MATTHIAS Adam Smith works in Karawab and loves his life in Kabakaburi, another nearby village. Even though he’s thinking of relocating for the benefit of his children’s education, he says the move will be temporary as the plan is to move right back there!

Smith, 44, was born and raised at Kabakaburi and is a father of seven, who works in the area as a carpenter. “Life here is an easy-going life. Most people farm, hunt and fish, and some young men do mining,” he said, adding, “The community is very peaceful. The first thing I like about the village is the quiet. And I like to work in this area because the people are very friendly.”

Smith said the government is doing a lot to develop the villages along the Pomeroon River. However, he noted that many young men and women do not have jobs. “If the government can arrange for training for them such as in computer, tailoring, carpentry, sewing; this would contribute to development.”

As a carpenter, Smith said it is quite costly to build a concrete house in Karawab and surrounding villages. “We load sand and other materials in bags and bring them on big boats. It’s very costly to bring in materials and the labour costs are very expensive. Building a concrete building in the river is like two times the cost what you would pay on the road.”

Adult Education 
Meanwhile, former Toshao of Karawab and St. Monica Village, James Miguel, is calling on the authorities to implement some form of adult education in the villages to help residents manage their households efficiently and become better parents.

“I am suggesting that adult education be introduced for young parents so they can know how to control their livelihood,” Miguel told the Pepperpot Magazine during an interview.
Miguel lamented the fact that even though education was introduced there more than 30 years ago, a trained teacher is still to come out of Karawab Village. “We have to always import teachers. They come in, and soon after, they’re called to college. The only thing that can change this village is education,” he expressed.

At the moment, the health post has a midwife and community health centre. In the event of an emergency, the affected person would need to be rushed to the Charity Hospital. In the past, a doctor and medic were housed at Kabakuburi, a close-by village. “I think that should be reintroduced so that you may not always have to go all the way to Charity,” he said.

He referred to a recent case where a child was stung by a scorpion and died because no treatment was available for him. “They had no treatment at Kabakuburi, Charity, Suddie, and even Georgetown. The child was just given an injection for the pain and eventually died. This is the interior so you have snakes, centipedes and scorpions.”

Miguel is also calling for the establishment of a police outpost there. Even though crime is at a minimal in the area, there are instances where persons imbibe alcohol and may get out of hand.

Miguel said that though he loves the community, he hopes that these improvements can be made for the betterment of the residents.