For over a decade, vendor has served locals and tourists alike, adding flavour to Bartica’s tourism and community life

KNOWN by visitors and Guyanese alike as the gateway into the interior, the township of Bartica is home to some of the most diverse and community-driven businesses. With the recent completion of the yearly regatta, the region’s vibrant entrepreneurs have been in the spotlight. Although the area sees an influx of new businesses each year, there are still a number of vendors who make their mark all year round. Vendors like Govin Ram are constant fixtures in Bartica’s marketplace, and after more than a decade in the town, Govin has become part of the fabric of Bartica and the people who call it home.

Known by most people in Bartica as ‘Harry,’ Govin came to the community more than 13 years ago. “I came over here to sell and I ended up staying and doing vending here all the time for 13 years,” he said. Originally from Parika on the East Bank of Essequibo, Region Three, Govin has long called Bartica his home, and its busy roadside market his place of work. Speaking to Pepperpot Magazine about how work has been recently, he stated that business has been slower with the introduction of newer businesses. “The business was going nice, but now the business, when nobody comes and starts selling, it’s slow. Things are going nice still,” he shared.

The Bartica market, like any other in Guyana, ebbs and flows with the seasons, with people, and sometimes even the weather. But events like Bartica’s regatta bring an influx of people, including tourists and Guyanese alike. With tourists seeking to enjoy an authentic Guyanese holiday, they are always on the lookout for fresh vegetables, interesting Caribbean fruits and, perhaps most popular, water coconuts. As he shared, “People like water coconuts, especially the tourists; they look for water coconuts when the sun is hot. So I buy plenty and just chop it up and give it to them with a straw,” he said.

Sundays, for Govin, are a mix of business and leisure. With Bartica’s beach having a celebration almost every Sunday, Govin ensures that every once in a while, he heads down to enjoy the sand and sea. “By the half day, we don’t sell. We are out there on the beach, too,” he added. “So, we got to enjoy ourselves Sunday, too.” This is why the work leading up to Sunday matters so much. Govin’s week follows a strict schedule, with fruits coming in on Monday and being sold all the way up until Sunday when he has to buy goods again.

Govin knows the rhythm of the market better than most and can cater to the needs of his customers on a whim, being aware of what locals want and what tourists or visitors would look for. “Tomorrow, we are done with this load. Except tomorrow, by the midday, this load must be done. So, next half day, we are dressed up and go to the beach. So, everybody can enjoy themselves tomorrow,” he shared. Although he is not a hotel owner or restaurateur, Govin plays an important role in the region’s tourism landscape.

Although he has spent quite some time in Bartica, Govin says that most of his family still reside in Region Three. With the loss of his wife just three years ago and with all his children now adults, Govin says that most of his time is now spent in Bartica, and it may be where he retires. “My mistress died about three years ago, and I am 58 now. I have children and all of them are big now, working and have their own families,” he added. “So I does go back sometimes.” The fruit stand has become more than a source of income. For Govin, it’s a purpose and stability.

Although he loves making people happy with his vibrant, sweet fruits, vending is just one of the many jobs that Govin has done. “Before selling, I was a farmer in Parika. But that was kinda hard, and then for a piece of time I used to work in the bush. But so far, I like selling,” he said. Work as a fruit vendor is as simple as it is rewarding—meeting new people, with every day offering something new.

For Govin, financial wisdom means survival. He understands and is strict about the most basic principle of business: as a businessperson, you must reinvest in your business. “As a businessman, I know that I have to put money back into my business, my cart. That does not mean I do not go out to sport now and then, but I always have money in my pocket to say, well, this is going back to buy goods. You have got to keep a balance,” he said. This, he shared, is the secret to why his cart is always full and vibrant, constantly keeping the business going.

With over 13 years on the same strip, Harry has become a fixture to most Barticians, with some people buying fruits and vegetables daily and a few others buying wholesale every once in a while. However, as sustainable as vending is, it does come with some challenges. The shelf life and customer demand for some goods are among the main challenges for Govin. “Pepper is very hard, not too many buy pepper, and it spoils quick, so we will have to blend it and make pepper sauce,” he shared.

To Govin, this life is not just about selling fruit. It’s about legacy, independence, and pride in the hustle. A truly jovial man, Govin says that his advice to young people is to simply enjoy the simple things. Tasks as basic as putting together the fruits and vegetables on the cart daily give him a sense of fulfilment. So the next time you are in Bartica and in search of a cool water coconut, some fresh fruits, or just looking to hear a bit about Bartica, you could look for Harry’s Cart.