Life is simple in Crabwood Creek, a country-side village in Upper Corentyne, Berbice where the people are very friendly and enjoy the peace and tranquillity after hard work.

Elsa Dilchandar has lived all her life in the community and she manages the grocery shop they have which is located on the Public Road.

The 18-year-old said her daily tasks include manning the shop and assisting with the household chores, while her mother would make home-made fudge to sell in the shop and do the cooking among other things.

“When you have a shop you want to be prompt and not let customers wait on you so I does be in the shop to sell,” she said.

Dilchandar reported that some days they get busy while other days, they have time.

It is a grocery shop that has every little thing including locally made plantain chips, cassava chips, sugar cake, chicken foot and tamarind balls.

“We don’t go out much because of this business we stay home and sell in the shop and only attend a few family functions,” she said. “Even though this village is big but quiet and nothing much happens around here but I like the peace and simple living,” she said.

Stay-at-home mom

Meanwhile, Kavo Arjune is also a resident of Crabwood Creek Village, who was at the time doing household chores.

She stated that she is originally from #63 Village, also on the Corentyne but relocated to her uncle’s house three years ago when he passed away.

The 37-year-old added that she is rehabilitating their house so when that is completed she may return to her hometown which has almost the same quietness.

The housewife reported that due to the closure of the ferry crossing at the nearby Moleson Creek the place is kind of dismal with less traffic and people.

But when it is opened the road is busy all the time with people and vehicles traversing and they reside right on the Public Road.

Arjune told the Pepperpot Magazine that most elders of the village passed away but a few remain such as her next-door neighbour, who is 70 years old and he is cared for by relatives, who would visit.

Since there is no market in that village they would do their shopping at #79 Village and would make those trips when necessary.

“With the virus and all we don’t really go out much so we spend a lot of time indoors and in the yard where we plant and do chores to beautify the place,” she said.

Arjune pointed out that most villagers are farmers and they eat and make a living in what they grow and they are basically simple people trying to earn.

The village teacher

The Pepperpot Magazine also met the village teacher, Chandrekha Persaud better known as “Seema”.

She is attached to the nearby Crabwood Creek Primary School which is a few doors away.

The educator is eager for the re-opening of schools because she thinks she has been at home for far too long and missed the interactive sessions with pupils.

She has been in the teaching profession for the past 14 years and has grown quite fond of the job and the pupils.

“As a child I wanted to become a teacher and I used to hold imaginary classes…and today that dream has materialised and I am very happy to serve my community,” she said.

Persaud disclosed that in 2006 she completed her secondary education and applied at the Cyril Potter School of Education (CPCE) and was there from 2013 to 2015.

She was successful in the Associate Degree of Education at CPCE and became a qualified teacher at the Crabwood Creek Primary School.

Even though she fulfilled her dream of becoming a teacher, Persaud is determined to qualify herself to the fullest and become a first-year student at the University of Guyana (UG) Tain Campus, Berbice.

She is pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Education Primary General.

However, Persaud revealed that since schools closed in March they have tried to do some online classes but that failed because many students do not have access to the internet.

“I have a class of 23 and only 13 have internet access so I asked those that have the school work to share it with the others so they will be in the know,” she said.

Persaud is hoping schools can be re-opened because she is exhausted being home and would like to return to the classroom where she can function more effectively.