Meet Buddy, Fidel, Seon, Neal and Squash!

THERE is never a dull moment at Buddy’s workshop in Middle Road, La Penitence! The ‘fellas’ who work there are some of the most charming, professional, and funny characters that someone in ‘vehicle distress’ can ever come across.

The atmosphere at the workshop, located seven houses from the La Penitence Public Road, is one of hard work, competence, fun, excitement, jokes, and lots of jokes!

There’s Yagdeo Geer, who is well-known as ‘Buddy’ and the owner of the workshop which is called Scrap Auto Works. Buddy carries himself quite professionally. At first glance, he comes across as very serious and simply into the work at hand. But spend a few hours at the workshop and your opinion may very well change! Buddy is just as funny and has as much fun on the job like everyone else.

He started as a mechanic at just 15 years old with his uncle who ran the business at the time. “This was always a workshop. I born and reached this shop here and I kept carrying on the name,” he told the Pepperpot Magazine, while he was in the middle of working on someone’s vehicle.

“Since I know myself, I am in the workshop. I love my job,” he expressed. The workshop caters for all types of mechanical and electrical work, and may even do some bodywork occasionally. Next, there’s Fidel Seemangal who is just as seasoned on the job as Buddy. Fidel ran a workshop in Evans Street, Charlestown before joining forces with Buddy as an auto electrician. About 18 years on the job, Fidel trained under another seasoned mechanic and worked with him for five years before starting his own business.

There’s nothing that Fidel puts his hands on that would not give you optimum service. On one occasion, for instance, one of his customers was told by another mechanic that the alarm in her vehicle was no longer working and that she needed to install a new one. Fidel, though, checked with the old one and fixed it. That alarm continued to work just fine more than five years after.

“You wouldn’t regret the work that we do; that’s how good we are. You’re welcome to come and try us,” Fidel expressed.

Neal Browne, also known as ‘Rasta Man’, is another employee at the workshop who was a customer there, but who enjoyed his lime there so much to the point that he started helping out Buddy whenever he was short on staff. Fourteen years later, and he is still very much on the job.

‘Rasta Man’ comes across as the most decent, mannerly individual who is serious about his job. He is often teased by the rest of the guys about his locks and how they fall and move when he is grooving to Indian music. But ‘Rasta Man’ takes his teasing gracefully, smiles, and agrees with all of his accusers.

Then there’s Seon Persaud, perhaps the youngest and coolest worker who is big on teasing and ‘rubbing’ others. Though he’s only been on the job for a relatively short time, Seon is very efficient with his work. In fact, his superiors, Buddy and Fidel, often trust him with some of the most technical and important tasks.
Seon probably ‘rubs’ down his colleagues more than anyone else, followed of course by Fidel.
Lastly, there’s Ernest Shivrattan called ‘Squash.’ It is not clear why he was given that nickname, but Squash gets the most teasing. He doesn’t ever seem to mind, however. He’s always laughing when he gets ‘rubbed’ down and never seems to take anything personally. In fact, they all seem to ignore what seems to be the most hostile, blunt, and embarrassing remarks thrown at them.
In short, life at the workshop seems like more fun than work!