Story and photos by Shabna Ullah
Blairmont, West Bank Berbice which is divided into four settlements is well known as a sugar producing area and for providing employment for hundreds of persons at the Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo) estate. The predominantly East Indian community is bounded by Shieldstown to the right and Ithaca – the last village in West Berbice – to the left.
Many residents have squatted on the government reserve on the western side of the first three settlements and government was expected to upgrade it into a housing scheme. There is also the Zorg-en-Hoop Scheme on the western side of No 4 Settlement, but the scheme has been established about three lots away from the public road.