WHILE it may have been the norm for the male members of the family to leave the village to seek employment to support their families, 59-year-old Ronald Williams is happy he could’ve remained in Waramuri to provide for his family.

The father of nine – four boys and five girls – did his best to remain in the village, because he had an opportunity to ensure that they went to school.

“I grew without schooling. My parents died early in life, so I didn’t get to go to school, but I call on God to give me health and strength so I can support my kids, and get them their education. So far, all of them are doing good,” Williams related in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

As a young man, he recalled starting to work with several farmers in the Pomeroon to weed grass. To date, life remains hard for him and his family. “We don’t have farms here, or sawmills doing woodwork, so men have to go elsewhere to find work,” Williams said.

Fortunately for him, he has a farm right at Waramuri, with banana, pear, cassava and other crops. “People come right home and buy the cassava. Whenever they come, I just go in the farm and cut the bunch of banana or whatever they want.”

Williams’ wife also helps on the farm, apart from the other work she does to support the family.
The family enjoys living at Waramuri, because it is a quiet village, and is problem- free. “I can leave my chainsaw down, my cutlass and don’t have to worry. You can leave your outboard at the landing. These are things you can’t do in other communities,” he said.