Every weekday hundreds and hundreds of persons stream out, heading for the city, returning in waves at night. “Yuh going town” or “Stelling?” is the query that all minibus operators have to answer, because for many the final destination is their jobs in Georgetown. In the mornings most – except those with queasy stomachs – go to the Vreed-en-Hoop stelling because it is faster. At nights though, all return via the Demerara Harbour Bridge in an hour-long commute to one of the largest housing areas in Guyana.

Tuschen is a village of internal migrants. From a little rural community about a decade ago, the New Tuschen Housing Scheme has drawn thousands from various parts of the country eager to fulfil their dream of a home of their own. Now there are thousands of homes in the Scheme ranging from the palatial to little shacks covered with plastic.

“It arite,” says a woman; “Everybody…..