Self-employed residents seek alternate sources of income during pandemic

By Michel Outridge

Rendy Premsook is a resident of Crabwood Creek, Upper Corentyne, Berbice and he is a tour operator, who is registered with the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA) and is promoting tourism to both locals and foreigners.

His business is Rendy’s River Tours and they do jet boat tours to Orealla, Siparuta, Apoera, Suriname, Wonatobo Falls among other places along the Corentyne River.

But due to the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) his business is partly closed because the Corentyne River is not open as a result of the travel restrictions.

Premsook told the Pepperpot Magazine that he has been in the tourism business for the past six years.

He has been on the river for longer, however, as his father had a boat and they used to learn to drive it and over time he became versed then after some years he managed to acquire a boat of his own.

Premsook later acquired three more jet boats which are now used for his tour operation.

“I started off with one boat and today my tour is considered one of the best because our service is very reliable and safe,” he said.

The 32-year-old Crabwood Creek native stated now that he only does river trips that are necessary which is the Ministry of Social Protection pension distribution to Orealla, Siparuta and Apoera where he takes in staffers for that purpose.

Premsook disclosed that business is basically at a standstill so he has found another source of income, that is, farming.

He has a plot of land and is cultivating plantains and ground provisions which he sells.

The father of three added that he would like to have a meeting with the tourism representatives to highlight his need for duty-free concessions to get better equipment for his tour operation.

The Librarian of Crabwood Creek

Meanwhile, the Pepperpot Magazine met Chandrawattie Premsook who is attached to the Crabwood Creek National Library.

The village library re-opened on August 10, 2020 from 14:30hrs to 17:30hrs and has full sections of books for both adults and children.

“My grandmother was the village librarian for more than 50 years and she is still alive and active and that’s how I developed an interest in the library because as a child I used to go with her and I got to appreciate books,” she said.

The Crabwood Creek National Library has three staffers and Premsook has been there for the past three years, doing a job she loves but it was closed for some time due to the virus.

“The library is open for the general public and anyone can join and the books are borrowed freely but must be returned upon due date,” she said.

Premsook related that the library is a good place to spend time because reading broadens your scope as an individual and it teaches of many things you did not know about.

She, however, encourages young people to make more use of the facility since at times the youths get carried with technology and gadgets and forget about books.

The mother of two also manages a small business from her home she has a boutique and a stationery section where utility bills can be paid. She also sells stationery, does photocopying, sells sim cards, phone cards and cell phone accessories.

The business is housed on the lower flat of her house and she is often assisted by her husband, Romain Premsook, who is the village barber.

He has a small barbershop in front of the yard and operates daily.

This family is doing more than one job to make ends meet financially and they are determined to stay afloat.