By Michel Outridge

NATOYA Richmond left her home village of Lima Sands, Essequibo Coast, to settle for a quiet and simple life in Capoey Mission.

She is the Eco Lodge Guest House caretaker and also has a house of her own in the community; she is married and has one child.

The Capoey Mission Eco Lodge Guest House has three large rooms with double and single beds and is outfitted with a spacious kitchen for visitors’ convenience.

This place has a rustic and “outdoorsy” look that is attractive and sits atop a hill in the community which is sandy and noted for its sand-mining.

Richmond told the Pepperpot Magazine that it is her job to take bookings and ensure that guests are comfortable and catered for and if they request meals, she also serves as the cook.

For outsiders, the room costs $4,000 per night and for villagers, it is $3,000 nightly and there are no air-conditioned rooms, so one can leave the windows open.

She has been residing in the community for the past several years and is very comfortable with life there, having escaped from the bustling life of a populated area for peace and tranquility of Capoey Mission.

Peace Corps Volunteer Martin Alexis who is a teacher at Capoey Mission Primary School, told the Pepperpot Magazine that he really likes the village and the people who are very friendly; most of all however, he is happy to be a teacher.

It has been two years since he started as a literacy teacher at the village school and has a house in the Mission, where he prepares his meals for the weekends.

During weekdays, meals are provided at the school through their feeding programme and the food is to his liking.

Alexis if from Florida, United States of America and his stint will end next year; he, however, said that he will renew it because he is in love with the place, especially the lake and the people; they have been very cooperative and welcoming.

“It is one of those places where you go and never outlive your welcome, because the people are genuine and kind,’ he said. He likes to take dips in the cool, dark water of the lake.

He disclosed that he will be doing the Mari-Mari dance for the village heritage celebration, as he did last year.

He was at the time assisting an elderly villager to guide the children in practice of the traditional dances for the heritage celebration at Georgeville Community Centre in the Georgeville Housing Scheme.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Wilfred Roberts, 65, a village elder, who was guiding schoolchildren in the traditional dances of Mari-Mari, Baboon dance and Snake dance, which they will perform for the village heritage celebration.

Roberts was assisting six primary school students with the dance moves, but on a daily basis, he is a small-scale farmer.

He has crops of vegetables, which are sold in the village and assist in defraying his personal expenses.