THE Moblissa Road is almost seven miles long. The village is simple, with modest beginnings and humble people. Over the years, Moblissa has undergone many different stages of agricultural development. But most recently, the community has seen changes in other areas. With the early development of roads and the introduction of new wells in the community, the village of Moblissa is well on its way to a blossoming future.

Like many of the villagers of Moblissa, Denise Cornelius came to the community many years ago. She was led there by her tobacco farmer husband who had always liked life in the rural parts of Guyana. “I have lived in Moblissa for around 30 years. I came here with my husband. He came here from Northwest.”

In recent years, Moblissa has seen more development than it has in the last three decades. The community went unnoticed for some time after the end of tobacco farming. But it is now becoming a centre for agriculture and the target for development. Denise explained that it is only now that she is seeing some changes happening in the community of Moblissa. “The major changes are the changes we are seeing now,” Denise said.

Still in its early stages, the Moblissa road is yet to be completed and the rocky condition of the road is causing some villagers frustration. Denise stated that, “We are not satisfied with the road that we have. The road is destroying the tires and boring the fuel tanks.” Villagers have mixed feelings, as some are happy while others would like to see some other things done.

The community of Moblissa is very interesting, with this many farms and places named by villagers. Denise lives past the Moblissa Creek. She stated that the further one travels down the Moblissa trail, the more people will be found. “The whole road is Moblissa. There are people living at the first well. And three are more people living further up. Most of them doing farming,” she explained.

As the community develops, its challenges become increasingly pressing. Water, Denise said, is a big problem in Moblissa. “The main thing in here is water. Even if we pump water. Water is the main problem,” he stated. Because Moblissa is one long continuous road at the far end of the highway, transportation is also a pressing matter in the community. “The transportation cost is high in here. Further, in the taxis cost more. We have a school bus that helps the partners and takes the children to school.”

Moblissa is at a unique junction, being closer to Linden than the capital city. But still a far way from the mining town. And unlike Georgetown or Linden, where everything is centralised, most of the people of Moblissa make the trip out of the village every day. Some of them coming the full seven miles out to go to work in Linden.

Denise explained the village’s location is why many villagers turn to agriculture to make a living from home. But that, too, has its challenges. “Every day, people go out. Not everyone is going out every day. But actually, every day people are going out of the village. All for me, I have some chickens. But again, water is the problem because our water pump is not working right now,” Denise stated.

Many of the villagers of Moblissa have called it home for a long time. Most of them have come to the village and start families. However, the younger generation of the community has their own opinion on the situation and Moblissa’s development needs. Leon Wattson is one of the very few young men who have not left the village in search of work is Leon Wattson. The 17-year-old grew up around the capital city but has called Moblissa home for the last six years.

Leon hopes there will be an increase in the availability of diverse jobs in the village. “If they had more jobs, it would really help, and it would be really nice.” He stated. Leon has strong family values, which are the biggest reason he has stayed in Moblissa thus far but he says if his family ever decide to leave, he will too.

Leon is the youngest of his eleven siblings, all of whom have left Moblissa, and although he has stayed, he still has very high hopes and big intentions for his future. He says that farming is not in the cards for him. “I would like to do something else. I want to go to Guyana Technical Institute. I want to learn to operate heavy-duty machines. But I do not have the support, the money to go back,” he stated. Despite this, Leon says he will continue to try his best to develop himself regardless of the challenges he is presented with.