By Michel Outridge

MARGARET Rudolph, along with her husband, daughter and an employee, drive through Vriesland, West Bank Demerara with their canter truck to sell vegetables and fruits every Monday.

Rudolph would sit at the back of the canter truck to deal with sales while her husband is the driver.

They buy fruits and vegetables from Bourda and Stabroek Markets to re-sell and try to make a profit from this business venture.

The 62-year-old is from Sisters Village, also on the West Bank of Demerara and would begin selling from Patentia to Vriesland and a few other villages along the way.

Rudolph told the Pepperpot Magazine that they sell from Mondays to Wednesdays weekly and this has been their small business since 1977.

“I used to buy and sell greens with my mother before marriage and after that, I started doing it alone, then I made it a family business,” she said.

Rudolph related that she would wake up early and go by bus to the market to make the necessary purchases, then after the business grew and they acquired some money they bought a canter truck and began going to villages to sell.

However, Rudolph said she had to get help after she had an accident some time ago and injured her legs, so she got her daughter and a villager working with her.

The stay-at-home mom

Another villager, Alexandria Ramdhani called “Rena,” told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been living at Vriesland Village for the past 35 years and she, like many other housewives, would look forward to seeing the greens van.

They purchase enough to last a week and when the goods van comes, they would buy groceries.

Ramdhani is originally from Coverden, East Bank Demerara, but relocated many years ago to Vriesland.

The mother of six stated that three of her children reside with her and all have their own quarters; she has three grandchildren.

The shopkeeper

Just over the road another resident, Bibi Ghanny, who moved from Good Hope, East Coast Demerara with her three children, bought a house at Vriesland and decided to have her own small business — a shop.

Six years ago, she opened a small village shop selling every little thing as well as cold beverages for thirsty visitors, for which she is licensed.

The roadside shop has a shed and is by the canal, the perfect place for a quick beer or some peace and quiet time.

Ghanny said life is quiet and simple at Vriesland and she is doing her bit to earn and things are fair so far.

With one minor, Ghanny said she has time to focus on her business and working with herself is very satisfying.

The fish vendor

Dedo Foo is a fish vendor in Vriesland, West Bank Demerara, but due to the pandemic things on the business side have slowed a bit, as such, she is not selling presently.

The 52-year-old stated that she used to buy and sell fish from the Meadowbank wharf after waking up early to make the journey.

The mother of four added that she has two underage children and she is trying with them as is, because with schools out it has been difficult for everybody to cope with COVID-19.

She is residing in her father-in-law’s house and is also rearing some sheep to bring in an income to the home.

Foo has parked her fish cart for now and until she can re-start her small business, she will remain at home.