A picturesque village which is ripe for development

Last week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the indigenous village of Mashabo, Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), as the curtain of Amerindian Heritage Month came to a close to highlight the way of life of the locals.

The journey was over land, river and lake to get to the actual village, where you have to cross over the Essequibo River via Parika then to the Essequibo Coast, then through Huist T`Dieren Village, where the access road to Mashabo is located.

Down that road, it takes about 20 minutes by vehicle, and then you reach the lake top, where there is a shed with seating accommodation.

From there, a boat takes about half an hour with a 15 horsepower engine to get to Mashabo Mission, the central hub of the village.

On the way, the breathtaking view that awaits you will be just what you need, a scenic picture of ite` palm trees, the swamp and the cool black water that seems never-ending. The lake is said to be the largest of four in Essequibo.

The Toshao, Areafa Shabeer, greeted the team upon arrival at the landing which is one of the community’s attractions. This 660-foot wooden boardwalk was constructed by locals from a presidential grant a few years ago.

The boardwalk connects the Mission to another section of Waddaduri, and it is said to be the longest boardwalk which took two months to be completed.

Mashabo has four areas: Mission, Waddaduri, High Hill, Hossanah Housing Scheme and Kamuro. Wooden bridges link these parts, so there is no need to go by boat.
The population of the locals is 460, with people of mostly Amerindian descent, and they are descendants of the Arawak and Carib tribes, a friendly, peaceful people with smiles.

Mashabo Village is a lovely place that goes up and down hill and it is indeed a scenic beauty from both the hilltops and lower sections of the community that has a fertile soil composition.
A Village Council manages the village and the Toshao and the main economic activities of the people include fishing, hunting, farming, carpentry and logging.

Mashabo Village has a Village Shop, one small shop, a Health Post, a Primary School which also houses the Nursery children, a village kitchen, a newly constructed ICT Centre, a teacher’s house, school children’s lunch room, the community centre ground, two pavillions, the ballfield for games, the Village Council building, benabs with seating accommodation and large shady trees with wooden benches, all of which overlook the lake.

The locals are scattered over the four areas in the Mission and they use motorcycles to get around, abut most people would walk miles to get to their homes and to other sections of the village.
Mashabo Village is a relatively large place where the villagers rear their own chickens, including the black giant, ducks, meat birds and creole fowls, with cattle and they also grow their own vegetables and fruits.

They produce ground provisions on a large scale and would commute to Anna Regina, the nearest township, for bulk shopping and selling their produce.
It was reported that prior to 1983, the lake was a savannah with a small creek running through; then the creek was blocked at one end, allowing for the water to back up, becoming the biggest lake on the Essequibo coast. It was necessary for adequate water for rice farming which is done at the other end of the lake.