THE prospect of leaving his home village was daunting, but Raghobeer Ramrattan had to do it anyway since he wanted his children to benefit from secondary education. He left Bonasika Creek, Essequibo River and relocated to Hubu, East Bank Essequibo.

There, he had little to nothing and basically had to start life from fresh. A makeshift boat house was up for sale, and he bought it.

Over time, he converted it into a more comfortable living quarters and it remained a boat house for the riverine people, who would leave their boats outfitted with engines moored for as long as needed but with a fee attached.

The 67-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that 14 years ago he left his home village and was the first resident of Hubu, that section by the channel where the koker is.

His house sits over the water and conveniently so to keep watch over the boats moored there.

Ramrattan reported that he has been with his wife for the past 23 years and she supports his daily activities since he is often not in good health.

The father of three and two adopted children stated that he is aware he is residing on a dam that is considered a reserve, but a relocation now will severely cripple his livelihood because he cannot do any strenuous work.

He is of the hope that the residents will be able to have some time to save up and to pay off their debts.

Meanwhile, his wife, Nanda Persaud, reported that she is a stay-at-home mother who sells ice and ice cream for a living from her home.

The mother of three added that her sons also reside on the dam and they are taxi drivers. They work at the Hubu Koker to transport riverine people.

The 42-year-old stated that she did all kinds of work such as Backdam farming, working as a boat captain and toiling alongside her male counterparts for many years to ensure her children had a better life.

Persaud pointed out that with the rising cost of living, prices for food items have sky-rocketed, requiring every dollar to make ends meet.

“We are in debt, we bought a boat engine so we are still paying for that as is, and it will take some time for that loan to be paid off, so a bit of time, like a few years, will be more realistic for us to move from the dam,” she said.

The housewife told the Pepperpot Magazine they earn from selling ice, and it is just $500 per boat moored at their boathouse and it isn’t no ‘big money’ garner but they are optimistic things will work out itself.

“We are worried because this is our life, here, now, and we have nowhere else to go, so we are asking the authorities to assist us. Let’s work together for a plausible solution since it is a group of poor people living on the dam,” she said.

Persaud reported that she and her husband live alone and with the little money they get from the boat house used to buy groceries and whatever is needed in the home.

At times the children would assist, but they, too, have expenses, children and their own lives to fend for, so depending on them is out of the question.

She related that in the 11 houses, there are a lot of children, small children too and some of the people there are everyday folk, who find work right around Hubu to feed their families.