THE community of Laluni was founded in March 1995 by Wilfred Henry. The village has managed to retain its way of life, which goes far beyond farming. Laluni is not underdeveloped; rather, it has taken authentic traditional values and practices and crafted them into a unique culture. Longtime villagers of Laluni say the community has not changed much throughout the years. While there are changes the people of Laluni wish to see, there are a few things they like just the way they are.

Radha Persaud lives at the far end of Laluni. The proud mother of seven has been a farmer since she ventured into Laluni as a young girl. All of her children have had experiences in agriculture. Whereas some chose agriculture, as she did, a few have taken other career paths in life. During her time, however, Radha stated that farming was not the most popular option, but it was rather the only one. “All four of my sons are farmers, and two of the ten girls I have are farmers. The other one is not; she has a business in Georgetown. Since I was young, I used to farm and sell in the market,” she explained.

Laluni could very well be described as a world far beyond Georgetown. The nine-mile-long road that runs through Kuru Kuru is traversed by countless cars today. But according to Radha, there was a time when the Laluni road was a trail that the people of Laluni walked. She reminisced about the many years she and her family walked the Laluni trail in a dire effort to get their produce to the market in the capital city. “In Laluni, it was hard. We used to walk this trail. One of my children was born in a Land Rover, and the rest at home. Because we did not have transportation like we do today, our own cars and taxis,” said Radha.

Since the beginning and in the face of adversities, the people of Laluni have had a sharing and compassionate nature. Radha explained that although today her family is fortunate enough to have their own mode of transportation, in earlier years, if there was a single farmer with a vehicle, he would lend a helping hand.

She explained, “Every weekend, we would walk the Laluni road to go to the market. And if one farmer had transportation, they would help carry our fruits or vegetables.” She further explained that the family is thankful to have survived those trying times and come out successful today, stating, “Now we have worked and worked and saved. The roads and the community have developed.”

It has been quite a few years since Radha herself has ventured out of Laluni to sell at Georgetown’s market. She says that she cannot picture herself living anywhere else, particularly not in Georgetown. Laluni has been her home since she was young, and her family came to the community. The way of life is what keeps Radha enthralled in Laluni, with the friendly nature of the people and the enticing trees around every corner. She shared, “I like living in Laluni; it is quiet, breezy, and fresh.

We get everything fresh from the farm; if you want something to cook, we go into the farm and pick it.” This sentiment seems to be true throughout the community, as Radha showed the Pepperpot Magazine team her farm, which was full of various fruit and vegetable trees and accompanied by a fish pond.

Radha explained that although it may not seem like it from the outside looking in, the people of Laluni live lives that are not much different from those in Georgetown. She said that everything available in Georgetown is available in Laluni, although it may come in a different form, or take a bit of extra work. She shared, “The ration and chicken trucks come here and sell. We have trucks that come with different greens. Fish, shrimp, everything, we get here.”

Laluni is an enchanting place; a community that wears its majestic trees, wide-open landscapes, and agricultural gifts as a crown. Home to a proud and caring people, the village has taken a unique trajectory in its development. Leaving behind agriculture and nature and moving towards alternative ways of life would be simple. But for the people of Laluni, this does not seem to be an option, now or ever. As easy-going as their community is, the emphasis on development is evident, with its own schools, recreational areas, and small businesses. Laluni has developed, and will continue to do so in its unique way.