By Michel Outridge

THIS week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the agricultural village of Cane Grove, which is located in Mahaica, East Coast Demerara.

This village can be found 15 miles from the main public road. Cane Grove, a relatively large village which is divided into six sections: Estate Yard, Manager’s Line, Granny Field, Saywah, Coconut Dam and Virginia.

From the look of it, it is safe to say one can never go hungry in this community, since it is regarded as the village of bora, beef and rice.

There are vast rice fields and residents rear livestock such as sheep, goats, cows and chickens and there are a lot of cash-crop farmers, who cultivate bora on a very large scale.

The village is densely populated with about 5,000 residents who are mostly rice, cattle and cash-crop farmers.

Some people leave the village for work, while others are self-employed and have jobs within the villages at several business entities.

The East Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) has an office in this community where the channel is and they regulate the water-flow into canals.

Cane Grove has two nursery schools, two primary schools, a private school, a health centre, a post office, a police station, a craft centre, a Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office, a rice mill, two masjids, three mandirs and three churches.

It is home to both Indo and Afro Guyanese who live in peace and harmony.
The village is somewhat self-reliant with its many shops, stores and other small businesses.

The people are very friendly and welcoming and it is a lovely community with small streets, many nooks and crannies, a black water canal and three playfields.

Residents utilise the Mahaica Market which is about three villages away and the people eat what they grow.

Cane Grove is home to the late Governor of the Bank of Guyana, Lawrence Williams and several sportsmen and women.

Cane Grove NDC
The Pepperpot Magazine visited the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office in Cane Grove and the Overseer, Hemwattie Persaud, said that the chair is Keshni Rooplall and they have a body of 12 councillors who make up the NDC.

She related that the role of the NDC is to maintain roads, public buildings, infrastructure, and give permits for buildings within the community.

Persaud added that due to COVID-19, the NDC office operates from 08:00hrs to midday and they also oversee the payment of the Community Infrastructure Improvement Programme (CIIP). The CIIP has 12 employees from the village and they undertake small infrastructural works such as cleaning drains. The money is paid through the NDC, but comes from the Ministry of Communities, she said.

Persaud stated that the state of the roads– which need repairs– is noted, but funds are needed to do so.

“The NDC also takes complaints from among residents and tries to settle most disputes and do it in a proper manner, whereby both parties see it fit to have the matter at hand resolved,” she said.

Persaud reported that the work of the NDC is also to de-weed the village and ensure the place is kept clean.

“Being the secretary to the 12 councillors and chair, I am never off except for weekends, because there is so much to do but I like my job and it keeps me occupied because I am serving my community,” she said.

Persaud is also a resident of Cane Grove and has been there since Primary School days, a place she has grown to love over time.

“A lot of talented people come from this village and this is a really nice place to live, because the people live in harmony and we are truly our neighbour’s keeper here,” she said.

Persaud reported that the village has the A. Kayum Hakh and Sons Rice Mill, where rice farmers sell their rice, making it very convenient to do business without leaving the village.

The NDC overseer disclosed that there is only one access road to the village and sections of that road are in dire need of resurfacing.

Apart from that, Persaud reported that they have no real issues and they are contented people, who live simply and work hard.