By Michel Outridge

THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to the bustling township of
Corriverton, Berbice, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne).

After the closure of the Skeldon Sugar Estate, many residents who depended heavily on the sugar industry for their livelihoods had to seek other jobs.

As such, many went into their own small businesses to stay afloat and meet household and personal expenses.

There are many cash-crop farmers and large and small-scale rice farmers, shop owners and stay-at-home moms and wives.

At the beginning of the township, an impressive arch welcomes you to Corriverton which celebrates its 47th anniversary annually on October 28.

Large stores, schools and other public buildings are centrally located about a 10-minute drive away by the Corriverton Market, where there is a business hub of various establishments.

The Mayor and Town Council has an office near the Municipal Market Street and it was observed they have quite a few high-rise buildings and very interesting edifices.

Just opposite the market, there is a very large and beautifully constructed mosque which sits just before the foreshore at Corriverton near the Orealla Launch Landing.

Your visit would not be complete without seeing or getting a ride in one of the Tapirs (an old model of van) which is still used for daily commute by locals.

This community has a Children’s Park outfitted with wooden benches and four benabs, but it is abandoned and overrun by bushes.

This facility is not utilised by locals and it is situated on the public road and it is a very good place to enjoy the country breeze and unwind after a day’s work

The Pepperpot Magazine first met a young woman, Sarika Persaud, a resident who sells their farm-fresh produce.

She has a roadside stand vending fruits and vegetables along with home-made pepper sauce infused with lime juice and blimey.

The 23-year-old revealed that she started the roadside ‘hustle’ just a month ago as a means of income for herself and son, since she is separated from her spouse.

She is a local of Corriverton who has lived all her life in the community and would only leave the village to go to Skeldon or nearby.

“My father is a farmer and we plant our own peppers, that is, bell peppers, sweet peppers and other variety of peppers, so since he has it I decided to make some pepper sauce and sell it,” she said.

As a single mother of a five-year-old boy, she is willing to earn and is selling vegetables she would buy from villagers or that garnered from their farm.

Persaud also sells boulanger and seasonings such as celery, pepper, shallot, bora, squash, ground provisions, calaloo, peppers, cucumber, limes and pepper sauce in various bottles and containers.

“Life here is very simple; we are hardworking village people who farm and sell what we produce for our daily living and we do get by,” she said.

The Persauds own a grey Tapir van that is driven by her father. The vehicle is still in very good working condition and is used by the family to get from one point to another.

Persaud is well-known for her signature blimey with lime juice pepper sauce which is very flavourful.