LAST week the Pepperpot Magazine visited Cane Grove village, East Coast Demerara, Demerara- Mahaica, to highlight the way of life of the populace.

Cane Grove is divided into six constituencies: Mary’s Hope, La Bagatelle Diamond (Strathavon), Melville Virginia, La Bon Pere –Huntley, which is divided into sections of Coconut Dam and Manager’s Line, Estate Yard, and Grannyfield Saywah.

The village, which sourced its name after a sugar plantation that once thrived there, is now a place where rice is planted on a large scale.

It was reported to have existed since the early nineteenth century and its first settlers were reportedly East Indian immigrants. Today, however, it has a mixed population of all six races with a squatting area aback of Coconut Dam.

Manger’s Line where the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) office is located used to be the residence of the manager, back in colonial days when the sugar plantation boomed. That building was long abandoned and it is falling apart after decades of neglect.

According to NDC Chairperson, Kashni Rooplall, Cane Grove is a large village which has sections and it is a self-sufficient community that produces food on a large scale since it is teeming with produce and also rich in livestock and poultry.

She reported that the main crops include rice and cash crops being bora, peppers, ochro, pumpkins among other crops which are wholesale to buyers.

Cane Grove Village has the Hakh Rice Mill, which provides employment for locals and the owner contributes to society in a meaningful way via community-based enhancement projects.

The village is thickly populated with about 10,000 residents, a place where racial tensions are non-existent; instead, there is peace, harmony and tranquillity irrespective of race, creed and beliefs.

Rooplall pointed out that they have the NDC office, a police station, a post office, a health centre, three nursery schools and two primary schools, three playgrounds, the upgraded cemetery, Cane Grove Craft Centre, the Water’s Users’ Office, the Land Development Office and the RDC sub-office.

Cane Grove also has the Anglican Church, one private school, two mosques, four mandirs, a recently opened Chinese supermarket and many shops.

Cane Grove was bought for a dollar from Booker Tate by freed slaves and the first settlers started making logies as living quarters until the transformation into modern times with better houses.

Rooplall told the Pepperpot Magazine that the NDC does not collect rates and taxes because the village was a gift to the people for a dollar, but it receives a monthly subvention from central government for developmental works.

Highlighting developmental works within Cane Grove Village, she disclosed that several internal streets were upgraded into all-weather, and also the main access road, which is 4.5 miles long from Mahaica Market to Cane Grove.

Rooplall added that street lights were also installed in six constituencies and they have a mini excavator doing infrastructural works within the village.

The Cane Grove NDC Chairperson stated that the health centre at Grannyfield Saywah was renovated, and it serves the large catchment.

Rooplall noted that all government schools were renovated and upgraded in the building, fence and compound.

She revealed that three wooden bridges in the community were upgraded to concrete.

Rooplall said the oldest bridge that had existed for 50 years was among those upgraded at Grannyfield Saywah.

She reported that the drying floor for seed paddy, which isn’t for commercial use was extended to accommodate 500 bags per day and it is at Virginia.

Cane Grove Village has two pumps which control the drainage and irrigation network in the community and this is one village that isn’t prone to flooding.

“Cane Grove is a paradise, a bread basket. We have food security and we are self-sufficient and on the move for rapid development to enhance the lives of the natives,” she said.