Village Focus: Weldaad

Apr 21, 2024 Features / Columnists, News, Waterfalls Magazine

The scenic backlands of Weldaad.

By Anasa Williams

Waterfalls Magazine – Just a few villages away on the western end of the Ancient County of Berbice, there’s a small community that thrives on Agriculture and is mostly quiet, due to constant police presence. Weldaad, West Coast Berbice (WCB) is a village that originates from Plantation Weldaad which was founded when the areas that make up Guyana were Dutch colonies.

The community comprises of mixed ethnicities and everyone lives in harmony. A total population, of approximately 250-300 people, the villagers are friendly and one can always expect a warm greeting or friendly smile as they trek through this countryside spectacle.

Weldaad Post Office.

Most of the community’s population lives up the center strip of the community on either side of the road. The lands leading to the back dam are taken up by mostly cattle rearing, poultry and rice farming. The northern side, headed to the sea, caters to cash crop farming.

The residents here are camera shy, however when this publication visited on a Tuesday afternoon, there were a few persons out and about. There were shirtless youngsters playing a game of football in the empty lot between the pump station and a few houses. They all appeared to be of school aged but scattered as soon as they saw the camera.

Weldaad Police Station.

There were a few small shops in the area and persons could be seen traversing them to get in some last-minute shopping for the following day. The community sports a police station, a post office, a pump station and a Magistrate’s Court.

Due to the dry season, most of the ranchers have to bring their cattle out of the backlands and closer to home to look for different pastures as the common grazing grounds had either little or no vegetation to support the animals.

Weldaad Magistrate’s Court

“We were lucky to catch up with a rice farmer who gave us a quick walk through of the process it takes to get the land ready and so on…” Richard (only name given) said.

He noted that since they are currently out of crop, the main focus was getting the land ready before the rains and the water is released from the reservoir.

A section of the village.

“Right now, we just ploughing up and then when the water comes in, we will drag. Sometimes we have to plough two times if the first one chips the earth too big. Once that’s out of the way, it is a smooth ride into shying the paddy and then fertilizing a few weeks later.”

Next to the Magistrate’s Court is one of the shops called Wonda’s and folks can always stop by here to get a hot breakfast. The meal options include egg ball, channa and chicken burgers, along with local and carbonated beverages.

The Weldaad Police Station is directly opposite and since it is currently under construction, only one of the buildings in the compound is currently being utilized at the moment.

The beach trail.

When this publication visited this community a few years ago, it was bustling with life since most of the population was of school aged. Fast forward a few years, they have all become adults and have either moved away from the area or became a part of the Joint Services.

In addition to the other basic amenities, the village has its own beach, a good place for recreation. So whenever you’re tired of city life, take a break and head up to Weldaad Berbice. See you next week when we’ll bring you another village focus…maybe it will be yours!!!

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Anasa Williams, Berbice, community, court, police, Weldaad

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