Life in Bonasika Creek

Navigating the ups and downs

By Michel Outridge

ANUDAI Lochan is a teacher attached to the Lower Bonasika Nursery/Primary School and she has a vested interest in moulding the minds of the young as a form of preparation for the world of work.

The 32-year-old stated that she has been in the noble teaching profession since age 16 and has always liked nurturing children.

She explained that she is passionate about teaching and she doesn’t mind the commute via boat five days per week.

Lochan, better known as Miss Annie, reported that she went to Leonora Secondary School because there is no secondary school in Bonasika Creek.

But the creek has always been her home. She lives comfortably in a house in the same yard with her in-laws which overlooks the creek -- quite a lovely view.

Lower Bonasika Creek School is a multi-grade school and she assists in both nursery and primary teaching.

They have 68 learners with only five teachers; the head teacher is from Zeelugt, East Bank Essequibo.

They have no internet at the school, but they have four 65-inch televisions with access to the learning channel programmes and discs are used to promote learning.

Lochan related that they will be hosting a fundraiser to install internet at the school from a private internet provider.

The mother of two stated that she likes the quietness of the creek and teaching despite the challenges; it is her way of giving back to the community.

The farmers

Rampattie Sanicharia and her husband, Dinesh Ram - lakhan have a simple way of life which includes farming and making pointer brooms and they reside in Lower yields leave much to be desired for the past two years and the coconut trees are dying rapidly from an unknown disease plaguing the farm. He added that he has 18 months, three years and five years of coconuts and a lot of trees are rotting away, and they are trying newer drugs to reduce the spread of both bugs and disease.

Ramlakhan stated that he would sell the produce to wholesale buyers at Hubu Koker whenever he has a good harvest.

He related that they have been unable to make a good reaping for the past year since most of the cultivation is perishing. As a result, they haven’t made any profit.

In addition to the mysterious disease that is overwhelming the farm, they

The 33-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that together they have crops of coconuts and citrus.

Dinesh Ramlakhan explained that after the flood which destroyed his crops,