Dun Robin – A family farming community

Feb 12, 2023 News

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Village Focus…

By: Malisa Renada Playter Harry

Kaieteur News – Initially owned by a family, Dun Robin is a quaint community along the No.19 stretch of road, on the Corentyne highway. Though not largely populated, the residents of this village are gainfully employed in rice and livestock farming, as well as fishing. Mostly occupied by persons who are either closely related or distant relatives, Dun Robin is a closely knitted community with vast land space.

In the village, you can find women and children actively and equally involved in the farming activities alongside the men,who all expressed how much they love and enjoy what they do, despite the hard work and long hours required.

The Waterfalls visited this serene community recently and engaged with a few of the residents as they were beginning their day.

Nanda Saul, 44, who has been a cattle farmer for 30 years, said that her parents are cattle farmers and so she naturally became involved in it from an early age. She cheerfully expressed that she loves and enjoys it immensely, Saul said that “once you get use to it, it’s easy…”

Speaking briefly about some of her responsibilities, Nanda who is also a mother of five, said that she usually takes the cattle out to graze and she also rides a horse. Her motivation to continue doing what she does…it’s the love she has for the industry and the economic benefits it provides, she said.

Dun Robin is one of those communities where you will not find religious institutions, schools etc. but you are sure to find a businessman who invests in used and not working vehicles (scrap metal). Well known as “Rambo”, he is no stranger to the media as his business was unfortunately targeted in the past by armed bandits. He was not around when The Waterfalls visited, but his ever-expanding business cannot be missed, since it is located along the public road.

Dhanesh Amarsingh, 53, said the village is actually called “Dun Robin Farm” and that it is a “small village.”

Born and raised in the community, he told us that while he does not know where the name came from, the community “is like a family village.” He added that his relatives bought the piece of land from “Fraser dem who bin own this whole straight area here, and then dem start sell…is my father bought it.”

According to him, people are mostly involved in cattle, rice farming and are employed at a rice mill in the village that is owned by his cousin, Prem Karran.

Amarsingh who also does some farming and fishing himself said he also does other odd jobs but they are not enough for him, considering the rising cost of living. He added that while it has helped to sustain his family overtime, it is getting harder by the day and he hopes that he can be employed as an excavator operator within the region.

“I hope the government can help me, onto now me can’t get a job…”

He said on many occasions, he approached persons from the Neighbourhood Democratic Council (NDC) concerning employment but have not been successful thus far. He said they had conducted a meeting at the bus shed in the village and he had raised the issue of having a solar light where his house is at the back of the village, which was months ago Amarsingh said, but, he is yet to receive it.

“Dem seh dem wudda put a light at the street where my house deh and unto now it can’t put, it dark at the back there, people don’t come around here and look after we like how you come and check we out.”

Amarsingh said the NDC staff told him on many occasions that the village doesn’t exist but he said he is confused why they are being told that, when there are people living in the community. He believes that his village and the people are being neglected.

Another issue Amarsingh highlighted is that in the rice farming lands, they are faced with the issue of hundreds of “wild ducks” invading the rice land and “eating it out.” The issue he said which has cost farmers significantly was brought to the attention of Agricultural authorities, but they have not heard from anyone since.

While Amarsingh had many issues to highlight, he did however mention that the drainage system has improved a lot and noted that when there is heavy rainfall, the water recedes quickly through the drainage system, resulting in less flooding.

Dun Robin Farm may be small but it is a community that is filled with hardworking, down to earth people, making an honest living and coexisting in peace, love and harmony.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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• Dun Robin, Dun Robin Farm, Nanda Saul, small village, the Corentyne highway

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