By Michel Outridge
THE residents of The Jib village are very friendly and would leave whatever they were doing and have a conversation at any given time. The team met Tasia Parasram, who was at the time seeing her sons off to school and was outside waiting on the school bus to take them to school, which is located a few villages away.

She reported that she has resided in The Jib for the past 10 years after marriage and is now settled, with her husband and two sons. Parasram is originally from Better Success, also on the Essequibo Coast and pays a weekly fee for the transportation of her sons to school so she is not tasked with collecting them after school.

The housewife stated that they have all the basic necessities and she lives on the Public Road, so the place is breezy and nice, she said.

Parasram added that she takes care of a small kitchen garden in her spare time and that is the source of her fruits and vegetables.

“I don’t buy greens because I use from my garden and it is less expensive and that money is used for other things,” she said.

The mother of two pointed out that most people in the village do fishing and clean drains with the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office as a living and people live a life of simplicity, nothing fancy and they are at peace with the quiet ambience.

The Pepperpot Magazine also met Narinie (only name) who was at home vending some eddoes, plantain and eggs from her verandah.

She resides in The Jib housing scheme and has been there for the past nine years.

Narinie said she normally makes the purchase of eddoes, plantains and eggs from the Anna Regina Market and would re-sell same at her house, which is convenient.

She explained that with the children all grown up and gone to live elsewhere, she is alone and is making a living to maintain her personal expenses but life is good.

At the time, she was chatting with a neighbour, who had visited.

The team also encountered Winifred Marks, who was tending to her plants in her garden which is in her front yard.

The 53-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is originally from Moruca, North West but moved to The Jib 12 years ago for a better life.

She added that the fruits and vegetables from her garden are used in the home. She added, however, that her life isn’t easy because she is caring for her young daughter who is sick. She pointed out that she would like to take her daughter to the city where she can get a second opinion on her daughter’s illness and where she can get the medical treatment she needs.

Marks said if she can benefit from basic necessities such as light and water her life in The Jib will be more comfortable but for now she is hoping for the best and will not give up prayers.