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‘Self-help’ lends to steady development in Moraikobai
Roads are among the developmental infrastructures that are currently lacking in Moraikobai, Region Five. However, this measure may not be too long in coming given the self-help attitude that the villagers have assumed over the years. Their passion to develop their village has seen them acquiring facilities to provide both electricity and water.
At least this is the assertion of an elderly and respected villager, Ms. Dahana Adrian. She has lived in the village all her life and has described its current state as “developing…we are not just waiting on Government to help us, we are helping ourselves,” she related during an interview yesterday.
Ms Dahana Adrian sets up the Moraikobai craft exhibit
Ms. Adrian, along with a group of women from the village, is currently participating in a craft exhibition at the Sophia Exhibition Site which comes as part of this year’s Amerindian Heritage Month activities. Residents from a number of other Amerindian villages are also participating in the craft exhibition.
Though Moraikobai still takes on the appearance of a regular Amerindian settlement, developmental measures have seen most residents moving away from pit latrines and washing and bathing in creeks to flush toilets and running tap water. This move, according to Adrian, came as a result of villagers making a decision to pool their resources to acquire their needs. In the case of electricity, she vividly recalled that residents were able to access a generator, and the money that is paid monthly for the service provided is directed towards the purchase of gas.
Adrian explained that in order for the system to remain smooth, a Village Committee was appointed.
“All the monies are paid to the Committee and they are responsible for ensuring that we keep getting the services and it is working well for us…we are developing fast.”
The senior villager revealed too that Government, in seeing their pro-activeness, had sought to provide and continues to provide technical assistance. The village has also produced trained teachers and has its own medical personnel, Adrian said.
Situated some 90 miles up the Mahaicony River, Moraikobai residents are able to access the coastland mainly by engine boat or sometimes a launch. However, it is the expectation of Adrian that Government will soon designate a launch to specifically ply the Moraikobai/Mahaicony river route.
“Our population there has been increasing…we don’t live too close to each other, but the number of people living in Moraikobai keeps growing and we can’t do everything for ourselves to see development, but we are doing what we can.”
Income for these residents is usually realised from farming. Adrian herself claims to be a farmer proficient in the ways of planting and reaping provision and fruits. Making cassava bread and cassareep has also proven to be a major income-earning activity there, with orders coming from as far as Georgetown and even overseas, she boasted.
However, no Amerindian Village would be the same without the handicraft of its people taking a focal point. Tibisiri works (craft made from straw), in particular, have been a source of additional income, Adrian said, adding that the village of Moraikobai has formulated its own women’s group, dubbed the Self Skilled Association, which has been working together for a number of years to produce unique craftwork.
The group, headed by Adrian, made the tedious journey out of Moraikobai last Friday and is expected to remain at the Sophia Exhibition Site in hope of selling most, if not all of their craft. Among the craft on exhibition are purses, place mats, doilies and jewel boxes. A percentage of the money raised from the sale will go towards further developing the group and by extension the village, Adrian said.
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