Councillor works with women and youth to become more independent 

SHIRLEY Miguel, a councillor for Karawab Village in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), wants to help the women and youths in her community to earn a living and become more independent.

Miguel, a 56-year-old mother of nine, was born and raised at Saint Monica Village, but now lives at Karawab. She does cassava farming mainly and would meet with the rest of councillors on the last Thursday of every month.

A councillor for the past nine years, she said that life in the village has its challenges at times, especially for the women. “They don’t have a job in Karawab, so they depend on their husbands for everything. They’re just at home all day,” she expressed during an interview with the Pepperpot Magazine.

As such, Miguel wants to establish a women’s group with at least 20 members. “I am planning to organise a women’s group to assist women and youths to do sewing and other things so that they can get some income for themselves,” she said.

According to her, the village has a football team that would invite other teams from different villages to visit for a fun day. “My plans include working along with young people,” she said.

She pointed out that the ‘David G’ boat would leave Karawab each day at 06:30hrs to pick up 22 children from the village, and eight from St. Monica for school. The boat would return at 16:00hrs each day with the children.

The government has also installed a dish in the village so that children access the internet for their SBA’s and other work.

“In Karawab, you get everything that you need. You farm, you go out to get your fish. But out there [in town], you have to purchase everything, which means you have to work to buy these things,” she expressed.

Miguel said the people in Karawab are cooperative and kind.
According to her, some of the major plans of the council include constructing a community shop and making a stelling and walkway to access the huge building that was donated to the community by the Barama Company.

The intention is to turn this building into a cottage hospital and guesthouse.