Being a boat captain attached to Regional Administration of Region Five, Mohamed Sookhu has 14 years of experience on the river and he has been ferrying schoolchildren for many years in the riverine villages along Mahaicony River.

The 58-year-old is well known and he is very familiar with the riverine villages and the people. Transporting students and people is his job, one he takes seriously to preserve safety and lives.

Sookhu is a resident of Bara Bara, Mahaicony River and he is an employee of the Regional Democratic Council (RDC) and on weekdays he would take only secondary school students from Pine Ground to Wash Clothes twice daily.

The father of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that he would start his day early because he is a farmer, who has some ducks, sheep, chickens, goats and he would tend to them first before leaving home for work.

Sookhu would began picking up students at 06:30hrs in the morning and at quarter to four in the afternoon he would collect the students.

He transports 21 students five days of the week and he is familiar with the turns and bends in the river and he would manoeuvre the boat quiet skilfully.

Sookhu would often transport people to and from Moraikobai Village which is 96 miles up the Mahaicony River, a remote Amerindian community passing many villages such as Wash Clothes, Esau and Jacob, Governor light, Bara Bara, Yarrow Creek, Mora Point, Pine Ground, Gordon table, Cook Tom, First Savannah and Yaura.

Captaining a boat to Moraikobai is a challenge and one has to be very familiar with the tree stumps, fallen trees and over hanging branches on the way.

There are also a lot of twists and turns along the river and it takes skill to drive a boat especially with all the blind ‘S’ turns.

Ophelia Bonaparte, the talented woman
Ophelia Bonaparte is the wife of the Vice Chairman of the Village Council of Moraikobai Village but she is an independent woman, who does many jobs to support her home.

The mother of seven would get up very early in the mornings and prepare snacks to sell at the school and would return home to make lunch and dinner for the guests at the Rest House and she would cook based on orders.

Bonaparte is also a farmer and makes craft in whatever spare time she has for the locals and her customers.

She is currently making some craft in the form of fruit baskets, bowls, jewel boxes, chains, bands, outfits, hats, bags, all made from tibisri straws.

With four under age children to send to school, Bonaparte told the Pepperpot magazine that she could not sit by and let her husband alone work.

“I wanted to earn my own money and I decided to use my talents to many things to bring in my own income to the home. Even if it is a few dollars it is mine,” she said.

The Moraikobai resident stated that would ensure there is food in the house at all times being a cook it is a must.

“This life is all about hustle and hard work but it must be done to have a good life, at least a comfortable one,” Bonaparte said.

Aulenda Adrian, the housewife and craft maker
In addition, to doing all the household chores and tending to the children, Aulenda Adrian would earn from home making craft to sell.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that since she was a young girl growing up she used to watch her mother make craft using tibisri and she told herself she wanted to learn.

The mother of seven stated that she would make craft pieces based on orders or if there is an event and they have to get craft on display.

Adrian reported that she was preparing a few things for the Heritage Day in Moraikobai on September 24, 2022. She would use tibisri straw and other materials to make hats, outfits and fruit baskets, bowls and jewel boxes among other things.

She related that they plant their own vegetables and fruits and they eat fresh fish and meats but they need some basic amenities to improve their life such as electricity, cell phone, landline services and internet.

Colin Adrian, former Toshao
Meanwhile, also a resident is Colin Adrian, who is the former Toshao of the community, who still serves on the Village Council with the responsibility for forestry and tourism.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that they are hoping to promote their village via daily tours and their Hubudee Eco Lodge.

Adrian disclosed that a package will be in place with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) which will include bird watching, animal spotting at nights, creek tours, trekking, and nature walks which are ideal for a weekend stay.

He added that they have the annual safari and savannah drive and they are selling the community as a tourism package for visitors to promote development.

That day, when the team visited, Adrian was overseeing the process of making cassava casareep, cassava bread, wines and other things for their heritage day, in the village.

His spouse will also make tuma pot, pepperpot with various meats and fish.