By Michel Outridge

MAYBE there is no other way to spend one’s retirement than tending to a flower garden and a kitchen garden, as a form of relaxation and contentment and this is so for retired teacher Deonarine Prashad.

He is a resident of Meten-Meer-Zorg, West Coast Demerara, a village elder and a respected member of the community, who is always willing to assist others.

The 75-year-old retired as the headteacher for the MMZ Islamic Academy Primary after teaching for more than 52 years.

Prashad, a mild-mannered disciplinarian, told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is the fourth child of 11 siblings and he wanted to bring an income into the home; back then, his father was the sole breadwinner.

“So for economic reasons straight from high school on a Friday to a classroom, teaching on a Monday morning, my career as a teacher started and I never regretted it because it has moulded me into a well-rounded person,” he said.

Prashad stated that in 2019, when he had a vacation in Canada his past students numbering more than 18 came together to host a get-together for him and that was a splendid gathering which was a surprise in his honour.

He related that some of his past students have surpassed the age of 60 and it was good seeing them after all that time.

The father of three added that he has lived all his life in the village and he is well-known and 90 percent of his time he would spend tending to his crops of vegetables, fruits and flowers in his yard.

He reported that two-thirds of his yard space consists of fruit trees he planted and he doesn’t buy fruits and would use his organic fruits to make fresh fruit juices, instead of having carbonated beverages, a healthy choice, he is accustomed to.

It was after he completed the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) that Prashad married his sweetheart, Maurleen, in 1971.

Deonarine taught at six government schools and three private schools in his lifetime of teaching before he called it a day.

Prashad retired three years ago from the noble teaching profession and spent 14 years alone at the MMZ West Islamic Academy Primary.

“I would often be asked if I wasn’t fed up with teaching, but I didn’t because every year I would get new pupils and it was refreshing and it never bored me one bit and I enjoyed it all these years,” he said.

The elder disclosed that it is because of his strict upbringing that he wanted to impart knowledge to others and he too, is a disciplinarian and is well-respected for it.

“If my wife goes out and returns from shopping and she has bags, the neighbours or other villagers would fetch in those bags for her to our home; and that is how the people live around here and we respect each other and get along well,” he said.

Prashad is always willing to help others and often people would stop by for his advice and assistance and it is his way of contributing to others.

As for his wife, Maurleen, she never worked a day in her life. After attending commercial and sewing classes, she became a housewife and she enjoyed those years tending to children and a house; she still does the chores to date.

“Maurleen is a good wife and mother and when we first met I knew I had to hold onto her because she really sparked my interest and was the simple person I wanted to start a life with,” he said.

Halim Khan, a man, who wears many hats
Another villager, Halim Khan, who owns the Medina Halall Restaurant at Zeeburg, is also making his mark in the community and farther afield as a result of his charitable gestures.

The 57-year-old resident of Kastev, MMZ, told the Pepperpot Magazine that his restaurant was established in 1996, a place for strictly Halall local cuisine and fresh local juices to go with pastries.

Before Khan opened the restaurant, he was an importer and seller of spare parts, but had a change of heart when he realised that corridor needed a local Halall eatery.

He has a total of 30 staff members who work on a shift system and is also proud that he was able to keep his staff and business opened during the pandemic last year, even though the employees preferred a pay-cut, for a short time.

Khan stated that the decision was theirs to keep everyone and opted for a pay-cut instead of closing the business and laying off workers.

Khan is President of the Guyana Softball League, GTT 20/20, President of the Soliciting Movement with Cuba, founder-member established 12 years ago, Chairman of the Region Three Tourism Association, Member of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Countries (ACP) and The Community of Latin America and the Caribbean States (CELAC) and Imam of the MMZ East Masjid for the past 17 years.

He related that when people leave their deceased relatives at the hospitals with wrong addresses and contact numbers and when they cannot be located, he would take it upon himself to give these folk a proper send-off by covering their funerals.

Khan is also a civilian partner who works closely with the police in several community projects to foster trust between the community and the police.

He is also a board member of the Leonora Technical Institute, the Region Three Coordinator for the COVID-19 Task Force, who has constructed a shed with seating accommodation and wash facilities at the MMZ Post Office and the Den Amstel Post Office for the comfort of senior citizens.

The businessman stated that he is working with Divisional Commander Errol Watts on several community/police projects to create a safer environment in terms of security for the region.

He explained that one of the projects include the Police Tourism Officer at Vreed-en-Hoop and at Parika for tourists to access information and assistance if needed and the police will be easily identified by their all-white clothing.

This project is in the making and is yet to be approved by the relevant authorities.

In the region, they are also looking at alternatives for convicts with minor crimes; instead of jail time, they can do community work wearing branded tee-shirts.

Khan said the region is also aiming for eco and agro-tourism priorities and measures will be in place to have COVID-19-free travel and at the ports of entry in that region.

He pointed out that to boost tourism, special river tours at both Vreed-en-Hoop and Parika with the speedboats are in place to facilitate pocket-friendly river tours for both locals and foreigners.

In addition, Khan reported that they are making that region safe for travels and people should feel safe to visit and shop without worrying about their security.

He also told the Pepperpot Magazine that they are making local tourism cheaper for families to get the opportunity to visit Fort Island, Leguan, Wakenaam and other islands within the Essequibo River and also the Demerara River.

Khan added that the region is vying for agro-tourism where tours are in place to drive to Ruby and Parika Back to large- scale farms, to visit and witness rice-harvesting and planting, as well as rice and paddy-processing at Hakh Rice Mill at Harlem, West Coast Demerara.

“I strongly recommend that we have more recreational parks and boardwalks for people to visit and relax, a place for leisure for all, a safe place within the region and the Vreed-en-Hoop Stelling area is an ideal place for a boardwalk that is similar to that of Supenaam Stelling,” he said.