By Michel Outridge

VIVE-La-Force, West Bank Demerara, is home to 95-year-old Rosalind Persaud better known as “Aunty Rosey”, who is living out her days in the comfort at her home, which has a lovely garden of flowers.

Sandra Sookram is the daughter of Aunty Rosey, who was sitting under the house, taking some cool country breeze before she retired for a nap.

Sookram takes care of her mother, whom she said was a very hardworking woman.She planted crops of ground provisions, pine and sugar cane on a farm they had at La Harmonie, which is located a few villages away.

The 56-year-old related that her parents worked tirelessly on their farm and when they became aged, they left their village of La Harmonie and relocated to Vive-La-Force village in 1990.

Sookram added that her mother is hearing-impaired, but she is still aware of what is taking place around her and would still listen to the radio and do things for herself.

Sookram is one of many who reside along the Side Line Dam at Vive-La-Force, West Bank Demerara and comes from a family of nine siblings.

When the Pepperpot Magazine visited she was doing some alterations to her mother’s skirt on her traditional pedal sewing machine.

“Ma tell me the skirt get too slack and I just take it in for her,” she said.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Verna Ali, who was at the time babysitting her grandson and they were by the canal, taking some fresh air by their rest area which is a makeshift wooden bench.

Ali reported that she is originally from Wakapoa Mission, North West District and about 20 years ago she settled in Vive-La-Force, West Bank Demerara, when she got married.

The union produced five children, two of whom reside overseas and she has eight grandchildren, the one she was holding is the youngest.

The 57-year-old stated that she doesn’t work anymore and the children upkeep the home, since she and husband are both pensioners.

Ali added that the village is a nice place for family life, but they will be even better if they get an all-weather road.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Seeta Persaud, a housewife, who had finished preparing her meals via a traditional fireside which is located in the yard and was relaxing.

The mother of two said she is originally from Pouderoyen, West Bank Demerara but when she got married she relocated to Side Line Dam, Vive-La-Force village and occupies the front house on the lot.

Persaud noted that her in-laws reside in the large house behind hers and they live in harmony and life there is comfortable.

She has been residing there for the past nine years and is one of about seven families who live on the Side Line Dam.

Her husband has a full-time job, but is also a seasonal fisherman, who has a small wooden boat which was moored in the canal adjacent to their house.

“Life ok here, once you work you can live well and we don’t have any problems here, it is very peaceful and quiet,” she said.

In Vive-La-Force the people take great pride in preserving their environment, as such, they have lovely flower plants and in every yard there are fruit trees in great abundance.