By Michel Outridge

This week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the riverine villages of Morashee, Quarter Benabo and Lower Bonasika, Essequibo River.

MORASHEE Village is located on the mainland, right bank of the Essequibo River and it is home to about 21 families of Indo-Guyanese and Amerindian descent.

This village can be accessed over land and water, but it is more accessible by boat, since most residents have moved farther inland, rather than at the riverfront as they previously did.

Morashee Village, overland, is very difficult since there are no paved roads, only a mud dam which is very slippery during the rainy season and it is almost inaccessible.

There is no village leader in this community which is remote and it is about 45 minutes by boat from Parika, East Bank Essequibo.

Morashee Village is home to farmers, labourers, miners, security guards, teachers, nurses and fishermen.

It is the home of ground provisions, plantains, bananas and various cash crops, which are sold at both Hubu Koker and Parika to wholesale buyers.

It is a small community that has over the years become much like a “ghost town,” because many people have left in search of a better life and to access high schools for their children.

Some have left their houses without looking back and it is covered in thick bushes and the place is like a large swamp.

Villagers, at times, make their way around using a small trail to get from one point to another; but the easiest way is by boat or through the canal where a lot of people would use their makeshift paddle boats.

Morashee Village is home to the Henrys and Williamses, most of whom settled there from the North West District (NWD) Region One (Barima/Waini) and became farmers, security guards and miners.

This village has a nursery and primary school housed in one building, a flat concrete edifice and also has the head teacher’s living accommodation, a flat concrete house which has been overrun by maribuntas and termites, including wood ants.

Next door is the Morashee Health Post managed by only a Community Health Worker, who resides at Bendroff, the neighbouring village.

Most people would meet at this location which is located closest to the Essequibo River and has a landing, since there is no community centre, village office for events or village gatherings.

The people are very simple and lead equally simple lives which they describe as being difficult, since they don’t enjoy some things and services like most villages.

The Pepperpot Magazine braved the heavy rainfall and strong winds to talk to a handful of villagers, who had gathered awaiting the arrival of the team.

One of those who waited despite the rain was Leonard Harry, one of the surviving elders of the village.

He is the security guard attached to the Morashee Nursery and Primary School, who has been there for about over a month.

The 86-year-old stated that he works every day, seven days a week, without having a day off and is attached to Sentinel Security Service and the monthly salary is often late.

He lives about 15 minutes away and would make the journey to and fro via his small boat using a paddle.

When the tide is high it takes longer, like half an hour, but he would try to make it home in one piece when his shift is over.

“Life is not easy here because we don’t have a lot, but we try to use what we have and there is need for development in the community,” he said.

Most of the elders of this community have passed away and some relocated to other parts of the country, but Harry is one of the only persons of his age.