CAROLINE Rahaman is a resident of Lighttown, East Bank Berbice and she is Chairperson of the Lighttown Cooperative Society Limited. She is also a poultry farmer who rears meat birds as her source of income.

The 28-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that the co-op members rear cattle for breeding purposes and meat birds for profit-sharing and there are 13 members, all young people generating an income.

Rahaman reported that youths from the age of 16 can enrol for membership and the co-op is funded via grants and loans for small-business start-ups.

She explained that the profits made are split equally among members, and they do not sell their cattle, only chickens.

Since there isn’t much happening in that section of the country, the co-op encourages young people to become self-employed by becoming members so they can earn because, other than farming, employment is non-existent in the area.

Lighttown Village is a remote community located along the Mara Road, East Bank Berbice and it is one of the most populated villages in that section.

Rahaman disclosed that cattle rearing has become difficult due to limited space. There isn’t enough pasture for the cows because private landowners are utilising their lands for farming.

She stated that the cows are mostly housed in the backlands and they are running low on space, so something needs to be done for them to upkeep their livelihoods.

Rahaman pointed out that they are trying to apply for lease lands for cattle farming but have encountered many difficulties.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that on her poultry farm she would rear 1,600 to 3,000 meat birds per cycle, that is, every six weeks and when the chickens are sold, the profit is divided equally among members.

Rahaman added that the Lighttown Cooperative Society Limited was established in 2018 and was started through grants and loans from private agencies.

She stated that life isn’t easy since they lack basic amenities such as a potable water supply, electricity, and internet and landline phone service.

The resident of Lighttown Village noted that they have a lot of children and getting their homework done is a challenge, because they have no internet access and poor cellphone service.

Rahaman is originally from Wismar, Linden and relocated 16 years ago to Lighttown Village after marriage.

She is a mother of two and is pregnant with her third child.

“At first, it was hard to adapt to this kind of life where I had to use trench water for bathing and doing chores, since there is no running water here, but after years of living here, I have grown accustomed to this way of life,” she said.

In this day and age, she believes they should benefit from electricity and potable water because they have a lot of children and the population is growing.

During the opposition’s time in office, transmission lines were installed, but there is no connectivity to get electricity.

Rahaman explained that when they pluck the chickens, they have to sell them off because they cannot store them since ice is sourced outside of the community, and they would often sell live chickens to buyers in bulk.

“Living here you have to endure a lot of hardships and the people crave development, at least for the basic facilities such as electricity to improve their lives and we would be grateful for such,” she said.

Rahaman’s house is aback Audrey’s Shop, the only shop in the village and it serves as a meeting place for locals and has a large tree for shade and a racket chair for added comfort.

Other people in the village

Shailla Dhandi, the housewife
Shailla Dhandi, 38, is a mother of four and a stay-at-home wife who was doing some chores that day when the team visited the village of Lighttown, East Bank Berbice.

She reported that the village is usually quiet, except when the children are at home, they would run around and play.

Dhandi added that they would like to have electricity, potable water and interest for enhanced life and for the children to be able to benefit from modern facilities.

She disclosed that her husband is one of the security guards at Lighttown Primary School and is the sole breadwinner of the home.

Colwin Chisholm, the mechanic
Colwin Chisholm is also a native of Lighttown Village and is a mechanic who works in New Amsterdam.

The 29-year-old said that things are a bit tough in that part of the country because of the cost of living and jobs are not readily available.

That day he was ready to go to a funeral service outside the village and was awaiting transportation.

Jagessar Seeram, the elder
Jagessar Seeram is also a local of Lighttown Village and a farmer who is not at his best, health-wise.

The 73-year-old is assisted by one of his three children. His wife passed away in 1993.

He resides opposite the Lighttown Primary School and he is a citrus and ground provision farmer, who had a cutlass mishap which cost him the full use of his left hand.

“I get sick now with pains in the knee, plus one hand not good, so my son took full control of the farm and he does most of the work these days,” he said.

Delano Williams photos saved in a folder in Graphics as Berbice Juliansburg etc in Feb. 21, 2023.