By Michel Outridge

BEING caretaker for a large chicken farm is certainly a challenge, but David Salvadore stepped up to the task to provide for his family of 10 children and a wife.

David left his hometown of Hosororo,at Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) in search of work at age 16; he did other jobs until he found stable work in Garden of Eden, East Bank Demerara, on a chicken farm.

Salvadore explained that getting a job in his hometown wasn’t easy and that is the only reason he had to leave because the cost of living is very high there.

He added that his elderly parents relocated too and they now reside in the Friendship Squatting Area, where they are trying to make a living as well.

The 41-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is not very comfortable, but he has to work because he has six school-aged children depending on him to provide for them.

Salvadore has been residing at Garden of Eden for the past 20 years, where he works on the large chicken farm in Second Street. The farm has 60,000 chickens in nine large pens which are owned by a businessman, who is also a resident of Garden of Eden.

“I left my village and came here, going to have a better life, and I am trying because I would like to have my own plot of land, but I have to earn and this job is it for now,” he said.

He has the help of four other employees, but it is a full-time job that starts early in the morning and goes late into the night.

Salvadore reported that starting over from ‘scratch’ isn’t an easy task; it is an uphill challenge and one to which he is still adjusting.

“Life is okay, life is what you make of it; it can be hard or easy, it is up to you; and I came here and I never found it hard because I work honestly to make ends meet,” he said.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Roland Benjamin, who lives and work in Second Street, Garden of Eden.

He disclosed that he is employed on one of the chicken farms;although it is close to his house, he uses a bicycle to get to and from the location, because walking can get him tired by the time he reaches the farm.

The 64-year-old reported that he like most villagers, who are not self-employed, have no option but to work on these chicken farms though they wish the pay could be better

“The cost of living is high and we have to work, I am trying to hold onto this job though,” he said.

Benjamin stated that he has a family to maintain and he has a monthly rent of $10,000 along with other expenses.

He noted that the road is more than two miles long and the poultry farms are owned by business people, most of whom reside right in the community.