By Michel Outridge

DIPCHAND Sookdeo is a resident of Corriverton, who may be taken for granted by people around him but, make no mistake, he is good at what he does.

He is referred to as the ‘Alligator Man’ and the name was given to him because he is versed in catching alligators in the swampy areas behind the village.

Sookdeo makes a living by trapping alligators, snakes, iguanas and salipenters in the backlands of Corriverton and would sell the skins and the meat separately.

Sookdeo told the Pepperpot Magazine that after his ‘catch’, depending on what he got, he would sell the skins of the alligators and snakes to the craft shops in the city. Meanwhile, the meat of the alligators, iguanas, snakes and salipenters are sold to other customers.

The craft shops outside the Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) would buy the alligators’ skins to make bags and other products, most of which are bought by tourists.

And while there are sections of society that may see such a job as unsavoury, this is a way of life for many persons in rural areas.
“I been doing this type of work for eight years and it has put food on my table and there is no shame in earning an honest dollar,” he said.

Apart from catching and trapping the animals, he would also ‘catch a day job’ in the community as a labourer.

“I am a ‘Jack of all Trades.’ I do whatever is available for work in this village, because that’s the only way I can earn,” he said.

Sookdeo stated that in the village people work hard to provide for their families, but with COVID-19 they have been experiencing job losses across the board, making it difficult for many.

So they had to improvise and seek other jobs and the father of three did just that, even if it means going out at nights into the vast backlands.

“I would go with two other residents because it is not an easy task for one person and we would go by boat, some nine miles in the swampy area and await our catch,” he said.

Sookdeo explained that they would take ropes, twine, wire and other makeshift traps to make a good catch.

He added that they would pitch the torchlight directly at the alligators, causing them to become temporarily disoriented and that’s when he makes his move to trap them.

After trapping the alligators, he would tie them up and bring them to the village where he would begin the process of taking off their skins for preservation before they are sold.

Sookdeo stated that the meat is stored in his freezer before it is taken for sale and depending on the earnings, it would be split with the two other persons.

“This job is not for everyone since it requires a bit of patience and innovation and it would take hours to make a ‘good catch’,” he said.

He reported that depending on the size of the alligators, they can carry a price tag of up to $20,000 each.

Sookdeo told the Pepperpot Magazine that his biggest catch of alligator was nine feet long and it carried a handsome price which he was more than happy to collect.

This Corentyne, Berbice villager noted that country life is very calm, but it entails hard work but their village is virtually crime-free and they don’t have to worry about certain things.

“I am not working today, I am just out for a walk because things kind of slow with the virus and I am here to ‘lime’ with some friends until I get some work and maybe later I can return to the backlands to catch alligators,” he said.

Sookdeo reported that the people of Corriverton make do on a day-to-day basis and they have the will to succeed, no matter how difficult it may become.