Haslington is a lively village

By Michel Outridge

During a visit to Haslington, East Coast Demerara, some villagers took the time out and entertained the Pepperpot team in friendly conversations on life in the village and their plans for the upcoming Christmas holidays.

Basil Williams, who was in the process of trimming trees in his aunt’s yard, said he is assisting in cleaning up the place.

He had trimmed off excess leaves and branches from plants and the coconut trees in the plot and had already cut some coconut branches to make some pointer brooms to aid in sweeping the house.

Williams added that he lives across the road, a few doors away and was over at his aunt’s place helping her out. He said that he is originally from Region One (Barima-Waini), a small indigenous community of Waramuri.

The 67-year-old stated that he has managed to erect a chain-link fence around his property recently and in the New Year he is hoping to rear some chickens as his small business venture to supplement his income.

“When I finish cleaning I can relax and on Christmas Day. I will buy a bottle of vodka and invite two friends, and we will share and make merry,” he said.

Williams noted that he had already finished cleaning his house and will relax during the holidays adding that there must be celebration after hard work.

Meanwhile, as for his aunt, Elizabeth Goodridge, she doesn’t celebrate Christmas because of her religion as a Jehovah Witness but will prepare fancy meals for the family.

Further down the road, there was Gillian Roache, a spritely woman, who has a grocery shop in her yard which accommodates two houses for her extended family.

The 48-year-old resident of Haslington reported that she is looking forward to the holidays which she deemed as the ‘nicest time of the year’.

Roache added that she is trying with her business, where she sells every little thing and provides a service to the community.

The mother of five stated that two of her sons are married and with the large size family she is in the process of enhancing her house to an acceptable standard so everyone will be comfortable.

“On Christmas Day I will prepare and put all the foods and goodies on the family table, and every member of my family will partake for lunch, and I am sure it will be good as last year,” she said.

Roache disclosed that they will pass the holidays reflecting on the year gone by and make plans for the new one.

For Roache, Christmas isn’t a Guyanese one without local foods and beverages, and all those foods will be prepared as a ‘must-have’ to welcome the holidays.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to Ronald Romario Threl, a very friendly and welcoming resident of Tarmac Road, Haslington.

He explained that being a Rastafarian, he is not ‘too big’ on certain things and tries to live a simple life, most of which includes framing.

The 46-year-old added that he has about two plots of land on which he has crops of fruits and vegetables, all organic and he would sell his produce at his small shop.

Threl stated that he has been at the location since 1988 and is trying with the country life of a framer and always has food for visitors.

When the Pepperpot Magazine met him, he had just finished preparing an aromatic pot of calaloo simmered in coconut milk and cooked rice, some of which he offered to the Pepperpot team.

Some friends were at his cottage and they were enjoying the meal during the interview.

“My place is always open to anyone, and I always have food to share with visitors because this is who I am; a simple man,” he said.

Threl reported that life aback Haslington is good and he does his gardening after which he would relax and prepare for the new day.

“Things quiet at the back here and we live in peace and unity and there is no separation or racism here,” he said.