A little oasis for people from all walks of life

Last week the Pepperpot Magazine visited the small community of Hubu, East Bank Essequibo to highlight the way of life of the locals.

There are 11 houses on the dam where the channel is to the Essequibo River and there is the Hubu Koker, a central point where farmers bring out their produce to be sold to wholesale buyers from the riverine communities such as Bonasika Creek, Itaballi, Lanaballi, Saxacalli, Aliki, Morashee, Hogg Island, Wakenaam and others.

Hubu Village is located between St. Lawrence and Unity and it is small but thickly populated.
The mud dam is a track basically that needs a bit of skillful manoeuvring between the Hubu Koker where there is the Hubu Ramp and there are 11 houses with 45 residents, who live in modest houses, with one being just on top of the water and serves as a boat house for the riverine folk.

Mostly farmers from the riverine communities journey to the various markets at Parika, in the city, and East Coast to sell their produce, an in-transit stop is usually made at the Hubu koker on the East Bank Essequibo, where the produce is transferred from the many boats into trucks and canters.

For decades, the rotting makeshift ramp built by a farmer made the transfer of goods most difficult. However, on October 15, 2018, the provision of a bigger and sturdier ramp which the Regional Administration constructed at the cost of approximately $9.5M, made the transit hassle-free and without delays. The newly constructed ramp is made of strictly greenheart wood and sits on 65 feet wooden piles.

The ramp allows heavy-duty trucks and canters to be closer to the boats and allow for easier produce transfer.
This little village isn’t regularised yet and they don’t have electricity except for two houses, no potable water, landline phones or internet service.
The residents utilise the St. Lawrence Health Outpost, which is situated just across from the Hubu Koker and next door, there is a gas station and a shop.
Schools are located in other nearby villages and other facilities but Parika is the central hub where all facilities can be accessed.

The people are very friendly and welcoming and doesn’t hesitate to invite you in their homes and living spaces.

The people of Hubu Village are normal, everyday folk, trying to earn an honest living doing many things and jobs to provide for their families.
Most of the young men in the village provide taxi service for the riverine people, sometimes during medical emergencies at night or early in the morning.
It is also steady work for the young men, who are still paying for their motorcars. They operate on a ‘work and pay’ basis to the car dealership, the place of purchase.