By Michel Outridge

HE IS said to be a village leader and a respected elder of Calcutta and he is no other than Wilbert Inniss.

This elderly gentleman told the Pepperpot Magazine that as far as he knows, the word ‘Calcutta’ originated in India and he is not certain if Indians resided there in the early years and the age of the village is unknown.

Inniss, a very pleasant and spritely person, reported that there is a rice company in Burma Road, where most villagers earn their livelihoods.

In addition, he reported that most folk are self-employed and have their small businesses, while some rear livestock and are cash crop and rice farmers.

The 71-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that most youths from the village gravitated towards the interior to seek their living and others are gainfully employed in the public sector.

“Life here is reasonable and generally people survive by working and they live as a family unit and almost everybody in the village are related, but within recent times the men of the community have been going out and bringing in outsiders as their ‘better half,’ he said.

Inniss added that these days he lives alone and has a lot to do including cooking, tending to his chickens and doing chores.

“I am self-sufficient and prepare my meals and do things in general for myself, because I am used to it,” the father of three said.

He stated that he had his grandchildren with him, but had just returned from the city where he had returned them.

“I would pass the day good, because I tend to my meat birds, from where I earn and I still have some time for leisure,” he said.

Inniss reported that the people of Calcutta are warm and welcoming and it was evident in his gesture, where he invited us in his house for a chat.

He pointed out that the communities of Calcutta, Recess, Abary and Catherine co-exist as one and people are comfortable; they ‘blow off steam’ by going out at the discos and the bars in the village.

Inniss stated that he is a functional father and grandfather, and even though he is divorced, he is very much a part of his grown children’s lives.

“Life nice and when you are contented it gets better and one must not sit by wasting time, instead [one] must get up and get,” he said.

Inniss recalled he used to work at the Burma Rice Mill in the 1960s for many years and after hearing about a hydro project in the Mazaruni, he went there to seek employment.

“I had to spend three months there before I get a job as a labourer and after his knowledge of spare parts was made known, he was elevated to the person in charge of the stores and this was at Kawpau, Mazaruni,” he explained.

Inniss added that as he was running the stores from behind the scenes he was, however, promoted to Storekeeper then to stores supervisor, where he spent eight years.

With money garnered from this job, he built a house which had a shop and then he tied the knot and started his family life.

Meanwhile, over the years, he had some domestic issues which caused his wife to leave, but now Inniss is not in need of anything. Although a pensioner, he is very satisfied and he is always willing to extend his hand in gratitude to any visitor.

“Remember people are hurting and some in need of a hot meal and I always give, because it always returns to you in many folds and it is more blessed to give than receive,” he said.