Last week, the Pepperpot Magazine journeyed to Hyde Park, Timehri, East Bank Demerara to highlight the locals’ way of life.
Hyde Park is a very large area that goes up and downhill way into the valley and is thickly populated with people of all ethnicities.
The place is also called the old Guyana Airways Corporation (GAC) Road or Kali Road or ‘Jumbie Road’ and Cassava Joe Valley, Hyde Park, Timehri.
The population comprises about 1500 people of mixed race, but is dominated by Indo and Afro-Guyanese, who co-exist peacefully.
The people of this community are welcoming and hospitable and will take the time out to have friendly dialogue.
The village is tucked away at the far corner near the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) in the valley that is the Cassava Joe section which goes downhill.
Most of the locals have jobs in the army, at the airport and in both the private and public sectors, as well as self-employed folk.
The village has a community centre located on the main road, and the nearest schools are about a five-minute drive away.
All shopping is done at the Junction or in the city and small items are bought within the community, which has a few shops.
The community has a few mechanic shops, bars, and a Mandir and in this section there are many houses with many extended families living close to each other with unfenced yards.
There are no all-weather roads in this part of Hyde Park, only small tracks and footpaths that are steep and down in the valley. It is somewhat like a maze; if you do not know where you are heading, it is easy to get lost.
To access other sections of this village in the valley, you have to go via the main public road and then go through small tracks which lead to various houses.
The locals have access to electricity, potable-water supply, which is unreliable and of a trench-water quality.
There are no internet services except for cellphones and no landlines in part of Hyde Park.
There is no drainage system in the valley and there is evidence of erosion.
It is a jungle-like village with many trees, brushes and plants, making it very green.
The place is peaceful and quite cool in the night, but very hot in the day due to the sandy soil composition.
All government facilities are located at central Timehri where there are schools, a health centre and other services which are accessible to residents.
At the Junction, there is a market and small to large businesses, including gas stations and other private facilities.