With Christmas just four days away, business in the heart of the city is gradually ‘picking up steam,’ vendors in and around the Stabroek Market told News Source today.
Annette Pellew, who sells fruits on the outskirts of the Stabroek Market near to the bus park, was in high spirits. She told News Source that more and more people are coming to shop.
“Everybody looking very happy and everybody shopping, everything looking nice…things picking up, people buying,” Pellew said.
Another vendor, Shawn Hazel, said business is a ‘bit’ slow, when compared to Christmases gone by, but it is definitely picking up as Guyanese and visitors alike do their last-minute shopping.
“Business lil slow, you got to fight it, can’t stop it. People coming out now, they getting their lil salary and them thing. If the weekend pick-up, then we will get a good Christmas,” Hazel said.
He sells lettuce.
Sue Sertimer, who sells various Guyanese delicacies from cassava bread to cassareep at one of the side entrances to the Stabroek Market, said she remains hopeful.
“I sell cassava bread and quinches but I am asking if the sales could pick up because about two weeks back the sales de lil slow, so at least by now it picking up,” Sertimer said.
LaShauna Forde, a young vendor plying her trade inside of ‘Big Market’ as it is commonly called, said business is on the rise.
“The Christmas Season is going nice, the sales is good, and everything up and we gun mek it for Christmas. I here selling sausage, Colgate, coil, marshmallow, I have toilet paper, and I am feeling the vibes, it is going good,” she said.
Lisa Beaton, who sells a variety of seasonings, said sales could be much better but she remains hopeful. Another vendor, Vanessa Jones, said “it’s kind of tough.”
“It is not too bad but still, it is kind of lil tough but it is not too bad. We getting sales in and out but we have a blockage at the gate, so we are not getting customers to come in because the gate is completely blocked but other than that, it is not too bad,” Jones explained.
Dawn Chance, another vendor, echoed similar sentiments.
“It very bad. We ain’t doing no business and we need help. The road congested, nobody ain’t coming inside here,” she complained.
Chance told News Source now that Guyana is an oil producing nation, greater support should be given to vendors, and all other Guyanese.
“In each home, for this Christmas here, is entitled to money from the oil money, we need it. Is we own. And if we could have chased back Venezuela from taking over the Essequibo, by right we suppose to get money, by rights,” Chance said.
Bernadett Edwards, who sells a variety of household materials, said she is simply thankful for life, and the creator.
“I am doing well because I am alive and in the land of the living. And I am going good by God’s grace because God has promised to provide for us. If he cares for the lily and the sparrows, he is more than able to provide for us and feed us because we are more valuable than the sparrows,” Edwards said.
Edwards urged Guyanese not to forget the reason for the season.
“Business is going well as I said before God is good and he is providing for me. I am contended with whatever the lord provides. You know many persons if they sell a million dollar today, they want a million dollar tomorrow, but there are a lot of sellers on the road, and we ought to be grateful and thankful for whatever, the lord provides. And remember Jesus is the reason for the season. Many times we carried away with the curtains, and the pepper pot and the roast pork and the nice fancy chair but find a place in your heard so you can accommodate Jesus,” Edwards said.
Many of the vendors who spoke to News Source off camera complained that business was slow but like the others, they remain hopeful that better days are ahead.
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