By Michel Outridge 

DIANE Basdeo is a resident of The Jib village and is a stay-at-home mother, who also tends to her kitchen garden apart from regular household chores.

The mother of one told the Pepperpot Magazine that The Jib Village is a good place to live because one would benefit from a peaceful and quiet life and still has a lot to do.

Basdeo added that in The Jib everybody lives to suit themselves and it is a place where people ‘hustle’ for living honestly. The 23-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that her husband is a fisherman and they have their own fishing boat, which was moored awaiting the tide.

“Right now the tide low, so the boat is stuck in the mud and when the tide comes up, my husband will moor out the boat so he can prepare to go on a fishing trip,” she said.

Conveniently, the seawall (sea defence) is situated in the village which is easily accessed and all fishing boats and fishing gear are stored there.

Basdeo disclosed that in The Jib life is good because they all have things to do to make a living, and once you can earn it is easy to live an honest life and contribute to society.

“Living apart from family members with just my daughter and husband is very good because you are more comfortable to do the things you want without any difficulties and there are no family conflicts,” she said.

Basdeo told the Pepperpot Magazine that a typical day for her starts early in the morning, to cook after which she does her household chores and then she would spend some time in the kitchen garden.

Aside from all this, Basdeo still finds the time to have some form of relaxation where she would sit in her hammock or go outside where there is a sitting area under a tree.

“I am good here because I lived here all my life, so I am very comfortable and at ease,” she said.

Meanwhile, also in The Jib Housing Scheme, the team met Vanessa Singh, who was at the time entertaining friends.

Singh has a grocery shop and operates the business from her home which is quite good for her, since she does not have to go anywhere to earn.

“I does sell groceries and beverages and open on a daily basis and things are a bit slow, but we are taking it a day at a time,” she said.

Singh reported that she is not pleased with the services offered by the hospitals in that region, since there is usually a drug shortage and often they would have to make the long journey to the city for medical attention, which incurs a high cost.

She also said apart from that, in this day and age they have no ramp or lift to transport patients to the upper flat of the facility.

Singh added though that despite these shortcomings, Essequibo is her home, a place like no other and she cannot see herself living elsewhere.