– A budding tourist attraction

IT is quite a soothing and therapeutic feeling to sit by any body of water, especially a river, even for a few minutes. However, the locals of Big Biaboo can do that anytime since the village overlooks the Mahaica River.

Many people visit to unwind by the Mahaica River on weekends and it is a favourite tourist spot for foreigners.

It is a nice place to pause for a bit to take in nature at its best; sit under a benab which overlooks the Mahaica River where Lalita Rajpatti’s restaurant and bar is located.

Lalita told the Pepperpot Magazine that both locals and visitors would utilise the benab and bar for recreational activities. Still, business has been rather slow for the past few years due to the pandemic.

However, Lalita rolled with the hard times and reopened her small business. She said it is usually busy on weekends when visitors come with their families and they would request the use of the benab for the day.

Lalita pointed out that they don’t have electricity but hopes they will benefit soon since the transmission lines were installed last year.

She reported that the mud dam was upgraded to loam and she would like it to become an all-weather road so access can be easy.

“I had established this bar 20 years ago, but it had closed down and it was reopened for eight years now so I can earn from home,” she said.

Lalita stated that they had to reconstruct the benab using palm branches and build wooden benches and tables under it for adequate seating accommodation. They also have an outdoor concrete table with three matching chairs around it.

A local from the village was tasked with the construction of the benab which took some time to complete because it is a tedious process which the Amerindians usually master.

It is a prime spot for business and the main attraction is the black, cool water of the Mahaica River, which the shop overlooks; it is quite a sight to be so close to the river.

Lalita’s house is in front of the yard and attached to it is the shop which is spacious and has a pool table for recreation; the bar is also inside the lower flat of the build

ing.

The businesswoman suffered a lot of damage to her property due to the constant flooding last year but opened for business after effecting a lot of repairs.

The shop is the only one on that end after the high bridge in Big Biaboo Village and it is frequented by the natives, who are familiar with the location.

“Mostly foreigners would come here and have a picnic and we would prepare the meals or whatever they request in advance and we are happy people can come here and be treated with our hospitality and enjoy the best of nature such as bird watching and the river tours,” she said.

In this part of the country, it is a bird-watching destination with many species of birds and the river otter is also another attraction in the Mahaica River.

Lalita pointed out that after a long rainy period they had a few days of sunshine. However, when it rains, there isn’t much they can do in terms of upkeep of their farm, which is managed by her husband, Deo Persaud.

“We had a bit of sunshine and the place was dry, then came the rain and it hampered us from weeding the yard, but once the sun is out again, that will be done,” she said.

Up to January, they had a flood, she explained, so they are still trying to have the place in an acceptable standard for visitors.

In addition to the bar, Lalita is a poultry framer who rears meat birds to re-sell; it is a seven-week cycle but the chickens have to be sold since they do not have a freezer for storage due to the lack of electricity.

“This is home. Even though we don’t have certain basic facilities like other villages, we are still here because it is a lovely place to live and we overcome challenges to remain here as long as possible,” Lalita said.

Delano Williams photos saved in a folder in Graphics as Big Biaboo in February 28, 2023.