The way of life for the people of Omega Village

LIVING in a place where there are no facilities but wide, open spaces which overlook the natural surroundings and vast lands is the way of life for Zoreena Jeffrey and her family, who cannot begin to imagine living anywhere else.

She is a housewife and takes care of the children and the home, while her husband brings in the money and they have a nice little house in Omega Village, Soesdyke/Linden Highway. The mother of three has a lot to do but still allocates time for herself after finishing household chores; and that day when the team visited, her husband was at home to assist with the cooking.

The couple had harvested a large pumpkin from the vine in their yard and was making roti to go with fried pumpkin and some tea. The children were playing and weren’t fussy at all and allowed their parents to sit and have a chat with the visitors, who had sparked their curiosity.

Jeffrey told the Pepperpot Magazine that it takes a lot of effort to ensure that the home is in order and everything is as is, but it is all in a day’s work and she doesn’t mind at all, because as a wife and mother she had signed up for that task.

Jeffrey explained that her husband works at night just over the highway, a short distance away; there is a cell tower and he is the security guard posted there, so he would help around the house during the day.

“Like this place, the quiet stillness brings me peace and there is a sense of calm that overwhelms you and makes you feel like you belong here and there is no greater feeling than being home surrounded by the people that are dear to you and although we don’t have a lot of vanity, we enjoy the humble, simple way of life,” she said.

Jeffrey is originally from Port Kaituma and she got married last year and relocated to Omega Village on the highway and she has grown to appreciate the environment. She has been living in the community for the past eight years and her eldest child is seven years old.

“I got my son one year after meeting my husband and my life took off from there and things begin to fall into place and here I am,” she said. Jeffrey’s youngest child is one year and 10 months old and has maybe signed off from chid-bearing, perhaps, who knows.

During daylight hours she would make a beverage from a palm tree, which bears a fruit that is similar to cockerite and she would pick it, wash it, scald it in some warm water until it gets soft enough to grind. Then it is seasoned to taste with water and a bit of sugar and placed to be cool, it is called ‘Torro’ drink and it is very tasty which tantalises the taste buds.

Jeffrey explained that when her youngest son attains the age of three, she will consider working but for now she prefers to stay at home and take care of her loved ones. She is, however, of the hope that her village will soon benefit from the basic facilities so their lives will be significantly enhanced.

Meanwhile, the Pepperpot Magazine also met John Jeffrey Junior, a 27-year-old, who was about to go to work, along with a group of men from the village. He reported that he would burn wood to make charcoal, cut wood to make t-shore, do carpentry and masonry jobs and whatever else he can to earn.

The father of two stated that life is what you make of it, since you cannot sit idly by and expect things to appear out of nowhere, but one must work to have a decent life and to provide for their family. Even though jobs aren’t all the time available, they would go on day work and also work on farms along the highway.

“I prefer the peace and quiet here and it is ideal for me and my family, who doesn’t like a crowd and we are all good here even though we don’t have much, I’m still thankful for all we have,” he said.