By Michel Outridge

WHEN he left his hometown of Moruca, Region One in search of work and a better life in his youthful days, James Domingo did not know what awaited him but today he has settled in Swan Village and has a family.

The 64-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that when he left his village he was unsure of the outcome of his decision but was determined to make something of his life and that he did.

Domingo is the former Village Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC) for four years and the founding leader of Swan Village.

“Most people that live here came from Region One because their children came out for school others for work and some seeking betterment,” he said.

He related that he spent all his youthful days in Laluni Village, also on the Soesdyke/Linden Highway, where he worked with the then Demerara Tobacco Company and when that company folded he exited the village.

It was then he met a young woman, who became his wife and settled in Swan Village and make a living by assisting his other half to make craft products and would leave home for two months at a time to work in the interior cutting logs to make utility poles.

Domingo said that he has been residing in Swan for the past 10 years and he finds it very comfortable and peaceful but recently he had an accident on his front stairs and suffered a broken leg so he is laid up until it heals.

“When I first came here we had about 85 families with 310 villagers but since the population grew. Food for the Poor built 65 houses and it has enhanced the lives of the people here and we have had some developments within the village, over time,” he said.

Domingo stated that with electricity on the horizon things will be better since they can store meats and vegetables and do other things to uplift their lives.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that with no minors at home right now they manage but there is a need for better roads and at least a school bus for the children since the nearest school is in Kuru Kururu.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Carlotta Houser, a mother of eight, who was erecting a stall alone on the confines of the Community Centre Ground for Sunday’s heritage celebrations.

The wood was cut from trees from aback the village and used to construct a makeshift stall and it was done single-handedly by Houser, who said she can manage.

She related that she would be selling wild meat Pepperpot and some cold non-alcoholic beverages.

The Pepperpot Magazine then met the Alleynes, the couple lives in the last house in the village and they said it suits them just fine.

Jennifer and her husband, Ronald Alleyne said they are good but with electricity and water they would be better.

They said Swan has been their home for the past eight years and it is a place where people mind their own business and do what they have to.

At times, vans carrying goods, meats and vegetables would come into the village to sell, making it convenient for residents to make the necessary purchases.

Meats are either boiled or fried since there is no cold storage in Swan.

Villager Fernando Wells said he has been residing in Swan for a year now and plans to go home for the Christmas holidays.

He is from Mabaruma and came to Swan seeking a job because he was tired of ‘bush’ work and came to garner funds to get back home to his family.

He is staying with his aunt and is employed with the Soesdyke Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) cleaning drains.

The 20-year-old said his life in Swan is good for now but he is also glad to whenever he goes back home to Mabaruma.