By Michel Outridge

Shameer Baksh is an elderly farmer and resident of Ruby Backdam, East Bank Essequibo, who is probably one of most senior folk within the community, who is still very much able-bodied.

When the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with him, he was assisting his son to revive a tractor engine in his front yard.

“When you are accustomed to hard work it is not easy to sit idly by and waste time, I have no time for that because I always have something to fix or to tend to crops on my property,” he explained.

The 73-year-old has a bountiful farm of ground provisions and plantains on several acres of land within the sprawling Ruby Backdam.

Baksh disclosed that the village was once one of the largest land co-ops which started in 1959 with nine farmers when it was just dense jungle.

He reported that over time the village developed and turned into a striving farming community and the place is also noted for its rich soil composition which yields good crops.
The senior citizen told the team that state lands were leased to residents for farming purposes at Ruby Backdam and other villages such as Parika Backdam, Good Hope, Farm, Hydronie, Ruby, East and West of Naamryck.

Baksh added that over the years the village has seen some developments in the form of an asphalt road, they have good drainage and irrigation suitable for farming, cleared canals and some basic necessities.

The father of two pointed out that the community is virtually crime-free and they are quite happy with their unbothered way of life even though it is hard work they don’t mind.
Baksh stated that although they don’t have potable water supply they have two wells at the Ruby Back Primary School, which was dug by overseas church members during their visit to Guyana some years ago.

He explained that water can be accessed there but the onus is on villagers to transport it to their respective homes.

The elderly man noted that most people have equipped their homes with black tanks and rainfall water is stored for personal use.

Most people use water from the canals to wash, use on their farms and do other household chores via pumping of the water to their homes.

Baksh added that the village has schools, a Mandir and three churches and they benefitted from electricity when the road was paved some years ago.

He explained that the health post and schools get potable water supply from the two wells at the location.

“Life here is very simple, stress-free but it is very hard work, we farmers don’t get a day off because we work endlessly to ensure our crops are safe but it is what we do,” he said.
Baksh stated that in Ruby Backdam even the young men are involved in farming long-side their parents and they are proud of it.

“Nothing is wrong with being a farmer, it is honest work and it is good to use your hands to plant the lands and provide crops, which amounts to food,” he said.