SHELDON Hope has a roadside shop, a small wooden structure that sits on a dam in Princetown Village, but it is his place of business.

The 36-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that he needed a job to earn and could not find any and decided to construct the stand and began selling home-made pepper sauce, achars, barks of trees with healing properties, packaged snacks, cold drinks, greens, fruits and market bags among other things local.

The father of two stated that he would buy the home-made shopping bags in the quantity of 50 and it would be sold out, because it is good quality and people prefer to use that for shopping instead of donning black plastic bags which are harsh to the environment.

Hope explained that he established his small business four years ago and it was a very smaller shop and over time he did some extensions. The small business owner would also make home-made chicken foot and plantain chips and package them to sell, as well.

Even though he is originally from Suriname, he married a local woman and began living here and has settled comfortably in Princetown Village among the locals. “I like this village because as you can see we have no beef here and the people of all races; mostly Indians and Blacks live near each other and we are all good,” he said.

Hope grew up in Guyana and was also schooled here and Guyana became his home since he was very young and saw it most fitting to remain here where he is comfortable to live and earn. He pointed out that Princeton Village is a quiet place to reside, but like anywhere else one must work to make an honest living to be comfortable.

Hope has his small shop deep in the village, in the very last street where there is a wooden bridge which connects two villages and many people would traverse to get from one point to another.

Working with yourself is a blessing
Meanwhile, on the main public road, Shamal Ali has a roadside stall vending greens and vegetables. The 55-year-old explained that he had to find work after operations at the sugar estate folded, many years ago and he gathered his finances and began selling greens and fruits.

Some are from his backyard and he would buy from his fellow villagers, so it is garden-fresh produce, wholesome foods. The father of one has some ground provisions, celery, squash, bora, boulanger, peppers, bananas, calaloo, cucumbers, pak choi, tomatoes, star apple, papaya, carrots among some green seasonings.

Ali’s stand is strategically and conveniently located right in front of his house on the public road and when he is finished selling for the day, he would pack up and take it inside. “I had nothing to do for work and started this small business last year, and here I am trying with it despite things being a bit slow here due to the pandemic and job cuts,” he said.

Ali has seating accommodation at his stand and he would have a frequent visitor, another villager, Linden Stuart, who would go to have a chat after taking out his cows to graze. “He does come every day and we does gaff until he goes to take home his cows in the afternoon till up to 15:00hrs and it is good to have some company,” he said.

Stuart is a cattle farmer and a friend, who does not fail to visit Ali. Ali reported that when Stuart leaves he would tie up his hammock and relax a bit, lying down until he is ready to call it a day.

The place is very breezy and it is a good spot for business and relaxation at the same time. “I am working from right in front of my house and don’t have to go anywhere or work with people, so that is comforting and what else can I ask for,” he said.

Ali would come out and unpack the produce at around 08:00hrs and sell up until 17:00hrs daily before going home. He related that Princetown is a nice village to live, but it is far-flung and jobs are not readily available in the community, so they have to come up with means to earn.