By Michel Outridge

THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to River’s View Village, which is located in the Essequibo River and is about a five-minute boat ride from Bartica to feature our ‘Village in the Focus.’

This picturesque village has been designated this year’s National Heritage Village for the very first time and residents are very pleased about this.

River’s View Village National Heritage was celebrated on Tuesday, September 10, 2019), when President David Granger and other invitees were present for the official opening ceremony.

The Pepperpot Magazine spoke to the Toshao Kenneth Edwards, a mild-mannered local who was born and raised in the community.

He stated that River’s View Village is on the mainland and it begins from the Makouria Creek to Badwarine Creek, on the right bank of the Essequibo River.

It is home to about 700 residents mainly from the Arawak tribe and the population includes that of a neighbouring satellite village of Falmouth.

He pointed out that there is a track to walk from River’s View to Falmouth Village, but up to a certain point after that, the village is accessible only by boat.

Edwards added that River’s View, which is home to Minister of Social Protection George Norton, has a nursery school, a primary school and a health centre.

The village leader stated that in the schools they have an active feeding programme and the teachers, as well as the health workers, are all from the village.

Edwards said they have about 100 school-aged children in the community and the people are very friendly and cooperative.

The nearest secondary school is in Bartica and students are transported with the David ‘G’ speedboat. The boat was gifted to the community in 2016.

The toshao told the Pepperpot Magazine that the people of River’s View are peaceful and simple and they lead a very normal life; some are health workers, some teachers, while others work in the mining and logging industries.

Although there is no electricity or potable water in the village, residents have their own generators and cooking and drinking water are sourced from the two wells within the community, or from rainfall.
Edwards said they use the river water for bathing, doing the dishes and washing.
“This community saw a lot of works done in the infrastructure and some bridges were constructed along with a fairly new stelling. We are trying to get our youths into more sports activities and a new playfield is to be commissioned soon,” he said.
Preparations to host National Heritage Village
Edwards told the Pepperpot Magazine that he wrote a letter requesting that River’s View be the host village for this year’s heritage celebrations and they have been preparing since February.

He disclosed that the benab (meeting place) alone took a month to construct and all villagers came together to lend a helping hand to construct 40 food and drinks stalls, the stage, the welcome sign, paintings and other forms of indigenous decorations.

Edwards noted that he is very pleased, too, that members of the Guyana Defence Force (GDF) were there a few days before the ceremony to assist them in preparing the place to host the heritage event.
He told the Pepperpot Magazine that whatever money is garnered form logging within the community, they would use to enhance their community.
Edwards stated that they had a planned programme for September 10 and on September 11, the community engaged in a day of sports in which volleyball was the featured sport, as well as circle tennis.

“Our youths are noted for their talent in football and they have been performing well so far, and won some games and we are trying to encourage them to realise their full potential,” he said.

The toshao pointed out that River’s View is a crime-free community where the folks live in harmony and they are very pleased to be the host village for heritage celebrations this month.

River’s View is located on the border of Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Upper Berbice) on the Essequibo River, opposite the mining town of Bartica in Region Seven.
It is the first village in Region 10 to host a National Indigenous Heritage Day since the celebration started in September 1995.

River’s View can be accessed by river, with a one-hour speedboat ride from Parika, or by air through Bartica, then five minutes by boat across the mighty Essequibo River.
Last year’s Heritage Village was Shulinab – the only Makushi village in the South Rupununi, Region Nine.