LEAVING Clemwood, Demerara River, to relocate to Loo Creek, Soesdyke/Linden Highway was probably the hardest thing to do, but it had to be done for Deonarine Narine to be with his children after his wife passed away.

The farmer told the Pepperpot Magazine that he left his home village five years ago and still misses the river life where freshly caught fish was a norm and wild meat was plentiful.

As a farmer, Narine continued his simple way of life in Loo Creek where he has cash and permanent crops.

Narine explained that his three children came out for school and after his wife passed away, he was there all alone and he wanted to be near them and had no other choice but to leave, as well.

The farmer added that he had to leave his farm and everything and the transition period was difficult.

He stated that his daughter is married with children and his sons reside in a different section of Loo Creek and are in the trucking business.

“All my children are grown and they are doing okay so far, being self-employed with their small businesses and they don’t want me to work but I must do something to occupy my time. Living alone isn’t for the faint at heart,” he explained.

Narine told the Pepperpot Magazine that he had to sell the house and farmlands at Clemwood, Demerara River and has a new life in Loo Creek, closer to his children and grandchildren.

He has in his cultivation lime, lemon, tangerine, bitter cassava, bora, ochro, calaloo and ground provision, which he would sell to wholesale buyers from Linden.

“I had a harvest of limes last week, which I sold, so within the next two weeks, I will reap some bora for sale, as well,” he said.

Narine’s crops were almost dried when the team visited due to the blistering heat of sunshine for many days without a drop of rainfall.

Loo Creek doesn’t have electricity, potable water supply, and no internet and landline services and because of the lack of water he often suffers a loss of crops which would dry up very quickly.

The farmer disclosed that for the first time last week he picked 200 lemons.

However, the demand is 30,000 per month and he cannot meet that requirement because he is a small-scale farmer who lacks the basic resources.

Narine stated that they had a village meeting with government representatives and they had promised to drill three wells for the locals to source water but to date nothing has materialised.

He disclosed that their only source of power is from a small solar which barely lights up a few bulbs and there is no storage for meats and produce.

Narine reported that he would have to make daily purchases of chicken and other meat products to prepare meals.

The farmer added that transportation in general is quite difficult and costly for the people of Loo Creek and schoolchildren face a lot of hardships in this regard.

“We face a lot of challenges because we have no facilities and would have to seek same in other villages which are miles away,” Narine said.

He related schools, health centre, police outpost and shops are all outside the village.

Narine stated that they make the most of what they have but their lives need to be enhanced significantly.

He is the Chairman of the Community Development Council (CDC) and reported that there are about 50 houses in Loo Creek with about 150 residents, most of whom eke out a living doing many things that are skills related and without permanent jobs.