ALTERNATIVE Mini Mart is a store that has all locally manufactured products on sale and most items made right here in Guyana can be sourced even down to powered nutmeg.

Esther Baird was the lone employee at the time and she seemed to have things under control since it is not a high-traffic area.

The 21-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that the store is open from 08:30 hours to 16:30 hours from Mondays to Saturdays and they provide a reliable service with quality products.

She related that they promote all local products and the owner, Kevin DeJonge, who is a businessman and has a private school in McKenzie, Linden also produces his own coconut oil, which is also on the shelves on the mini-mart.

Baird stated that she once worked at the private school before she was relocated to the mini-mart and so far, she is enjoying the interaction with customers and likes to meet new people.

She is from Coomaka Mines and would commute daily for work but doesn’t mind.

“I feel empowered having a job and I want to encourage our young people to become gainfully employed to have a real purpose in life,” she said.

Alternative Mini Mart has on sale a wide range of products from meats to sausages to powered goods as well, all sauces, seasonings and all locally made products which are pocket-friendly.

Ryan’s Meat Centre
When craving a well-cured and seasoned pickled pork or beef to add to the pot of vegetables the place to get it from is Ryan’s Meat Centre in Wismar, Linden.

It is a family-owned business which was handed down to Ryan Inniss, who manages the operation with his wife, Shenelly Inniss.

As a female butcher, Inniss is not fazed by the prospect of handling a sharp cutlass or cutting up a large chicken like she was when the team visited that day.

She said with practice she gained confidence in dealing with blades, sharp knives, and cutlasses when cutting meats for customers.

They sell a wide range of meats and meat products such as beef, chicken, pork, and chicken parts, such as salted fish and other food items.

Inniss told the Pepperpot Magazine that at times her husband would assist in the meat centre and when he is not, she would handle things.

His grandfather started the business and later handed down to her husband, who grew in the business so he was familiar with it from since she was a child.

The mother of four related that the locals would support the business and they are grateful and some days are busier than others.

They also have on sale all locally made products from spices to seasonings and they promote local products.

They sell their home-special pickled pork and beef, a favourite among Guyanese for cook-up and adding to vegetables for that hearty flavour.

The 33-year-old pointed out that she likes her job and is accustomed to dealing with meats and its storage and always gives customers what they want.

Evola Kennedy, the car parts and accessories dealer
As a mother of two, Evola Kennedy is self-employed and has her own small business.

The 46-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that her husband is a mechanic and she learned a lot from him and the idea was conceptualised after he began sending car parts and accessories for her to sell, when he migrated.

The business opened its doors in 2017 and, like the other small businesses above, it is located at Wismar Municipal Market. The establishment sells engines, transmissions, AC compressors, alternators and other parts for vehicles.

Kennedy would place the order via her spouse and he would ship in parts for vehicles for customers.

She explained that they have in stock used and foreign used spares and also new accessories on the shelves in the store and since it is a seasonal business, things get a bit slow, but she is patient.

Being self-employed is a blessing because she used to be the owner of the Palm Tree Snackette at Burnham Drive, Wismar, Linden but wanted a change of job.

So far, things have been favorable for Kennedy, a people person and very friendly person with excellent communicative skills.