THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the sleepy villages of Unity and Lancaster – often considered as one village because of their proximity — which are located on the East Coast Demerara. Located at the mouth of the Mahaica River, Unity- Lancaster is home to about 2,000 residents, who are mostly farmers and fishermen.

The people there reside in these Sisters’ villages as one big family and most are very accommodating and friendly.

The Mahaica river provides water for farming. The Mahaica Hospital, which includes Guyana’s only leprosy institution, is located on the outskirts of the villages.

This rural community is noted for being the birthplace of both Shivnarine Chanderpaul, former captain of the West Indies Cricket team; Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, former President of Guyana; and Colin Croft, another talented cricketer. Guyanese cricketers the Arjune brothers also come from this community. The late Sir David Rose was a resident and a housing scheme was named in his honour.

The Pepperpot Magazine caught up with a Lancaster resident, Seenauth Denpargh, who was sitting on a boulder by the roadside, awaiting the arrival of his son who was tasked with transporting him to another location to conduct some business.
Denpargh had visited the Unity-Lancaster Health Centre for his clinic appointment and was taking shade from the roasting sunshine.

He is a security guard at Unity ICT building and describes life as being ‘up and down’ but good because he is employed.

This resident added that a handful of young people work in offices and would journey to the city daily.

He pointed out that the country life is good. At age 69, he pays taxes and the drains in the village are maintained and the roads are in good condition still.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Thribhawan Persaud, who is back in Guyana for the past six months, and was enjoying the cool Atlantic breeze from his mother’s verandah.
He is back home after spending 38 years abroad, is here to stay and has gotten used to the quiet country life.

“From then to now, I see a lot of changes but there is room for improvement. Guyana is home so I am here to relax. I love my country and am here for the ‘good life’,” Persaud said.

Now retired, he stated that when he left Guyana he was a schoolboy. He went into accounting overseas and related that it is good to be back.

Persaud stated that there is need for the utility company to visit Unity and clear the vines that have overgrown the utility light and transmission lines.

He explained that a crew was there and chopped the weeds that were hanging at the bottom of the pole but the top is still overrun with vines and is blocking the light bulb there.

Meanwhile, Indroutie Narine, Persaud’s mother, was born and lived in Unity Village all her life.

The 80-year-old is similar to an ‘energizer’ battery she keeps going because she is accustomed to hard work.

She operates a shop at her home and would go to the city once a week to purchase groceries to stock up the shelves in her shop.

“I work hard and still at it today because if you sit down and do nothing you will get sick and I want to enjoy what is left of my life and it is very simple, you have to work to live comfortably,” she said.

Her husband passed away when her son was just six years old and at the same location her parents had a small shop selling wedding products and vehicles.
Narine said she however, renovated the house and opened a shop to keep her busy during the day and when the Pepperpot Magazine visited she was in the kitchen preparing some achar.

At her age, she still does her own cooking, household chores and tends to customers plus still has the time for a friendly chat.

Narine’s day starts at 04:00hrs, when she would engage in prayers then some chores after which she would open her shop at quarter to six but by 17:00hrs she would close up the shop and take rest early.

“I like my life here, it is very simple,” she said.