SITA Bookhan, better known as “Aunty Bibi,” is from Bonasika Creek, Essequibo River, who is a respected elder and is well-known among her peers.

She has a shop, selling every little thing at cost price to meet the needs of people in her community.

Bookhan stated that she is from Cornelia Ida, West Coast Demerara and at age 10 years old she relocated to Bonasika Creek with her family.

The 59-year-old is the mother of two sons, both of whom died tragically. The youngest was killed in a road accident and the eldest was fatally shot during an armed robbery while working in the interior.

She is married to Sargie Bookhan, a farmer, who has crops of pumpkins, limes, apple bananas and some other cash crops.

That day, like any other, he was not at home and was away on his farm tending to crops.

“At a young age, I came here to live so I got used to the simple way of life here and even if I go away for a few days, within two days I have to return because this is home for me and I love it here; the quietness of the creek, the cool, black water and the serenity is all that is needed,” she said.

Her shop is the place where village meetings and other gatherings take place because of the location and convenience. It is referred to as the ‘place for everyone,’

Bookhan’s husband would sell his produce at Parika, the central hub of businesses and they would buy goods and return home via their speedboat.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that her husband is having some challenges with flooding on the farm; as such, there is a need for a better drainage system and he desperately needs a tiller for his crops.

Bonasika Creek was one of the places that was hard hit by the last flood which destroyed crops, but they benefitted from a flood-relief cash grant by the administration and they are thankful.

Bookhan is a very kind woman who does her part in the community by providing employment for the women; she employs them as domestic workers for a few days per week.

“I know the struggles of the people here, most are very poor and the only job here is farming, which is challenging and the people fish and do all kinds of work to earn and I would assist them in anyway necessary,” she said.

Bookhan added that most people in Bonasika Creek are related by blood and there are no strangers, except for some newcomers, Amerindians and some Spanish people, living in small makeshift huts along the bank of the creek.

Mary Edwards
Meanwhile, Mary Edwards is a resident of Bonasika Creek and she is employed as a domestic worker, whose husband suffered a broken hand and is unable to work.

The mother of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is from the Pomeroon River, but came to Bonasika Creek to reside with her family when she was 10 years old.

She explained that when things were hard in the Pomeroon her dad came to Bonasika Creek in search of work as a labourer on farms.

Edwards added that after their mother passed away, she had to care for her five siblings, all of whom have returned to the Pomeroon River.

She stated that life is not as it should be economically, but they are trying to earn because of the school-age children they have, securing their education is a top priority.

Edwards is married to local, Zamal Bashir, who had an accident and suffered a broken hand and cannot work. She has stepped in to bring in an income to the home until he can return to work.

“Our son is also working to help out in the home, and my daughters would come with me to assist in chores when I am working,” she said.

Edwards and her husband have a small farm and proceeds from that is for the upkeep of the home and other expenses.

She lives four houses away from Aunty Bibi’s residence and it is a close place to earn within the riverine community.