FOR Latchman Rambarran, a resident of Uitvlugt, West Coast Demerara, life is leisure, since he is retired and is enjoying his pension.

The 61-year-old stated that he relocated to the village in 1996 when he was allocated the plot and built a house.

He reported that he was a cane harvester with the Guyana Sugar Corporation (Guysuco) for more than 30 years and today, his hard work all through the years has paid off.

Rambarran added that it was because of his years of service and long-serving time he is able to enjoy his retirement benefits.

“I would encourage my children to hold onto a steady job in the sugar industry, because the benefits are good and after retirement you can enjoy life without having to work again,” he said.

Rambarran told the Pepperpot Magazine that he worked at Uitvlugt Sugar Estate from 1990 to retirement age and he is happy he had so many working years in him to give.

The father of three resides in his own house with a son, his daughter-in-law and grandchildren and he would wash his own clothes and do little things, but they would prepare meals and take for him.

But at 09:00hrs Rambarran has already performed his daily morning prayer after a bath and was sitting outside on his bridge, basking in the sunshine.

The Abdool family
As for Rafeikh Abdool and his family, they were making the most of good weather to do some cement work in the yard.

The 71-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that life is good and he is from the Pasture section of the village, the old housing scheme in Uitvlugt and relocated 28 years ago.

The father of five stated that he has a tenant on the lower flat of his house and he would take care of the child when she is away at work and holds the boy as an adopted son.

When the team caught up with the group, Abdool, his wife and daughter were mixing cement to plaster with cement, their garage.

Abdool disclosed that he lived and worked most of his life in Barbados as a construction worker and is back home to enjoy his golden years.

The family has a poultry business with 200 meat birds they would pluck and sell when they reach the age to be sold.

“This is a nice place but like any village at times we had bickering with the neighbours over things but is nothing to be alarmed about,” he said.

The shopkeeper
Meanwhile, another resident, Sherwin Karran told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is a man of many trades; he is a miner, a shopkeeper, a cane cutter and a construction worker.

The 40-year-old stated that he opened a small shop in Uitvlugt Pasture where he resides and would also make cement blocks to sell while, manning the shop.

The father of two reported that he is originally from Mabaruma, North West District, Region One and relocated 12 years when he married a woman from the village.

It has been 12 years and he wanted to stop working in the interior, since his children were growing and he wanted to be around as a father.

“I invested the money I had from working in the bush and opened this small shop which has almost everything little thing ranging from groceries, beverages, clothing, footwear and household items,” he said.

Karran added that business would pick up when sugar workers get paid and on weekends.

The village Justice of Peace/Commissioner of Oaths
Jean Sahadeo is known as “the village adviser,” since she would render assistance to the many people who visit her home to access the services she provides.

She is a Justice of Peace/Commissioner to Oaths and would often go out of her way to help others without taking a cent more than often.

“If I don’t have to use my printer, ink, paper, computers or other things the service is free, if I only fill out a birth certificate form and would often advise others on documentation,” she said.

The 76-year-old retired three years ago after working with the Guyana Rice Producers Association for many years.

The mother of two these days is assisting her son in his garden to set up their greenhouse which they have in their yard. They would sell the vegetables and fruits from their home.

She however lamented that the drains in the village needs to be cleaned regularly, since they reside not far from the seawall and they had a flood due to high tides in 2018.

“I provide a service because I am doing it for the people, the community and I see it as community serve and not as a money-making venture,” she said.