By Michel Outridge

GWENDOLYN McLean is the oldest resident in Circuitville, Soesdyke/Linden Highway and these days she is taking things easy. At 69 years old she spends her days keeping an eye on her grandchildren while her daughter is at work.

The mother of six has been residing with her daughter for the past two years and she is assisting with tending to the children who are home because of the pandemic.

Her daughter Diane Caesar works at a gas station at Friendship Village, also on the East Bank of Demerara and she commutes daily from early in the mornings too.

She has at home five children and she is trying with home-schooling via worksheets, since they do not have internet access.

Their house is tucked away on a small hill in the village among many trees and under a shed there is a hammock for relaxation purposes.

McLean was inside the house, after a day of cooking and doing small chores around the cottage-style house, which is quite unique in its design.

They are from Grove Village, East Bank Demerara, but relocated to Circuitville to escape paying rent and would use water from the creek to bathe and do household chores.

Rain water is stored for cooking and drinking and they make do with lamps and a small solar panel for lights at nights.

The at-home beautician
The Pepperpot Magazine also met Roberta Rayman, a mother of one, who is the village beautician and nail technician and who works from her home in Circuitville.

The 31-year-old is from Albouystown, Georgetown, but relocated to that village many years ago.

She is a resident of “Wrong Turn” Street in the community and her husband is away at work in the interior.

“At home I would do nails and hair and make-up to earn, but business is slow but I am trying with what I have,” she said.

Her mother is from Region Nine, but moved to the city for a better life before Rayman was even born.

The stay-at-home mom
Meanwhile, Karen Cameron, another resident who is looking after her ill husband, stated that she has been living in Circuitville for the past seven years.

However, one night she was at the hospital tending to her sick husband who had come from the hinterland when her house was broken into and everything of value, including her generator, was taken.

The 53-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she was living in Berbice but came to the village to have a quiet life.

The mother of seven stated that she used to work at the Yarrowkabra Primary School, but since the pandemic last March, she is at home.

Cameron explained that she came to Circuitville to assist her sister who was building her house, and that’s how she got to like the place and moved there permanently and residing in her own house, rent-free.

She disclosed that her husband had malaria and was diagnosed incorrectly; as such, he was taken to the West Demerara Regional Hospital for further medical attention and she visited him, leaving her house unattended.

When she returned home she found the place broken into and ransacked and everything such as her television, gas bottle, stove, generator, DVD player, clothes and even wares, were missing.

A report was made to the police and she said they visited, looked around and left, adding that nothing came out of the matter and no arrest was made.

Following this break-in a handful of residents also reported that their homes were also broken into and valuables including, household appliances, were missing.

“This place does be very dark at nights and it would be good if we can get a few street lights to brighten the village, because I cannot see a thing in the night,” she said.

Cameron reported that she was devastated to find that everything in her home was taken and it is difficult to replace those things, even today she cannot afford to buy a generator.

The church elder
Rickford Williams is an elder at the Full Gospel Church in the village and he operates a small shop.

The 62-year-old reported that he is on annual leave and sick leave from his job as a security guard at a sawmill and is at home because he is not well.

He stated that the church started about eight years ago and he became a family and began attending bible classes and Sunday services.

The father of eight stated that he is originally from Kariabo, Barima, North West District, Region One (Barima-Waini) and left his hometown in search of a better life for himself and family.

He explained that he was a farmer and did not make any profit from his hard labour, as such, he decided to relocate to Circuitville, where he lived in the backlands area for more than 15 years and moved to the front of the village eight years ago.

The church has a membership of 40 to 60 and he also serves as the village counsellor and his doors are open to people who need a bit of encouragement and advice.

He is a member of the Community Policing Group which is not functioning, because they need uniforms and a vehicle for patrols.

Williams stated that his siblings reside at Herstelling, East Bank Demerara and his father passed away.

He would pay $100 to charge his phone at a neighbour’s house daily because there is no electricity in the village.