By Michel Outridge

CONRAD Silas is a farmer of Parika Back, but resides outside the village and has a plot of co-op land among 50 farmers.

As he was making his way out the village via the main road, the Pepperpot Magazine encountered him and he opted to have a brief exchange with the team.

Silas reported that he has 10 acres of cassava, potatoes and plantains, but recently he was forced to plough down about three acres of cassava because he had no market.

He added that his farmlands can be accessed through Kent Dam and the price for cassava is about $40 to $60 per pound and that’s not profitable.

The farmer stated that it is not easy being a farmer and they have to plant to survive, but the place is dry and the savannah backlands are almost dried up as well.

The team also met Abdool Shahabad, a resident of Parika Back, who was on his way to visit a friend, right in the community.

He pointed out that he works in the hinterland and was home since January 18 and is waiting for things to settle up with the elections before going back to the ‘bush’ to work.

The father of six added that the elections haven’t disturbed him in any way or the people in the village, because they are united as one despite their ethnicities.

“Here we live like brothers and sisters and it is a peaceful place of farmers and simple people,” he said.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to Roger Anderson, a villager as well, who was in the process of leading a speed boat onto a truck which would be transported to Parika Wharf where it will begin plying the Parika to Bartica route.

Anderson, better known as “Solo,” is the owner of the boat and he is also the captain transporting passengers and has been in the business for 15 years.

He also operates a boat-building business where he has in his employ two persons from within the community.

The father of one stated that he works on his speedboat on weekdays and is usually off on weekends, spending time with his family.

“Where there is life, there is hope and one has to make the best out of it,” he said.

Anderson said Parika Back is a nice village where the people are united as Guyanese and there is no separation and everything is quite normal.

His spouse is a teacher and their life is nothing out of the ordinary.