AT 74 years old Biptree Nazeer is often forgetful, and she is stricken with multiple illnesses such as diabetes, a nervous issue, hypertension and cholesterol, but despite health challenges, she is a good person who is always up for a quick chat.

She is a resident of Stewartville South, West Coast Demerara and she is the mother of three.

She has two pet parrots and a cat which recently gave birth to a few kittens as little companies during the time when her son is not at home.

Even at her age, she does all the cooking and cleaning and did a good job ensuring the place is tidy.

That day, she was thinking up a menu for lunch and dinner, a one-pot kind of meal but was having a cup of tea and some crackers before starting that meal.

She likes to recline in her outdoor hammock after completing chores.

Nazeer told the Pepperpot Magazine that 17 years ago, her husband died and she has been living in the small village for more than 30 years.

She is originally from Overhead Tank ‘C’ Field, Stewartville area and relocated to where she is living now after marriage.

Nazeer recalled that in her younger days, she used to go to the back dam area to pick ‘ban-corilla’ to sell. She was also employed at Leonora Sugar Estate, where she used to throw manure in the cane fields.

After she tied the knot, she quit working in her children-bearing years and later did some domestic work.

“Some days I don’t feel so good. Other days I try to cook and clean because I have to and I would get about the day,” she said.

Nazeer Rohaman
Another resident, Nazeer Rohaman, who has a neat wooden cottage in a well-kept yard, is 78 years old and retired from the sugar estate.

Nazeer is looking forward to celebrating his 79th birth anniversary with his family on May 19. He was a heavy-duty operator at the sugar estate for over 40 years.

These days, he is at home where he does a few things around the yard and retired completely from rearing cows and cultivating a kitchen garden due to his ill health.

He has a pacemaker and is a heart patient who needs care at times but is trying to have a positive outlook on what is left of his life.

Nazeer told the Pepperpot Magazine that life is quite calm despite the challenges of old age and sickness and that he has not received his monthly old age benefit for the past year.

Due to his ill health, he is unable to go out alone and his daughter, who lives in the city, would visit to assist him and she was the one running up and down trying to sort out his old age benefit, but to date it hasn’t been rectified.

The elder added that he is getting his workplace pension and he is making do with that since his wife is also elderly and sick.

In addition, he is tasked with caring for his mentally challenged son and his wife, who resides with them.

Nazeer reported that he is the father of nine children, and only six are alive. Last year he lost a son to COVID-19.

He is the grandfather of 23 and great-grandfather of 14.

The elder told the Pepperpot Magazine that life in Stewartville South is quiet and he is contented even though things are not always in his favour.

Nazeer has the support of his wife, Bibi Roosra Rohaman, 76, who has chronic arthritis in her joints.