–How the lives of the locals of New Ma-Retraite Village have significantly improved

LAST week, the Pepperpot Magazine passed through several villages along the main access road to Mara, East Bank Berbice, and highlighted the way of life of the locals.

The team first encountered Aubrey Chisholm, a farmer and resident of New Ma-Retraite who was about to go to his farm to tend to the crops.

The 56-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has lived his entire life at New Ma-Retraite, East Bank Berbice. His is a simple way of life which entails hard work, he said, but the reward of living in a countryside community is a peaceful existence.

Chisholm said he has enough space to do his farming, as he comes from a long line of farmers, a generational trait because, in that area, there isn’t much one can do for permanent employment other than farming.

The father of six reported that there is no such thing as a boring rural life because there is so much to do, and he is always setting plants and doing something on the farm.

Even though the small village isn’t thickly populated, Chisholm doesn’t mind at all, because it is a lovely place set in nature for a good life with a farm-to-table concept; eating wholesome, organic foods promotes longevity, something most of us aim for.

Chisholm told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is basically a ground provision, cash crop and citrus farmer, and he has farms at a few locations, so multi-tasking is necessary to upkeep his cultivation.

“Here we does get a lot of rain, and it comes like a squall with heavy breeze. It rains almost every day; it is only today we get a bit of sunshine, and we are happy for it,” he said.

He is very happy that after many years, they benefitted from an all-weather road which has significantly improved their lives in getting their produce out to the buyers and market.

Chisholm said that before the new road was paved, they had a mud dam that took them two days to get out by tractor and trailer.

He told the Pepperpot Magazine that with the new road, these days, wholesale buyers would visit the village and buy the produce, so they hardly need to go to the market to sell.

Chisholm disclosed that some people would still leave their homes at midnight to get to the New Amsterdam Market as an early bird to sell off their produce on Fridays and Mondays.

He stated that their small village is a short distance from Mara, the last community on that 25-mile stretch of road and the place was once populated, but due to the state of the road and schooling for children, many people left.

Chisholm pointed out that they prefer to have internet because of the children and the residents would like to know what’s happening around the world in terms of news and he is of the hope they will benefit soon.

He explained that before the road was paved, many people decided to transport their produce via the Berbice River and it did not end well for them, so the new road which started last year is very good for the community.

Chisholm stated that although they would have to commute to the health centre at Plegt Anker they don’t mind because the road is good now, but they would like to see more development in the village, especially for the young people.

The farmer noted that they have a community centre ground at Ma-Retraite Scheme, the village before New Ma-Retraite but they need funding to have the place fixed so they can provide a safe space for recreational activities.

Chisholm also has some ducks and chickens.

He reported that they have no electricity except for solar panels, but they have potable water supply and no internet service.

The reception of both local cell phone providers are very poor at their end and often they do not get any signal.

“Around here, you are confident no one will rob you and you can leave your doors open and return with nothing missing because this is a safe place to live,” he said.

Chisholm explained that his only problem is wild animals would often destroy his crops and he would have to spend time watching over it.

The farmer added that transportation is also an issue because there is no bus service and it is better if you have your own.

Chisholm would buy his citrus plants from Soesdyke/Linden Highway for $800 per plant for his farm for a good yield.

Fortunately for Chisholm, he is fully supported by his wife, Salema Guldeen, who was at the time cutting up some fish for which she will make a meal of fried fish with pak choi and rice for the family.

She is tasked with the cooking and keeping things in order while, the children would assist in their shop and to do the chores.