DESIREE Satnarine is spending all the time at home, hoping to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, and is in her small shop assisting with elling items that are in stock.

She is a resident of Bushy Park, a little village on the East Bank Essequibo, and has been living there for the past 50 years.

She also sells home-made ice, icicles and custard while residing with her extended family.
“We got to do things from home to earn, because, with the curfew, my family members are not working, and things not easy at this time,” Desiree said.

The mother of three related that Bushy Park is a very quiet place, where the residents work with themselves, doing ‘buy and sell’ or farming.

She considers life as being reasonably fair, despite the many challenges, and is living by the motto, “Pray and Spray”. As she spoke, she held up a spray bottle which contained rubbing alcohol.

“In an extended family setting, we assist each other because this is not a normal time, and we have to stick together to fight the coronavirus by doing simple things like practicing good hygiene,” Desiree said, adding:

“This village is small, so we all know each other. And it is a nice place to live; it is away from the city, but e have everything in Parika, which is relatively close by.”

The 61-year-old is a very friendly woman, who is very much family-oriented, and from her disposition, it was evident that she loves her family a lot.

The Pepperpot Magazine also spoke to Samuel Williams, who was on his bicycle, while his 10-month-old son was in a stroller.

Father and son were on their way to the shop to make a few purchases, then visit a relative before returning home.

A welder by trade, Williams said he usually works in the Mazaruni area, where he’s employed as a project contractor.

“I came out to spend some time with my only child, Teon, because of the coronavirus and so, but I will have to return to work,” he said.

Williams related that he was bored at home, so he decided to take a quick walk, and to buy a snack for his son at his neighbour’s shop.

The father of one stated that life in Bushy Park is alright, because the place is nice, and life is very quiet for most people, who earn from their small businesses, or by working with others.

“We live right by the junction, so it’s not far away. And we trying to stay put, and still try to get out for a little bit, abiding by the curfew as well,” he said.

As for ‘Baby Teon’, he had no care in the world, and was smiling all the while, peering out from the comfort of his stroller.