By Michel Outridge
Osafo Bowman used to work with people where he drove and sold bottled water for a living and after some time, he realized he would be better off owning his own small business.
With that thought in mind, the young man said he started to save little by little until he acquired enough to purchase a pressure washer and other essentials needed for the wash bay business.
The father of two told the Pepperpot Magazine that dreams can become reality with hard work and dedication and people should have the mindset to go after their dreams.
Today, Bowman is the owner of Vendetta 6 Boss Wash Bay which is located at Public Road, Boerasirie, East Bank Essequibo.
The business was opened four years ago and he added that business is not booming but it is flowing a bit and vehicle owners would stop by to have their vehicles washed and cleaned at his place.
shop at Boerasirie, East Bank Essequibo
(Carl Croker photos)
The 21-year-old said, “This business is a one-day-at-a-time kind of business, can’t rush nothing and everything does work out eventually and we live nice around here because most people do work and we don’t have limers and troublemakers.”
Meanwhile, Bowman’s mother, Cindy Goodridge has a striving plantain, sweet potato, and cassava chips business at her small roadside stand which is manned by her employee, Otisha London.
However, when the Pepperpot Magazine visited, Goodridge was not well and was resting and her employee opted to speak on her behalf.
London is tasked with frying the chips, waiting for it to cool off before packing and sealing it before it goes on sale at a stand right in front of the house.
In the yard, Goodridge has a small shop that has cold beverages and confectioneries for sale.
Right on the roadside at Boerasirie, East Bank Essequibo, Bruce Coelho, a resident, constructed a wooden structure that houses a barbershop.
He opened the small business about two weeks ago because he wanted to try something new and has invested in the Super Max Barber Shop.
Coelho has been self-employed for the past seven years and is also into mining and farming.
“I do plant strictly plantains on a large scale and that takes time to reap and when I do I sell it to wholesalers at Parika and Hubu and in the meantime I have other things to do to supplement my income and would go in the bush and do some gold mining and when I am out here I do barbering,” he said.
Being multi-talented has worked in his favor where is versed in many trades and can do other jobs to support his household.
Coelho related that his barbering business is working out well so far because he has managed to build a clientele and people passing by would stop to utilize the services since it is at a roadside spot.
“I had some formal training in barbering from Kevin’s Reflections and I was able to grasp a lot after which was put into practice and today I am a barber that can do any haircuts for both men and women,” he said.
He related that women can come with their design from the salon and he can give them the cut they are looking for plus shape up, style and line-up.
Coelho is married with no children and is hoping to have a successful business in preparation for the children he will have.
At 27 years old he has tried his hand at most jobs is thankful that he can open his own business and at a roadside location where no fans are needed because it is so breezy and opens from 09:00hrs to 21:00hrs daily.
Coelho added that most people that reside in Boerasirie village are clerical workers in both offices and at private companies.
He noted that they utilize the services of the nearby villages for schools, health center and other public services.
“As you can see we have good infrastructure such as roads, drainage, water, electricity and telephone service but what is lacking is a play park and an area has been identified and works are ongoing by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure for such,” he said.
Coelho told the Pepperpot Magazine that the community has residents of mixed race and they live in harmony.
