Home for many families who are determined to stay
NAZEEMA Ali relocated to Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank Demerara from Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice, to start a new life, and so far, she has blended in very well with the locals.
The 35-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she is living with her spouse, who is from the village and he is employed at Bounty Farm, which is located on the East Bank Demerara corridor and is a stay-at-home wife.
Ali added that she is the mother of four children who reside with her first husband at Cotton Tree, West Coast Berbice.
So far, life has been fair and she is adjusting to the valley life where people exist like a large family and they look out for each other.
That day, when the team visited she was in the process of preparing a meal of cook up rice with pot roasted chicken and was about to go get some water from the well station nearby.
Shondell Crandon, the stay-at-home mother
Shondell Crandon lives in an extended family setting with her children, elders and other relatives at Hyde Park, in the valley section and is originally from Belladrum, West Coast Berbice.
The 46-year-old reported that she is unemployed and it is difficult to maintain a large family due to the high cost of living.
The mother of six stated that there aren’t many jobs in that area, but she is trying to cope with the increased prices of food items.
Crandon is from Belladrum Village, West Coast Berbice and relocated to Hyde Park, in the valley, 13 years ago when her family moved there.
She left her home village in search of work. She was looking for work with the army as a civilian but was unsuccessful and ended up staying there.
Savita Mohanlall, the shopkeeper
The team also met Savita Mohanlall, a shopkeeper with a very clean environment and a nice little cottage downhill at Hyde Park, Timehri.
However, her little shop is on a hill near the mina public road and is a very convenient location for passers-by.
The mother of five told the Pepperpot Magazine that she opened the shop in 2019 and way before that, she always ensured her immediate surroundings are clean.
Her husband, Imtiyaaz Ally, would support her fully and he would keep the bus shed and the roadside free of litter and weeds.
The 54-year-old has the cleanest yard and environment and has added a lot of plants and flowers to the place for that burst of colour to add a natural décor.
Mohanlall reported that she was born and raised in another section of Timehri, but moved to Hyde Park 28 years ago.
The mother of five stated that when they moved there, the place was busy and they had to clear the land to build a house and it took some time to get that completed.
She reported that the place was full of garbage and they had to clear it as well and it took some time to burn and bury the rubbish which had piled up.
“This is a nice place to live and the people are of different races, but we live in harmony and it is a safe neighbourhood because most people are family and the atmosphere is nice,” she said.
Mohanlall added that apart from Timehri she used to live in Barbados and Hyde Park is her home, because it is a peaceful place and she certainly will not relocate.
In her younger days, she used to be a domestic worker in the city and wanted to be close to home, that is why she established a small business to bring in an income, even if it is a bit slow.
“Life here is like a scale and weight, so it is basically up and down, but I am determined to endure and try to cope no matter how hard things may get,” she said.
