By Michel Outridge

Cecil Ramdatt, who has attained the position of Justice of Peace in his village, is one of the respected elders in the community, which has seen development.

The elderly gentleman told the Pepperpot Magazine that he first came to Experiment Village in 1971.

He is originally from Bartica but relocated to Essequibo Coast after which he settled in Experiment Village as a result of work.

“I was stationed at the District Commissioner’s Office at Fort Wellington and it wasn’t the regional system yet then I moved over to MMA in 1978,” he said.

Ramdatt told the Pepperpot Magazine he has seen some development within the area including the establishment of the Bath/Woodley Park housing scheme which is said to be the largest in Region Five.

“I have seen where I live here in Experiment converted from thick seen crabgrass into a housing area and we have good roads and drains here which is a plus,” he said.

Ramdatt reported that back in the days, they didn’t have any potable water supply, electricity and telephone services and when he became chairman for the Bath/Woodley Park NDC from 2003 to 2013, he lobbied for those things, he said.

He added that he had to resign from NDC because he became a Justice of Peace and couldn’t manage both jobs at the same time.

“I am comfortable with this as a Justice of Peace because riding two horses at the same time wouldn’t have been easy. At times people used to be at my house waiting on me to provide services and I felt bad about that so I did the right thing,” he said.

Ramdatt stated that he retired at MMA in 1997 and he is now enjoying his retirement as a pensioner.

However, he said there is a need for improved water service. Since the population grew in the housing schemes the water pressure is very low and it needs to be reliable and adequate.

Ramdatt bragged about the potential of Experiment Village as being the biggest supplier of cash crops across the country and said too, that some people are farming to make ends meet, which shows their resilience in surviving.

He pointed out that there isn’t a prevalence of drug use among the youths in the village but they too need jobs and to be empowered with a life skill to earn.

Ramdatt said the village has the necessary facilities for enhanced life and schools are nearby and the villages of Experiment/Hope/Waterloo all go together in terms of community relations.

He disclosed that before the housing schemes were established, the lands were owned by Guysuco and later the government took possession of it and housing areas were developed to promote housing developed.