By Michel Outridge

Dylon Granville is a resident of Sisters Village and is considered the village barber where the men of the community would gather to have their hair cut or beards trimmed.

The barbershop comprises a small wooden building with a shed with a wooden table and chairs to accommodate a game of dominoes were added as part of entertaining customers awaiting their turn to be groomed.

Granville stated that over time the place, which is located at Sisters Village Public Road, has become a ‘chill spot’ for locals.

“The men would come and gaff and be groomed and it has become a daily occurrence here, they are here,” he said.

The 48-year-old related that he purchased a freezer and started selling cold beverages as a side business.

However, he has been in the barbering since his youthful days he was always fascinated with hair designs and began practising until he became good enough to start his own small business.

He is familiar with most villagers especially the men and youths who visit his barbershop and is a well-known fellow.

“As the village barber customers would call and say they have to work or go out and require my services as early as 5:30hrs and I would accommodate them then go back to rest since it is all part of the job,” he said.

The father of two stated that normally he would open for 8:00hrs and close at 20:00hrs in keeping with the curfew.

He has been a resident of Sisters Village for the past 21 years but is originally from Stanleytown.

Granville explained that after the Wales Sugar Estate closed a few years ago mos,t people who depended heavily on the sugar industry had to leave the village for the very first time to seek employment in the city.

“If the estate didn’t close some of the men in this village would never have gone to town for work because they work at the estate and prefer to stay within the village,” he said.

These days, Granville is part of the Love Vibration Band and would be of service for birthdays and other events.

He used to be at the Garage in Aubrey Barker Road, South but as a result of the pandemic, all that has ceased.

“I does only take private work, that is, small gatherings such as birthdays where I would play my One-Man Band,” he said.

The Face Mask vendor

Next door to the barber is Ileasha Cadogan, she is the mother of four and a single parent.

She has a roadside stand selling washable fabric face masks during the day and in the afternoon she would sell bread, eggs, milk and cheese, sausage and hand sanitizers in different sizes in spray bottles.

The 34-year-old began selling face masks in April this year and it is a small business that is growing even though things are slow.

She explained that she would buy the face masks from a tailor in Berbice and he would leave it in the city for her to re-sell.

The washable fabric face masks come in various colours and it is washed and sanitised in a sealed plastic bag and ready to be used. She also has surgical masks as part of her offering at her stand.

“I was home and wanted a job so I started my own small business and it is something to earn as well as pass time,” she said.

Cadogan added that the small roadside business is convenient for her because she doesn’t have to leave home for work with other people and it is within a short distance from her home.

The small business owner stated that she would open from 7:30hrs and go up until 20:00hrs to accommodate working customers.

Her 16-year-old son would assist her with selling at the roadside stand and she is quite pleased with the help.