A central place for residents

By Michel Outridge

THE River’s View Community Centre is the place where all food preparations are done within the village especially on special occasions such as Indigenous Heritage celebrations.

During a recent visit to the village, some women were in the kitchen preparing some chicken cook-up rice for the folks that were assisting with the preparations for the heritage celebrations.

One of the women, Aranda Somra told the Pepperpot Magazine that she was tasked with assisting in the food bar to share out samples of indigenous dishes, which will be on display along with beverages in the form of piwari and potato wine, better known as ‘fly’.

She related that the Community Centre was the primary meeting place for villagers when there is a function or any celebration in the community but now with the construction of a large benab residents can meet there instead.

Another resident, Philip Williams, told the Pepperpot Magazine that he grew up in the village and it is the only place be wants to be since it is home for him, a place where he feels safe and is very comfortable.

“I have been living here for the past 65 years and I attended the nursery and primary schools here and I am the security guard attached to the school compound and I feel safe here. I don’t have to worry about getting robbed or afraid to walk around at nights,” he said.

Williams described life in the community as very quiet and without any crimes to worry about since it is virtually non-existent there and one can go to bed without locking doors and windows.

“It does be hot in the night when it rains and in the sunny season it is cold in the evenings and the water is very hot in the morning to bathe but that’s just a few things to ponder here. People here live like one big family and everybody does watch one another back and we have no real problems here except peace and quiet,” Williams said.

He stated that most of the youths, who completed their secondary education have gone off to the University of Guyana (UG) or have gone into the mining and logging industry.

Williams told the Pepperpot Magazine that in River’s View you can walk on the darkest night and there is no one there to trouble you and you are safe.

“I feel very proud and lifted up that our village will be the host village for Amerindian heritage celebration because the President will come to visit to see what we have to offer as a people,” he said.

Williams pointed out that preparations started in January and the benab alone took more than a month to construct but they had help from the large group of soldiers that visited and they appreciate it very much.

Villager, Gregory Williams told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is the pastor of the Goshen Baptist Church and the village contractor.

He is one of the villagers who painted the indigenous signs on the welcome arch and also build the benab walls using the bark of trees from the village.

Williams explained that he used to work outside the village then when he realised that it was cheaper to work within the community he opted to stay and meet the carpentry and building needs of his fellow villagers.

“I am content with what I have here and my life is simple but I am doing things to enhance my life daily, it will get better. I have three children and have been married for 11 years,” he said.