By Michel Outridge
ANN Mohanlall is a resident of Waiakabra Village located on the Soesdyke-Linden Highway and she is the Secretary of the Community Development Council (CDC).
Like many others, she too relocated to the village in search of a better life. She hails from Hosororo Hill, Mabaruma, Region One (Barima-Waini) and moved to Waiakabra in 2016.
Mohanlall told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is farming at Swan–a neighbouring village–as a form of income to the home.
The mother of four related that things are difficult at times. Currently, she depends on rainfall for water to cook and do other household chores, because her water bill was disconnected in December .
“When it doesn’t rain we have to walk a mile away to the nearest creek to source water for use,” she said.
Mohanlall pointed out that there are no available lands in Waiakabra and any new residents come to reside only if they marry into the village.
“People from all over the country, including Regions One, Eight, Nine, and even in the city has [sic] made Waiakabra their home,” she said.
The resident of Waiakabra told the Pepperpot Magazine that they had the Hinterland Employment and Youth Service (HEYS) programme in the community whereby scores benefitted and graduated.Mohanlall stated that the HEYS programme started in September 2017 and the young people participated.
Through the HEYS programme, thousands of Guyanese are being empowered as the government continues to build capacities in the areas of business, entrepreneurship, agriculture, ecotourism and technology in hinterland communities across the country.
That programme was held at the Waiakabra Community Centre, for which Mohanlall is the overseer.
Face masks-making and free distribution
The mother of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that as part of giving back to the community, two young ladies of the village have dedicated their time and service to sewing 400 fabric face masks.
“This happened at the Waiakabra Community Centre where they have sewing machines and it was utilised to sew the face masks,” she said.
The Community Policing Group and the Church of Christ and another one collaborated and assisted the young women, who, after the preparation, made a free distribution of fabric face masks to all residents.
Mohanlall said it is their bit to flatten the curve and reduce the spread of the coronavirus within their village.
The initiative was well received by locals and the young women were commended for the part they played in the exercise.
She related that just like the fabric face masks project, the residents need other similar COVID-19 relief, since some are barely getting by and many are on the ‘breadline.’
Mohanlall said being a mother of four, she is managing a farm with support from her family and that is their only source of income.
She, like many others, is in the same position fin
ancially, but they try with whatever they have to ensure nobody goes to bed on an empty stomach.
“Some people in this village is very needy and it would be nice if organisations or others can assist in any way possible, because they have a large population of children,” she said.
