NADIRA’S Supermarket is the only large supermarket in the village and serves as a ‘one-stop’ shop, with everything under one roof from groceries to hardware. The establishment also employs eight persons, who are also villagers of Patentia West, West Bank Demerara.

Manager of the supermarket, Ruel Ramkishun told the Pepperpot Magazine that the business has been in existence for three years but they started from a small shop at a different location.

He stated that the family had the small shop at Third Street, Patentia West for 15 years before they were able to upgrade to the supermarket at the road front which has also become a meeting place for villagers.

“Having started from humble beginnings, from a small shop to this supermarket didn’t happen overnight but it included hard work and determination since it is a family business and we are aware of the struggles and our prices are unbeatable,” Ramkishun said.

He explained they have both full-time and part-time staff and they close from 13:00hrs for an hour or so to facilitate cleaning the place and restocking shelves.

Ramkishun added that villagers and even outsiders would visit the supermarket to make purchases.

“Business is fair in fact, ‘fair to cloudy with a few scattered showers’ and this kind of business is not fast but you have to live one day at a time,” he said.

Ramkishun related that Patentia West is a quiet, countryside village that is close-knit and a place where everybody knows each other.

“I born and grow in this village and we have seen some development because a few years ago we had street lights installed in this community for the very first time and that was good. Our roads are maintained from time to time and the drains and canals are cleared [periodically] so things are happening here,” Ramkishun said.