By Michel Outridge
GANESH Sanichara, called “Deo”, is a manual push-cart vendor, who was walking selling fruits and vegetables when the Pepperpot Magazine caught up with him.
He is from Ruby, East Bank Essequibo, a few villages away from Vergenoegen and would walk and sell in the community every day before returning home.
Sanichara’s journey on foot would start from Farm Village to Vergenoegen where he would go street by street to ensure nothing is left on his hands.
“Right now is the dry season and greens are expensive so buying it at the cost price is not a good idea because you will not benefit from a profit. People don’t want to pay the price, saying it too costly but I would give in because it is perishable and everybody got to live,” he explained.
The 52-year-old related that he used to work tirelessly on farms with people and as he got down in age he decided to work alone and made a wooden push cart. He intends to soon attach a bicycle to the cart so that he will be able to ride instead of walk because is very taxing on his health.
“Walking in the sun every day isn’t easy because I am exposed to the elements and some days I get home I can’t even eat. I am so tired and blistered from the heat and sunshine but it is a job,” he said.
The father of seven added that today, he feels better having his own small business because he doesn’t have to work with people and although it is hard work, he doesn’t mind at all.
He developed his small business about three years ago and is at peace with life.
The ‘ole-time’ Chinese Shop
The Pepperpot Magazine met Shirley Chung, a mild-mannered woman, who was relaxing in her hammock, which is in her shop at Old Road, Vergenoegen.
The mother of four said she lived all her life in the community and even got married in the same village, which is not quite a bother to her and life is alright.
The 60-year-old was waiting on customers and at the same time, chatting with a villager, who was having a cold beverage to beat the heat. It was a very hot day indeed.
“Nowadays, it is just me and my husband, the children are grown and have moved out and we have this shop. It was an ‘old-time’ Chinese Restaurant, which my husband inherited form his parents and we have tried to preserve the building,” she said.
Chung stated that they are selling groceries and beverages and the shop serves as a meeting spot for mainly the elders in the village.
The “Blacka”
The team also met Carmen Skeete, a pleasant woman, who was also relaxing in her hammock under her house. The house is the last structure on the dam leading to the “Blacka’ (the conservancy canal).
She has been at the location for the past 20 years and is originally from Bartica and is residing with her spouse and a son.
Skeete said life in the village is peaceful and good except when it rains there is flooding and is looking at ways to build-up her yard.
