RAMROOP Rampersaud is one of many farmers of Beri-Bissiballi\Lanaballi and he makes the journey to Parika Market every Sunday to sell his produce. The 58-year-old explained that he is originally from Bartica but is residing at Lanaballi and plants sweet figs, yams, ginger and plantains, which are his main sources of income.

Rampersaud said he sells only on Sundays because he has to tend to his farm and he doesn’t have much time on his hands. The father of two stated that life in the riverine community is nice, once one is prepared to work hard to enjoy a good life.

“We use what we produce and we ‘make-do’ with the fish and meats we get from right within the village, we don’t buy fruits and vegetables at all because we plant and use it for our everyday meals,” he said. Rampersaud reported that they would offload their produce at Parika Stelling on Sundays to go to sell and there is no proper facility to do so, yet they have to pay a $500 offloading fee per person.

The farmer stated that it is challenging to get their produce out via boat because of the changing tides and when the boat is heavy they have to go slowly. Rampersaud disclosed that he, like other farmers, suffered tremendous losses when they had a squall which destroyed 10 acres of bananas and he would be grateful if central government can assist with weedicides, seedlings, seeds and fertiliser.

He is, however, thankful that they have good drainage and irrigation which drains the water into the Essequibo River. Rampersaud explained that they have stop logs controlled by culverts which drain the water off the land and they do not suffer from flooding.

The Poultry farmer
Another farmer, Kishore Benny, told the Pepperpot Magazine that it would be good if they can have a dialogue with members of the current administration to foster better relations and development of the riverine communities. The 58-year-old pointed out that they are thankful they received the government’s cash grant COVID-19 relief of $25,000 per household.

The father of two explained that they need the leases for the lands they occupy and they have a lot of difficulties making a living. Benny is a poultry farmer rearing 1,000 meat birds and when they attain the weight of six to seven pounds he would sell them after plucking at the Hubu Koker.

“At times I lose more than making a profit because the price for chicken feed is $5,300 per bag; with that you have to mix grower and starter with bran and fine rice at five weeks of growth for the chickens,” he said. Benny added that the riverine life is not easy, but they try to stay above water and earn to maintain their families since the road life isn’t suitable for them.

The fuel depot/shop owner
Looknarine Persaud called “Scott” is a resident of Lanaballi and he has a business housing a shop and a fuel station, serving the riverine communities and the people. The father of six added that for all his life he has resided in the riverine community and hasn’t seen much development which is long overdue.

The 69-year-old stated that since he was a small boy growing up, the ‘Del Conte Road’ was promised to link the riverine villages from Parika to Bartica but to date, that promise hasn’t been fulfilled.“The lands need to be surveyed for villagers to get their leases and that too was promised but after 10 years, they are still waiting,” he said.

Persaud disclosed that 800 acres of land at Lanaballi was surveyed but no leases were ever granted to the people and it is time for this to happen. He, like the others, is more than willing to work with the authorities to make life more comfortable for riverine folk.

Persaud is of the view that once the place is developed, more people will stay because they have to leave to get their children to schools, get better facilities and services and employment.