TRUCKERS plying the Mabura/Kurupukari/Lethem Trail have a place to stop where they can relax, have a cold beverage, something to munch on and even take a bath and use the washroom facilities at Prosville, Wismar, Linden.

The brightly painted, newly opened shop sits at the side of the trail just off Prosville Village and it is at a convenient location where the trail starts to the interior.

This shop, which has adequate seating accommodation just in front of the place, is ideal for weary truckers and others to take a rest and re-charge for the journey.

The shop is managed by Toriano Jefferd, who opened the business a week and a half ago and so far, the response has been good.

The 48-year-old told the Pepperpot Magazine that the shop has every little thing from groceries to cold beverages and snacks and it is a Truck Rest Stop where trucks are parked to be serviced, truckers can use the washroom facilities and even take a bath, free of charge.

The father of three stated that there is no potable water supply yet, but he would buy a black tank of water for $4,000 just to ensure that people who visit can use clean, running water.

“I applied for the plot behind the shop so I am hoping I can get it, because I want to extend the washroom facilities to serve customers, free of charge; truckers must have a place to visit and be able to be comfortable,” he said.

The washroom facilities will be outfitted with a shed and seating accommodation especially for truckers and others to visit.

Jefferd added that he plans to have the place fenced and secured, but in time and his prices are reasonable and pocket-friendly since he is providing a reliable service to customers.

The up-and-coming shop owner
Meanwhile, in Prosville Village itself, single mother, Sheena Martindale will be opening her small shop which was recently constructed and will do so when she is able to stock the shelves.

The mother of three told the Pepperpot Magazine that she has been living in the village for the past four years and she is a stay-at-home mom, who will be earning from home soon when she opens her small business.

The 35-year-old noted that life is fair once you have a job and she is trying to be empowered the same way, but doesn’t want to work with people and invested her savings in a small shop which is in front of her house.

“Life here is quiet and it is a really nice hilltop place to live and my life will be better when I open my shop selling groceries, because I will be earning and working right from my home,” she said.

Martindale started her own small business in the form of a shop and is manning that business while tending to household chores and children.

She is originally from Essequibo but left there since she was a teenager and lived in the city most of her life, then she was allocated a plot of land in Prosville and she relocated after constructing a concrete flat house which sits on a hill.

The homemaker was at the time entertaining some friends from the neighbourhood after she found an old compact disc which had Christmas songs and even though it was a bit too early to usher in the festive season, it felt right just then.

Kelisa Jones, the shopkeeper
The mother of two, Kelisa Jones, has a grocery shop, attached to the lower flat of her two-storey house at Prosville Village.

The shop has two sections, a grocery and a hardware store which is her husband’s small business, while she has the grocery shop but when he is at work she manages both.

She has been in the community for the past nine years and decided to start a small business while being at home.

Jones is the wife of a policeman and on Sundays they would go on family outings thus, closing the business that day.

“Life here is quiet and peaceful and I like it here because the people in the community supports the business and we live nice,” she said.

Her house is located at the edge of the street and it is an ideal spot for a corner shop and hardware store.

Jones stated that potable water is yet to be delivered to the village and it is essential because they have to buy drinking water which is costly and they had preferred water over roads.