De meaning of ‘vending’ change

Dec 01, 2025 Dem Boys Seh, Features / Columnists

(Kaieteur News) – Dem Boys seh long, long ago when yuh talk ’bout a vendor, yuh mind used to picture a lil tray pon two sticks, or a rice bag spread neat-neat on de ground. Deh man or woman deh deh with a handful of mangoes, a bunch of bora, a few cigarettes, and a smile that could pass fuh customer service.

That was vending. Simplicity. Discipline. A hustle, yes,but a humble one. Dem Boys rememberin the 1970s one chap who had a carrier bike outside Demico House. In de carrier was a small glass case wid pholourie, dhal puri, and egg ball. De man used to sit down pon he bike like he is chairman of de board.

Within two hours he sell out clean-clean and ride home satisfied. He didn’t need nuff space. He didn’t block nobody driveway, nor build Rome in de middle of de pavement. That was vending then. But today? Lawd father. “Vending” turn big business. We got people setting up full bar and lounge under tent, with chair, table, and atmosphere. Next thing yuh know is waitress and happy hour. Some of dem got multi-million-dollar canter trucks converted into rolling kitchen stadiums. Stainless steel everything. More appliances than some restaurants. The only thing missing is the tax receipt.

Dem boys seh some pavement vendors now have more stock and tek up more space than 10 whole supermarket aisle. And when yuh squeeze by, is like yuh walking through a wholesale bond.

Yet every minute somebody hollering how “de illegal vending people need a chance.” Chance? Guyana is de only place where chance is a constitutional right. We giving out chance like sweetie. But wah we encouraging is pure lawlessness and chaos.

If everybody decide fuh do as dem please, we might as well rename de city “Stall-ketch-you-ketch.” Dem Boys seh order is order, and if we gon build a real country, we can’t have vending turning into urban colonization. Say what yuh want—cuss if yuh vex—Dem Boys gon keep talking it, because sometimes de truth does sell out faster than egg ball.

Talk half. Leff half.

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Change, customer service, Dem Boys Seh, vending, vendor

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