Relaxing in the outdoor hammock is the favourite pastime for 83-year-old Gomattie Bissoondial of Shantytown, Leonora, West Coast Demerara, who has a shop and would sit and wait for customers while basking in the quietness of the place.

The elder told the Pepperpot Magazine that life is peaceful in that section of the village, which has a few cross streets. It is a relatively quiet place with no strangers since the people are known to each other.

Bissoondial related that since she was very young, she got married as was customary back in that time and she relocated to Shantytown Village when there were just a few makeshift houses and lots of bushes.

She explained that back then, the village was very different, but now the community developed and it happened over time which is plus for the locals to have a comfortable life of simplicity.

Bissoondial stated that she is originally from Cornelia Ida, also on the West Coast Demerara and she was always a housewife that took care of the home and children while her husband provided for them.

She lives at Third Street, Shantytown and the shop is attached to the house and they sell groceries, beverages and confectioneries.

The resident disclosed that business is kind of slow these days and she once had a thriving shop which was fully stocked but since her husband passed away at age 91 years old, she has scaled down in stocking the shop.

Bissoondial reported that she lost two sons and her husband within a short period of time and she is still trying to come to terms with their passing.

The elder noted that her husband was a very good person and he worked hard as a carpenter to provide for herself and seven children.

She added that only four of the children are alive and she has 10 grandchildren with five great-grandchildren.

Even though there is a beer garden next door, there are no complaints because the men would drink but they do not interfere with anybody and the neighbours are equally peaceful.

Bissoondial has the company of her son and a granddaughter who cooks for them and collectively, they keep a tidy and clean house and surroundings.

“I miss the company of my husband, he is gone but I have memories to keep me going and he did a good job in bringing up the children in the right way. They all turned out good and I am very pleased about that,” she said.

Bissoondial told the Pepperpot Magazine that she would take things easy and is enjoying her old age as is.

She likes living in the community and would have it no other way since it is home for her.

Devindra Singh
Next door is the home of Devindra Singh, an employee of the Guyana Water Inc. (GWI) at the Pouderoyen location, and that day when the team visited, he was about to head off to work.

The 46-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he is from Mahaicony, East Coast Demerara and relocated to Shantytown following marriage and he is quite comfortable in that part of the country.

Singh reported that he has lived in the village for the past 14 years and is familiar with most of the villagers.

The father of four added that they have all the needed amenities to enhance their lives and he is very pleased that their community is developing.

They have good roads, potable water, electricity, landline phones, internet and good drainage.

Singh said the place is safe and quiet as in any countryside village and they have six cross streets with one main access road from the public road.

“I would say that life here is relatively good once you are employed and can provide for your home,’ he said.

Retired teacher
Narpatty Persaud has retired after 27 years in the noble teaching profession and spent most of her career teaching at Leonora Primary School.

She told the Pepperpot Magazine that after two years of training at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE), she was the acting head teacher at a community high school in the city for one year before being transferred to Leonora Primary.

It was only when she attained the age of 55 years old she retired as a teacher from Leonora Primary School and she used to give extra lessons at her home.

There is a section with benches and tables and a blackboard for the pupils’ comfort but she stopped the classes in 2018.

Persaud reported that her son, her daughter-in-law and two nieces and their husbands are also teachers, so it is safe to say teaching runs in the family.

“I like to impart knowledge and mould minds and I keep learning from the pupils because one can never know it all and teaching is a wonderful experience for me, I enjoyed it and it is my way of giving back to society,” she said.

The 59-year-old added that Shantytown is a close-knit village where most people are related and known to each other and they look out for you.

She disclosed that before the mandir was constructed, the service used to be held at her residence and her door is always opened to villagers since she would assist in clerical work, free of charge.

Persaud also acts as a counsellor who provides her time and space for locals who may have domestic issues and other problems since they have that confidence in her.