ELIZABETH Persaud, called “Lizzie”, is a new resident of Number 10 Village, Mahaica Creek, East Coast Demerara, and is so far liking the community since she is surrounded by relatives of her husband.

The 22-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine during a recent visit that it had been three months since she began living there.

She added that even though her house is the last in the street, she is not afraid, because incidents of crime are unheard of in that village.

Persaud resides in Number 10 Police Outpost Street, which leads to a walkway to the school and police outpost which is nearest to the creek.

Her husband works on farms as a labourer within the village, and that day, even though it was raining heavily, he had gone to work.

“I take things easy. I would get up and cook for my husband to go to work every day and then do the chores and take a rest because I am still recovering from losing a baby,” she said.

Although Persaud is sad about losing her unborn child, she still manages to put on a smile and appear as though things are normal.

She is originally from Cane Grove Village, also on the East Coast Demerara, and after marriage, she relocated to Number 10 Village where she occupies a modest but adequate house.

While her husband is away at work during the day, her companions are two dogs, the pets, Brown Girl and Moti, who are around to ensure her safety is not violated by visitors.

By that time, Persaud had already prepared lunch, a meal of rice with bora and chicken.

She also had an outdoor fireside, and she would use it whenever the weather is good.

Persaud has electricity, but no potable water supply, and would store up rainwater to use for household purposes.

She describes life there as fair, and she is getting used to the quietness of the village where the air is fresh, and there is enough space to dwell in absolute tranquility.

LATCHMIN PILAY, FARMER AND VENDOR

Latchmin Pilay is a resident of Number 10 Village, Mahaica Creek, and she is a housewife/vendor who sells her produce at the Mon Repos Market on Saturdays.

The mother of three is a go-getter, and is talented. She does many things to earn a living, including farming and rearing livestock.

Pilay and her husband have a small farm of cash crops, and when they have a harvest like she did with tomatoes, she would commute to the market to sell the produce before it perishes.

She began farming five years ago to assist in earning alongside her husband, who is a farmer and labourer.

Pilay is from Enmore, East Coast Demerara, but began living in Number 10 Village after marriage.

Her father is a fisherman, and her mother is a domestic worker. She has three brothers.

She has been married for the past 11 years, and she likes the small village where everyone is familiar with each other.

The yard space is large, so they have some chickens, some ducks, some sheep, cows and goats, as well as a farm of cash crops and many fruit trees.

They utilise the canal in front of their house to set seine, and recently they caught 21 patwa fishes which will be used as a meal.

“In this village, we do not buy greens and fruits among other things, because we have our own, and it is just groceries we would purchase when the need arises. I like the country life, and it suits me because we have the space to do many things to earn a living,” she said.

Pilay said she is very comfortable, because they have water, light and Internet, so they are not missing out on anything.

She related that transportation is only by car or taxi, and it is pricey, since buses do not ply that route.

Pilay is also caring for another child whose mother passed away. And she is surrounded by her husband’s relatives who live nearby.

This hardworking woman told the Pepperpot Magazine that the village is nice, and the people are equally nice and neighbourly, so they have no real issues to contend with.