NANDRANI Charles is a bustling and friendly 59-year-old woman. Having spent her entire life in the cozy community of Free and Easy, she says she has never seen change so drastic.
After opening a small business selling food to the community, she is busier than ever. She hopes to see continued growth in both her community and her business.

Six decades is a long time, and Nandranie has spent nearly that long in Free and Easy. Nandranie, a free-spirited person, describes her childhood as a bit wild. She was a self-proclaimed fighter, stating, “When I was small, I was very playful. I used to fight a lot.” This made for an interesting childhood experience. As Nandranie shared, her days of playing in the village created great memories.

But responsibility was also something she grasped at an early age. The eldest of five, she quickly became familiar with family roles and dynamics, caring for her younger siblings. “Growing up, there were five of us. I was the eldest. My family used to do farming,” she explained.

The community looks drastically different from what it was in her youth. Free and Easy bore little resemblance to the lively neighbourhood it is today. Historically a farming community, Free and Easy depended solely on agriculture for many years and was among the notable, larger farming communities on the West Bank. Moreover, the village was a major producer of sugarcane for the Wales sugar estate.

Nandranie shared sentiments echoed by many people of Free and Easy: challenges with schooling. The neighbouring Vive-La-Force is the location for the closest school to the community, a little under a mile away. In years past, travelling to school or anywhere outside of the community proved difficult. As Nandranie explained, “We used to walk to school. We would have our shoes in plastic bags. We walked out to Patentia High School.”

After leaving school, Nandranie got married to her high school sweetheart at the age of 19. Talking about her family, she stated, “My husband is from the community too. We grew up together and got married.” An amazing match, the young couple faced many challenges in Free and Easy. “Bushy and Muddy” is how Nandranie described the village in its earliest stages.

Comparing her past to current times, Nandranie emphasised the significant development Free and Easy has seen in infrastructure, accessibility, and convenience. “Now things are better. We have good roads, more vehicles in the village, and it is easier for the children of the community,” she stated. With the introduction of new projects, the population and business ventures have seen a recent rise.

Progress is visible, says Nandranie. Over the years, she says, the community has seen countless changes and stages. Using the roads as an example of the village’s development, she stated, “As the community sees progress, we have changed. We went from mud to loam. From loam to this road we have now. From pond water to pipe water.”

Nandranie’s snackette has quickly become one of the most famous hot spots in the community. Although it was recently opened, Nandranie’s little business has taken off with great force. Beginning just three months ago, her food has quickly become among the most notable in the community. “I opened the business a few months ago and people like my food; a lot of people come here,” she shared.

The current industrial projects happening in the community have had far-reaching impacts. Going beyond the people employed, businesses such as Nandranie’s have benefited. “Now that we have the Exxon project happening, there are more people coming into the community and more people coming to the village,” she explained. The very economy of the community seems to have been changed, according to Nandranie, and has played a big role in developing businesses just like hers.

But this is not the only reason for the success of her business. As Nandranie told the Pepperpot Magazine, the quality of her cooking keeps people coming back. “Once you cook good food, people will keep coming back. Most people come here for my cook-up. Lunch times get very busy,” she stated proudly.

At 59, Nandranie still runs her business on her own, accepting very little help in cooking her acclaimed Guyanese dishes. “Business is going okay. Some days it is up, other days it is down,” Nandranie shared. In the short time her business has been up and running, Nandranie says that she was surprised to see how much support it has garnered.

While the influx of workers and increased activity due to the Exxon project have certainly contributed to her success, Nandranie’s personal touch and quality food keep customers returning. Her cook-up rice has become particularly famous, drawing people from within and beyond Free and Easy.

As Free and Easy continues to evolve, Nandranie hopes to see her business grow alongside the community. Both have faced challenges, adapted to changes and are now poised for a future filled with potential.