BEING a versatile go-getter means doing more than one job and that is no problem for Allison Todd, who works hard doing many things to earn honestly.
The 43-year-old is a Community Enhancement worker attached to the Mahaica Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) Community Infrastructure Improvement Project (CIIP).

Todd is also a livestock farmer and a small business owner of a boutique and a bar called Ace’s Sip and Chat and Ace’s Collection Boutique at her home in Jonestown, Mahaica.
The mother of five told the Pepperpot Magazine that for the past five years, she has been a CIIP employee, which entails cleaning drains and parapets in the village.

The grandmother of four stated that she also rears pigs, sheep, cows and layer chickens of which she would sell the eggs by the tray.
For her boutique, she would source clothing, footwear, cosmetics, skincare products, and bedding from overseas.

Todd’s bar is a neat and cosy place which is safe, secure and offers cold beverages and delicious cutters in the form of pork, fish, chicken and duck.
She is not an idle person and is always doing chores and tending to her livestock, working at bar and boutique and also holds down her job with the NDC.

“This place is nice to live in, you have space to plant and rear livestock, but the drainage canals need digging for the rainfall water to flow off the land. I do what I can to upkeep the environment and I would clean the drain, but that is not enough to reduce flooding,” she said.

Todd is a quiet person and a very kind-hearted woman who is welcoming and a dedicated mother and woman who works hard daily to earn.

Patrick Richmond, the shoemaker
The team also met shoemaker and construction worker Patrick Richmond, a resident of Jonestown, Mahaica, who was repairing a pair of slippers at the time.

Whenever work on the construction side of things is slow or non-existent, he would take on shoe-repair jobs to earn.

Richmond told the Pepperpot Magazine that he would stitch, repair and paste any shoe, even slippers, and it is an acquired skill he mastered over time.

“This is my side hustle and I would do it when I don’t have any construction work because I like to make a living,’ he said.

The 50-year-old stated that life is fair in the countryside but there is a need for employment of the young people in that village.
About three years ago, the mud dam was upgraded to an all-weather road and he is appreciative of that, but it is eroding due to the damage caused by heavy-duty vehicles traversing the road as is now.

Petal Gravesande, the stay-at-home mom
The team also encountered another resident of Voorzigtigheid, Mahaica, Petal Gravesande, who was at her cousin’s house to source two dry coconuts to return home to prepare a meal of split peas cook-up-rice with salted fish.

The 58-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that in the countryside, especially their Village, one can go to any neighbour and get fruits, greens and just about anything because they live in harmony and with much love.

Gravesande related that Voorzigtigheid, Mahaica is a very quiet farming village where the people would retire early to bed to make an even earlier start to their day in the farms; they have cultivations of cash crops and rice.

She added that she lives right across the street from her cousin and she would stop by when the need arises.

Gravesande reported that most people in that community are blood relatives and it is a good place to live because it is practically crime-free.

She stated that she was born and raised in the village and it will remain her home because it is ideal for her.

Her first cousin, Jean Gravesande was entertaining her briefly since they are offspring of two brothers and they have always been close-knit.

The mother of two said Voorzigtigheid, Mahaica is a lovely place to settle down and raise a family and enjoy the life of being a farmer or a self-employed individual.