-Lucrative fish cleaning business makes it easy for the preparation of a fish meal without the hassle of cleaning fish

By Jared Liddell
FISH cleaning is something that many individuals dislike doing, but luckily for us, there are persons who are there to do the job that we dislike, and it seems to be quite the lucrative business.

Speaking with a number of persons who are a part of the fish-cleaning business, they shed some light into what actually goes on in their daily operations and how they have been able to sustain themselves and create a separate sector for gainful employment just by doing the job many people dislike.

During an interview with fish cleaner, Glenn Eastman, he related to the Guyana Chronicle that he had been in the fish-cleaning business for the past three years and that the monies he has earned has helped him in sustaining himself and family. He explained how their operations work and said that they would charge customers by the pound to clean the fish and that that attributed to them being able to receive some level of substantial compensation for their work. He further stated that somedays were better than others in terms of earning because the business is dependent on the amount of fish the customers would have bought that day.

Eastman related that he makes a substantial amount of money every day, especially during the busy days like weekends and he said that even on the ‘slow’ business days he still manages to take home a decent amount of money.

“On a firing day, I would make like about a $10,000, sometimes more. During the week I might mek a $4000 to $5000. Monday to Wednesday is not really power day so we might go home with like a $4000, and well I get one child and I does maintain she from wah iz earn out here,” Eastman said.

Eastman further explained that at times, some persons seem to categorise them and forget that they are out there trying, every day, to make an honest dollar to have the opportunity to take care of themselves and their families.

“Some people don’t watch as we as hustlers, they does just watch at we like we’z thief and dem thing, cause when we roll up on certain people them does get scared, all like if I get me knife on me waist they does get scared and want disrespect you in a way. But I don’t dig nothing with it, I come out fah mek me honest living so iz try fah don’t leh da bother me.

I does come out at 4 o’clock on a morning and the Father does see I getting up early to make a honest hustle so I know the father does shine he light on me,” expressed Eastman.
Speaking with a second fish cleaner, Mark Gentle, he related that he has been in the business for over five years and that he has been able to see the benefits of it as he has been able to not only sustain himself but also his family of five. He said that from his experience sometimes it is a little difficult when he would go to work and have to return home with close to no money from that day’s work. He is always sure to save money in case of that eventuality.

“You gah cater for the rainy days, put up a lil thing in a lil stash if is a 2000 self so you could maintain if you come out and you aint make nothing you could mek a thousand at least and at least you could brace yaself,” Gentle said.

Gentle further related that he likes the idea of being in control of his own working terms. He said that it gives him a kind of peace to have to be his own boss and determine how he works, what time and at what pace.

When asked about his daily earnings, Gentle said, “Out here ain’t get limit, one morning sometimes I does work and mek $25,000 and them thing, Sometimes one customer order would pay you for the day.”

He went on to explain that when fish is in abundance, like during the Christmas holiday, he is able to make more than that, depending on the flow of customers.

The fish cleaners that were interviewed by the Guyana Chronicle gave the impression that they love what they do, not because it is a way to be your own boss, not because it is the only thing they can do, but because it is a lucrative business, an avenue that they have used and will continue to use as a way of sustaining themselves and their families.