With just over 250 residents, Sisters stands as the most populated village on the Upper East Bank of Berbice. The village, which has two churches, a masjid, a police station, a post office and several shops is well known for its diversity and rich vegetation.
Mahase Outar, 59, cattle farmer and part-time watchman, who has lived in Sisters for over 30 years, said the village was packed with people of different races. “But we don’t get one problem. This village does live like family, it get one and two people who wayward, but most people does live okay,” he said.
“Back in the days things were very cheap. People was very good them time that, now we find am hard. We get good road now. We get lights but wah we say with food stuff concern it was very cheap back then. Me save me cow, save me cow and now we got to sell them to get money.”
And although he said, “The village okay how it deh”, he pointed to the need for the opening of a pasture. “Some people get rice land at the back and every time the cows a go into the people land and then them a bring police, we really need a pasture in here,” he said.
Outar still enjoys heading to the backlands to graze his animals and when he returns, he spends his day relaxing in his hammock.
Obediah Nicolas Christopher said he has been living “in and out” of the village for many years now, “just working and trying to make ends meet”.
Christopher said residents are friendly but “not too much of the interaction happening”. “It’s a very interesting and attractive village for tourists at least. The natural vegetation, the birds, it’s totally amazing in the afternoon,” he added.
He said the main means of employment in the village is farming, rice cultivation and construction.
He noted that people would mostly purchase their groceries in New Amsterdam but get their produce in the village since it was cheaper, “but somethings that are called for they would go out to the town area and get it.”
Christopher, who was wearing his grass-cutting gear, was among several residents who pointed out that the cost of living has gone up tremendously.
In 2017, Sisters made the headlines after the lifeless body of 13-year-old Leonard Archibald was discovered. Archibald had gone missing several days before his body was found. Police then discovered that the boy had been abducted, raped and murdered.
Subsequently two men were charged: Hilary Edwards the main accused and Christopher, both of whom resided in the village. Early last year, the case against Christopher was dismissed.
Addressing this, he said that since being released from remand, “the reactions have been mixed but there is no unfamiliar reaction that I have been expecting.”
Christopher, who spent almost one year on remand, said it was a first-time experience for him. “It was terrifying,” he added, “but I made it through, and I am here today.”
He had advice for people who believe they are wrongfully serving time. “Stay strong and hold on to what you say. If you say that you are innocent remember nobody should change that and judge you,” he stated.
Christopher also spoke highly of his family who supported him throughout the entire experience.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the young victim have since moved out of Sisters and now reside on the Corentyne.
Kenny Durant, also known as “Shabba”, a 25-year-old mason and a father of two young children, explained that over the years the village has developed a lot. “Them people in this place alright, you don’t find no bad behaviour and thing,” he said.
Durant also said that there is need for employment in the village. “Jobs slow in this area, man. Most young people involved in construction in this village. We really need a company or factory so people can work.”
He explained that he dropped out of school at the age of 15 and to him that is the norm for young people in the village. He believes that this is so because, “The jobs in this village you na really need subjects for, so I think the best thing for me was to drop out and the other youths thinking the same way.”
He said the authorities need to look into that and explain to the youths the need to complete high school at least. “Them ones that finish school does go out the village and look for work and end up moving out,” he noted.
Shivanie Sodoo moved into the village from Skeldon about two weeks ago. “It was kinda hard to move. I rather stay in Skeldon but the residents here seem okay,” she said.
She was shocked to discover that despite the good roads, water and electricity, there are no phone lines. Nevertheless, “so far for me the village seem fine,” she added.
Another resident, who was washing clothes in the rain, said she has lived in the village for her entire life. “This is a good and quiet village,” she said. “Most people gone on vacation or working, that’s why you na go see nuff people home today but in the afternoons the road does full with children and people passing.”
The woman said she was 54 years old, but was too shy to give her name or have her photo taken. She shared that she enjoys living in the village and could not process the idea of ever moving away. “Me children them grow here and move out and they want me to go live with them but me na move out. This is me home,” she stressed.
