MOHAMED Farukh Khan is a local of Aurora Estate, Essequibo Coast. He is the village Justice of Peace (JP) and Valuator.

Khan attended Aurora Primary and then Aurora Primary Tops, which was then the Aurora Scotland School and came from a family of farmers. He later became a farmer himself and worked with a private company and the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) for some years.

He was involved in politics for many years before he called it quits and served as a councillor/volunteer in the community.

Khan represented his region in parliament and spent many years in the political arena.

“The people here are good and it is a nice place to live because it is safe and we all know each other, so there are no strangers here in Aurora,” he said.

Khan is from a family that is blessed with longevity, his father died at age 106 and he returned to Guyana even after spending years residing overseas because Guyana is home.

“My dad was 100 years old when he came back to Guyana because he wanted to spend his last days here, and just like him, I want that too, but I am aiming for 110 years old,” he said.

Khan stated that, based on his observations, they had had an overall improvement in services, especially health in the region and he is of the view that things can only get better.

He is, however, saddened about the fact that some young people had to leave the village in search of work elsewhere.

The Justice of Peace related that he is a farmer and he was fully aware of the importance of living off the land. It was quite evident because his yard has a lot of trees- a rich mix of fruits and vegetables.

The father of two added that he managed to see both his children through university and it was possible, through the assistance of relatives, who let them stay at their house in the city when they were attending the University of Guyana (UG).

His daughter is a doctor and his son is an Accountant.

“I really like it here because it is a safe place where you can come outside for some fresh air at any time, be it day or night,” he said.

Khan told the Pepperpot Magazine that he was not planting rice anymore and had rented out his lands.

He is a senior member of the village masjid and serves as a counsellor whose door is open to the public at any time.

Sheik Rashid
At 67 years old, Sheik Rashid is a rice farmer of Aurora Estate, Essequibo Coast and would sell the paddy to millers and rears cattle for a living.

Even at his age, he is still farming every day alongside his younger counterparts and giving up isn’t an option for him.

Hard work was a part of his everyday life, but the rising prices for fertilisers and other agriculture-related items had been worrying for him like many farmers, but with a reduced price, things will be better.

The father of four added that he has the assistance of his children and wife, and, that day, he was preparing to go out to the rice fields with an employee via a motorcycle.

Rashid stated that he has lived all his life in Aurora Estate, and he was very appreciative of the life his parents – who have since passed away- gave him.

He has three sisters and two brothers.

The rice farmer is renting some lands for his cultivation, and he has some cows he is rearing.

Rashid would employ a few men from the village when he is cutting rice depending on the workload and hardly ever takes a day off his work.

He is a family-oriented man who knows the value of close relations and family ties. In that village, they live like a large family instead of neighbours.

Rashid likes the place he is living and would not go elsewhere to reside since it is home and his whole life was based there.

He has a lovely well-kept home and it was noticeably clean.