TO some people, living in a community devoid of basic amenities such as water, electricity, and phone signals would be out of the question, but not so with the people of Winiperu – a small riverine community nestled along the road to Bartica from Linden.

Day-to-day life for people of this logging concession, or “timber grant,” would see the approximately 130 residents- most of whom are employed with the logging company Vaiterna Private Holdings- being innovative to get things done.

It would be no unusual scene, for instance, if someone decides to paddle out in the middle of the river, or more often, climb to the top of something, perhaps a tree, to be able to get a phone signal in the event of an emergency.

Whereas the former logging company would’ve provided water for residents, people now depend heavily on rainwater. When their tanks are empty, though, they must make their way to the creek to fetch buckets of water, to have enough for the entire family; those trekking there would obviously have to make several trips.

Over the years, residents have become tired of promises from politicians, especially regarding electricity and water; but they are not complaining. In fact, they’d happily tell you about the sacrifices they have to make each day as if they were a breeze to them. It’s their way of life, and as one resident, 22-year-old Vincent Williams, succinctly puts it: “I love it here because it is home.”

Most of the residents that Pepperpot Magazine interviewed recently reminisced about days when Winiperu- located more than an hour’s drive from Linden (including a pontoon crossing at Sharima village)- were bright and abuzz with a bigger population and more fun activities.

Edith Bennett, for example, is now 79 years old and has been living in the community for some 53 years after following her husband, who came to work at the logging company. “This place was nicer than it is now. It had plenty houses and people, grocery stores, hospital, school,” she reflected. “I don’t know what happened,” she said.

But even with these changes and the fact that she lost her dear husband in death about three years ago, Bennett would not prefer to go anywhere else. “I just like it here,” she said, adding, “No matter what, I love this place.”

The mother of eight, who worked onerously in the day on her farm, explained how the family ended up in Winiperu: “I used to live at a place called Wakapau in the Pomeroon in Region Two and my husband used to work at Winiperu. We left everything in Region Two and came here. We first lived in the backdam, about a mile from here, but the compound closed in the backdam and they brought all the workers here. Then, we built our home, farm, and everything.”

The Creek on Sundays
Sports was a big thing in the community back in the days, and people from Linden, Bartica, and other surrounding communities would visit Winiperu to play with the youths there. Cricket, football, rounders, hopscotch, among other games, would be the going things on the ballfield on the weekends and after school.

With sports no longer available, residents now make their way to Winiperu Creek. On Sundays, the creek would come alive, with residents from Bartica also coming to share in the fun. Winiperu Creek is one of the most beautiful ones in the area.

Winiperu has always been controlled by a logging company. Because of its remoteness, residents find it hard to obtain supplies:they’d have to go to Bartica to do their shopping or settle for paying double the prices for items when people come to the village to sell.

For this reason, having a form of transportation here is of utmost importance. By road, it would reportedly take residents an hour to drive to Bartica, while by boat, they may get there in about 45 minutes. As another option, residents can wait on the company’s truck that would take its workers out for business and shopping once a month.