fridays, a big launch owned by a villager and the village can have six launches at the ready to facilitate tours but they also have private charter service,” he said.

Orealla Stelling
In highlighting some of the development of the village, Herman said the Orealla Stelling was constructed about a month ago.

He reported that his stelling was supposed to be built through funds from the Orealla Village Council (OVC) and a presidential grant that was given through the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs.

However, when the project started they managed to source some materials and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure came on board and finished the project with added materials.

The Orealla Stelling overlooks the Corentyne River and its surroundings including, the view of the neighbouring Suriname, which is close by.

Herman said the Stelling is there but not utilised by residents since it is yet to be commissioned by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure and after that happens they will make full use of it.

Orealla Electricity System
Resident, Armaan Edwards told the Pepperpot Magazine that he was born and raised in the village and he operates a small grocery shop but is active in community development where he sits on the Orealla Village Council as a councillor.

“My portfolio is electricity and I am a councillor as well as, Acting Logging Councillor and we have a committee running the electricity system that I oversee that to ensure everything is working well. The Orealla Electricity System (OES) is run by the OVC where a monthly report is issued. Residents pay a monthly bill for the service and from that money garnered we upkeep the electricity supply in this village with the government subsidy for fuel,” Edwards said.

He added that residents get electricity supply from 17:30 hrs to 22:30 hrs daily and only about five persons in the village have solar powered system in their houses.

Logging
Edwards pointed out that villagers are engaged in logging and they supply local dealers, that is, sawmills operators along Corentyne, Berbice, with 25 species of wood.
He stated that they supply lumber on a large scale every fortnight a shipment is required and the buyers take out the lumber at their own expense.

Edwards said last year from June to December, the Chinese company, Barama began doing business with villagers.

He noted that they were supplying softwood pillars logs however, they were put on hold because the demand for that product was slow but they are hoping to resume business with that company.

Edwards, who is also the Deputy Secretary for the Logging Committee told the Pepperpot Magazine that about 60 villagers are part of the logging business out of Orealla.

He stated that it is their main source of income since folks there do not have office jobs and they prefer to be self-employed.

Edwards related that after the lumber is cut by chain saws it is then extracted from the forested area and the sawmill operators would visit Orealla and make their purchases.

Helping others
“At my shop, I help out residents on a credit system whereby, I give them goods and when they get money they would come and pay me. I just helping out not everybody doing it in Orealla,” he said.

Edwards said he is also in the fish business where he would buy all the fish caught by villagers and take it to Springlands, Corentyne, Berbice and sell it to exporters.

He noted that most men in Orealla are either fishermen or loggers while others are into small scale farming and hunting.

“There is something for everybody in here to do – like a handful of residents are hunters, so we are self-sufficient and do not have to go out of this village to seek employment. About one-third of our people are doing small scale farming like pineapples, which is in season now and others plant ground provisions and vegetables,” he said.

Electricity Expansion Project
Edwards stated that they have proposed for an extension in the electricity supply within the village since about 120 households are yet to benefit.

He explained that their request was accepted and materials were sourced and they are waiting for the technical people to visit to complete the project.

Edwards said after connectivity of the 120 households the cost for electricity will be less because they are paying $150 per unit of electricity which is deemed to be the highest rate in Guyana so the people have to ration it as is. He told the Pepperpot Magazine that presently 175 households are connected to the power company in Orealla but 120 more need to benefit.

“We get all the hardware, we have to provide tools and the technical people have to come to assist and that will happen soon. It is a boost from the government and through the regional administration, we also get three barrels of diesel every month. One barrel goes to the nearby satellite village of Siparuta and we use two barrels,” Edwards said.

He related that it has been about 12 years now that the Orealla Electricity System was established and there is a need for the utility poles to be replaced since it is deteriorating rapidly. Edwards explained that the insides of the poles are hollow and have decayed extensively and will collapse.
The Orealla Village Council will make a proposal for the replacement of the utility poles, he stated.

All weather road to link Siparuta and Orealla
Edwards said that Orealla is a village on the move and they are working to further develop the village as such, a project is in the pipeline for an all-weather road to link Siparuta and Orealla.

He stated that the contract was already awarded and the project started on June 27, 2019, from the Siparuta end in which a two-lane road will be constructed at a cost of $132M through the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.

In addition, all internal roads within the village will be upgraded and hills will be paved to allow vehicles to have easy access around Orealla.

Edwards added that street names and signboards will be erected.