LIVING in a place where there is peace and quiet is a dream come true and for it to be strategically located is ideal for a small business and for promoting self-employment.

This couldn’t be any better for Carl John, better known as “Pye,” who has been living in Tuschen North for the past 30 years.

He has used his location to establish a shop to sell his organic produce, such as cold beverages.

The 54-year-old is the father of four adopted children and he is a native of Vergenoegen, East Bank Essequibo, who are among the first settlers of Tuschen North.

It was when he got married that he decided to leave his village and family home to make his own life and he took a chance and began squatting at Tuschen North after clearing away a lot of trees and thick bushes.

John related that because the place was like a thick jungle, they used to call it ‘banding,’ so it is known as Banding Street, Tuschen North.

He is a farmer who is utilising every inch of the space on his land to cultivate bora, squash, peppers, ochro, corilla, tomatoes, fine thyme, pak choi, and pumpkin, among fruits.

John explained that he would sell his produce at his shop and at times he would ride around the village on his bicycle and sell, as well.

His wife would assist him in gardening and also tend to customers in the shop when he has to run errands.

“Life is good here, but you must work to earn and even if you are not getting a job, try to do something from your home because things will get better eventually. Don’t give up, try first,” he said.

John told the Pepperpot Magazine that he had a beer garden but a lot of people stopped visiting due to the pandemic and that small business flopped.

Rajwantee Rampersaud called “Lila”
After working at a private fishery, Rajwantee Rampersaud, called “Lila,” was asked to retire due to her health condition and today she is a resident of Independence Street, Tuschen North, East Bank Essequibo.

The 55-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that she lives with her husband, a cane-cutter, who is employed at Uitvlugt Sugar Estate, but her daughter resides in the same yard and has her own home with four children.

Most times her grandchildren would come over and they would have her talking a lot and she would ask them to run errands for her.

“Because I worked so long and was on my feet daily for long hours in a boots and socks it caused me to get a discolouration as a direct result of diabetes and I have a lot of pain in my feet presently,’ she said.

Rampersaud reported that she was going to see the doctor at the earliest and her son was going to ensure that she gets there.

She has been living in Tuschen North for the past 22 years and she described life there as fair, but things have been a bit strained due to the high cost of living.

Rampersaud is originally from Windsor Forest, West Coast Demerara, but has made Tuschen North her home because it is one of the places where you still have good relations with the neighbours.

Being a mixed-race village, the people are very friendly and there are no racial conflicts because the people live in harmony.

“Here, you can go over by your next-door neighbour to chat, have a drink and something to eat and around here we have an open-door policy: if you come unannounced you will not be turned away,” she said.

That day when the team visited, even though it was a national holiday, Boxing Day, Rampersaud was still to complete some household chores before she had to prepare a meal, but explained that she has all that under control.