D2 provided the most accurate assessment and answer to DJ. My village was a major route to Suriname with items going back and forth.
At one point in time, farmers were smuggling boatloads of Rice to Suriname. They would bring back banned food items buy the boatload. I also remember vast amounts of car tires also being smuggled in from Suriname.
Top police officials in Berbice benefited by the monies paid to them for playing a blind eye to the smuggling trade.
Youths made fast money unloading the boats. Many of them made the equivalent of a weeks pay in one day.
Those were interesting times. It created a small group of wealthy folks. Our very own Chief used to travel to GT to purchase items for resale at the Skeldon Market. He made an honest living.