— made possible by humble vendors during festive season

By Gabriella Chapman

AS we prepare to usher in the new year, most Guyanese homes celebrate/observe the festive season with lavish meals and tall drinks. We take time to acknowledge and appreciate those families and individuals who sacrifice their celebration time to make available the resources needed for the grand celebration.

The Guyana Chronicle took a holiday stroll through Robb Street, Georgetown, which is a 24-hour market. This stroll was to get an understanding of how vendors go about their livelihoods during the jolly time of the year.

Most vendors shared that their ‘livelihoods’ are made possible because they work 24/7.
“This is our way of survival and being able to provide for our families, so we have to make the sacrifice to ensure that we are able to see another day,” one woman said.

Another vendor said that providing foodstuff for the people of Guyana is all he knows to do. “This I been doing since I was small, with my parents. I been doing this all my life; just like my father was, I am a farmer and I enjoy coming out here every day to provide for other families. And while I am providing for other families, my family is being provided for as well,” he said.

Noting that it is tough sometimes, but the fact that the ultimate goal is to be able to provide for their families, the strength comes every day to carry out their tasks.
Trevor Fredericks, who took a break from his busy day to talk to us, said he has been selling at the Bourda Market square for the past 15 years. Like the other vendors, he said selling is his family’s only source of income, so the sacrifice has to be made to make ends meet.

Fredericks, however, said that he makes it work for his family since they all would come out at the stall to support him. “The burden is not on me alone, my wife and my children come out here and we all work together to create our livelihood,” he said.

He said it is hard to take a day off, because it is hard to determine when would be a good day to stay away from work. So he and his wife would take turns in holding the stall while the other one rests. And the children would assist as well.
“This is a norm for us and we have been doing it for years. My family is happy out here with me, so even though we can’t be at home sharing the pepperpot and the bread, we are here together as a family to provide what the other families need. And we are happy with that,” the man said.

His daughter and son who were there at that time, looked very happy as they helped their father to pack the fruits and vegetables. The bold little girl said she and her brother are satisfied with what their parents provide.

Other vendors were quite busy with the rush, but based on observations, it would appear that the joy of Christmas for them, is being flocked everyday with customers to support their livelihoods.