The hard work of good-spirited Charity residents 

By Michel Outridge 

SHERMAN Austin is an ordinary fellow but he is doing extraordinary things to contribute to society in his own little ways.

He is originally from Jacklow, Pomeroon, and is a councillor at the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) at Charity, a distributor of the Guyana Chronicle newspapers and is a also cassava and citrus farmer.

As it relates to his job as a councillor, he stated that as is, the majority of the NDC councillors are members of the opposition and it is not functioning as it should.

He explained that the Charity NDC consists of 18 councillors, one from the United Destiny Party and he is the lone member of the A Partnership for Unity (APNU); the rest are attached to the opposition.

“They are not doing much and it’s kind of rough being there right now when decisions are made nothing happens, only for chosen people; we asking the relevant authorities to step in in this kind of corruption,” he said.

For instance, Austin told the Pepperpot Magazine that one of the ideas touted was for the Charity Waterfront area to become like that of Supenaam stelling, since they have the potential and even that idea is being opposed.

However, they have seen some development within recent times, that is, internal streets were asphalted; some contracts have been given out; and the river dam was upgraded by the government but noted that there is room for improvement, noting that the NDC is being stifled by the majority of its councillors.

Waterfront congestion

On another note, he told the Pepperpot Magazine that at Charity the majority of vendors are not from the area; as such, they compete for space on the waterfront while locals have their allocated spaces at the Farmers’ Wharf.

He added that vendors and the businessman who operates a gas station near to the waterfront are at loggerhead as regards the space there and as a form of enforcement, armed security were placed at the location.

Austin is also of the view that the youths need a place they can unwind and engage in sports activities and noted the need for a playground outfitted with a community centre.

Meanwhile, on the farming side of things, Austin stated that fruit farmers are losing a lot because the prices to wholesalers fluctuate and at times it is not very lucrative, leaving farmers at a disadvantage.

He thinks that the authorities should step in and assist Pomeroon farmers by regulating the prices, so they can make a profit, even if it is a small one and also to help market their produce.

Austin related too, that for some time things have slowed a bit in marketing their produce and it is not good for farmers, who depend heavily on that as their main source of income.

“In our farming community in the Pomeroon River we depend on drainage and to fit in a tube or what we call a koker in the Pomeroon is very expensive and is a strain on farmers’ pockets, seeing that the produce is not selling and at cheap prices when it does and it is a burden, so we asking for help,” he said.

Dennis Williams of Abraham’s Creek, Pomeroon River
Another farmer, Dennis Williams, who was also at the Charity Waterfront told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is pleased with the progress in his community, that is, Abraham’s Creek, Pomeroon River.

He reported that although development came, it was slow, but they were patient and waited and they will continue to work on further enhancement of their riverine village.

Williams is a coconut and banana farmer who is now retired.

“I am 65 years old and in my young days I worked with people who had logging concessions and woodworking businesses; and when I reached 50 I started doing my own farming because of health reasons and the lack of physical strength and I also got in political party work since 1992 I have been working with this current administration,” he said.

Williams added that being a farmer in that area is not easy, meaning they don’t always get markets for their produce and only a few buyers, who often buy below the wholesale price making it difficult for them to sustain themselves.

“With all these issues we still cannot give up because life is as such and we have to stand firm even in hard times and be united for better times ahead,” he said.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke with Ravi (only name given) who expressed the need for a dialysis facility at Charity.

He explained that he is from New Road, Charity and his elderly mother is a kidney patient, who has to get dialysis often and the journey for the ill pensioner is very expensive and tiresome.

Ravi has been working as a pump attendant on the floating gas station in the Pomeroon River, at Charity Waterfront for the past 15 years.