ROSITA Kerut wears many hats, has equally many roles in her community and does a lot of voluntary work, even beyond the call of duty as a councillor, the Chair of the Community Development Council (CDC), the Community Policing Group Secretary, leader of the women’s group, and a counsellor.

Kerut, who is better known as ‘Rose,’ reported that she is originally from Lusignan, East Coast Demerara, but relocated to Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice, years ago.

Her role as CDC Chair is to ensure they assist the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) with unfinished works in the development of the community in terms of drainage and irrigation, among other things.

The CDC was formed three months ago, so being a new organisation they distributed goodies to children and hampers to elders in the village for the festive season last year.

The CDC has 13 members drawn from within the village.

Kerut added that they also promote culture, sports and skills-training for both men, women and youths and ensure they have adequate recreational facilities for the village.

She stated that as a councillor and someone who has a love for volunteer work led her to Bush Lot Village and she was instrumental in hosting the first inter-faith service in 2016 as a village when four residents were killed in a road accident.

Kerut pointed out that other villages have started inter-faith services in their communities and they have good relations with other surrounding villages and their leaders.

She reported that Bush Lot Village is an agriculture-based community of hard-working people, who are very giving and kind.

It is home to many skilled people and professionals, who hold good jobs in offices and other agencies including schools, hospitals, and pharmacies.

Kerut disclosed that in Bush Lot Village there are 800 households, and it is highly populated with both single parents and extended families.

“This is a village where people still believe in their ancestors and folklore, like if you walk late during a certain time ‘jumbie’ will follow you home and you must turn your back when coming in the door and that kind of thing,” she said.

She noted that people are respectful and they live in unity and peace and they mostly work with themselves as small- business owners, rice farmers and cash-crop farmers.

With her spouse being a policeman, she is also involved in community policing as the secretary of the group, which is still active; she is one of the women, who would go out and do night patrols with other villagers.

She related that some internal streets are being upgraded presently and some street lights need to be installed, but apart from that, the village has everything else except its own bank and a police station to become a township.

As the secretary for the Community Policing Group, she said they work closely with the police and their role is to promote harmony and peace among villagers.

The mother of two stated that they also try to resolve conflicts at the community level among villagers and ensure that the people feel safe.

Kerut told the Pepperpot Magazine that for the Bush Lot Women’s Group, they have 10 members and it was recently resuscitated and they have a lot to do as is.

During last year, Kerut spearheaded a group of women who managed to sew 500 fabric face masks that were distributed in the village, free of cost.

“As the women’s group, we offer counselling services and support each other be it whatever the issue; but we need a building to house a resource centre where all skills-training can be done and it will also serve as a meeting place for many activities,” she said.

Kerut reported that there is a need for skills-training because a lot of women are at home and if they are empowered, they can have small businesses right from their homes and earn.

Photo Works Photo Studio
Being the only photo studio in Bush Lot Village, West Coast Berbice, the owner, Gyan Totaram, is also a well-known person in the community.

He is renting the lower flat of a house which he has converted into a photo studio and he does video and photography for all occasions, including weddings, birthdays, funerals and all social events.

The 48-year-old is from Good Faith, Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara, but has his business in Bush Lot for the past 22 years.

The father of one said that in his younger days he was a videographer attached to CNS Channel Six for some time before he established his own business.

“In Mahaicony, if I take one photo a week that is it; so I decided to open my business here in Bush Lot being a hub for businesses and it paid off even if I get a few jobs,” he said.

Totaram has good relations with the locals and they support him in his small business and with the advent of technology, most people use their cellphones to take photos instead of using the studio like olden days.

The studio will see business only if folk have to get passport-sized photos or photos for a visa.

“This is a safe place, nothing is missing, because people here are good to each other and we don’t have any burning issues so we look out for each other,” he said.