By Michel Outridge 

THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the idyllic and majestic Indigenous reservation of Mission Capoey, which is located between Taymouth Manor and Alliance Villages on the Essequibo Coast and it is home to less than 1,000 residents.

THE scenic reservation of Capoey Mission boasts many things, but one of the most noticeable is that most villagers are self-employed and very resourceful.

The Pepperpot Magazine met a very kind and friendly villager, Theresa Williams, who had finished preparing a barrel of traditional wine called ‘fly,’ which is made from black potatoes grown right in the village.

The 62-year-old was at the time stirring the barrel of ‘fly,’ which she had specially prepared to sell at the village heritage celebrations which are scheduled for today.

She stated that the ‘fly’ is made from 25 pounds of black potatoes which is boiled with sugar and then stored in a barrel to ferment for the acquired taste.

Williams, however, admitted that it was her first time making ‘fly,’ but after a taste of the potent beverage, it was confirmed as a perfect mixture which was tasty and had all the right ingredients.

“I will bottle the ‘fly’ and based on the size I will sell it for the heritage and it is my contribution to the village this year, she said.

Williams disclosed that the longer the ‘fly’ is stored, the stronger it becomes and it is considered a ‘strong wine,’ which should only be consumed by adults.

Another resident, Seon Tugwell, who went through the village with the Pepperpot Magazine said he is self-employed and is into graphic designing and is also responsible for the Capoey Mission’s Facebook page.

Although he is not originally from the village, he has been there for the past six years and he was drawn to the community through his wife; he met her at a beauty pageant in another village years ago.

His wife is a teacher in the village and they have one child and he describes life there as peaceful and quiet, the perfect place to raise a family.

Violet Budwurgh, a resident of Capoey Mission, was outside her house chatting with others when the Pepperpot Magazine met her.

Born and bred in the village, the 48-year-old said that the heat was unbearable and she decided to step outside to get some fresh air on a bench at the side of her house.

“I am a craft-maker, but due to ill health, I am unable to make things now and I now depend on my husband to provide for the family,” she said.

The mother of three reported that she is an occupant of one of the many Food For The Poor houses in the community, which has a relatively small population.

The Pepperpot Magazine also encountered a smiling Lorenzo Carter, the village’s boat operator, who ferries schoolchildren and teachers in and out of the Mission.

He works for the Village Council, a job he started about two months ago.

“I born and grow here and I have a daughter but life here is not easy; you have to work to make ends meet,” Carter said.

While at the Village Office, the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with Grace Edwards, who had dropped of a few model canoes which were hand-made by her spouse, Morris Edwards.

The samples were purchased by the Village Council and will be used as part of the mini-exhibition for the village heritage celebrations.

Edwards said the canoes are made from wood sourced from within the village and although it takes time to make them, it is a task her husband has been up to for some time and it provides an income for the family.

Wanda Solomon is the resident forestry officer and her role is to monitor the reservation and issue relevant documents needed to conduct logging, etc.

She also takes samples of trees and sends them to the Guyana Forestry Commission for processing purposes for market and discovery of newer wood species.

Solomon said she is from the Essequibo Coast and when she was a little girl her mother moved to the indigenous village, which has become her home.

She is also part of the Village Council and assists in the daily running of the Village Office.

Village Council member Edward Hendricks said he is responsible for assisting the health workers in the village.

His task is to ensure they have everything to keep the residents in the community healthy.

He has served for many years and is self-employed as a mason and carpenter and would even work outside the village.

When the Pepperpot Magazine met Edwards, he was in the process of cementing a piece of land in front of a lakeside shop in the village.

The father of six said, “For heritage, a stage will be constructed with booths to vend food and drinks for villagers and we expect a lot of visitors. When dem hear about heritage here, everybody anxious fuh come,” Edwards said.