‘Big Market’ vendors lament high cost-of-living, decline in business

May 23, 2026 News

---

(Kaieteur News) – Vendors across all sections of Stabroek Market in Georgetown say sales have sharply declined in recent years, with some reporting that they are earning only half of what they once did as rising prices and the increasing cost of living continue to affect shoppers’ spending.

Nichole Anderson, a grocery vendor of Buxton, East Coast Demerara (ECD), has been vending at the market for more than 30 years – since she was 16-years-old, and she couldn’t help but notice the negative effects that her business has been undergoing in recent years. For one thing, the prices for almost all of the items she sells have been raised and people are shopping less.

“Long time, you hardly could sit down; you were always busy. But now you can sit down, brace your head and do all kinds of things,” the mother of four shared, adding, “When the rain falls, people don’t come in here. We have to try by the grace of God.” She believes that small businesses need more support and pointed out how assistance is being given to vendors in other markets, with grants of about $100,000 being distributed in places such as Parika and elsewhere, while vendors at ‘Big Market’ continue to be overlooked.

Anderson also recalled the longstanding promises to construct a shed outside the northern end of the market where she vends, noting that despite years of assurances, nothing has been done, while markets at Mon Repos and Lusignan, ECD, have already received sheds. Her mother, 65-year-old Sildia Campbell, who vends right next to her, complained that the Chinese businesses have taken over everything. “They come and knock us out. But thank God for small mercies; we accept and bless.”

Andy Ketwaroo, also a grocery vendor who has been operating in the market for more than 20 years, told Kaieteur News that business has slowed significantly as the prices for goods continue to rise. He recalled that the market was once thriving, but noted that many shoppers are now reluctant to visit because of limited parking and fears of having their vehicles clamped. According to Ketwaroo, many customers prefer shopping at supermarkets where parking is available, even if prices are slightly higher.

Furthermore, he explained that he has stopped stocking items that customers no longer purchase because of the decline in business activity, describing the market as nearly “dead,” and saying only long-standing customers who have supported him for years continue to shop there regularly. As a father of three, he said all he can do is continue trying to survive despite the slow business conditions.

Ketwaroo also raised concerns about flooding in the market, claiming that despite millions of dollars being spent to paint and complete other work, conditions have worsened. He said drains should have been cleaned before the area was capped, adding that water now backs up into the market whenever it rains.

Marcy Ramlakhan of Hope, ECD, has been a clothes vendor for the past 20 years and has seen her business decline significantly over the past few years. “Sometimes you have to take money out your own pockets to pay staff. Sometimes we barely make it to pay staff and you have nothing for yourself,” she shared. She too believes that the situation is due in part to the many Chinese and Indian stores that are opening up and offering customers cheaper items.

Ramlakhan allows her staff to do work outside her business just so they can make ends meet. “It’s very hard but you can’t close down the business because you have bills to pay,” she said, noting that the country’s oil wealth is doing little to help citizens at the market stall level. “Before we didn’t have oil wealth but we were selling more, now we have oil wealth and selling less. Those foreigners with big businesses are killing the small man.”

Another vendor, Nella Gibbons, who has been operating in the market for 20 years selling handbags, said business has declined significantly, with sales slowing to the point where she is struggling to properly sustain her business. She noted that there are far fewer customers in the market and explained that she has had to make personal sacrifices to make ends meet.

Gibbons said she now cooks only once per day and eats simple meals such as bread and plantain in the evenings to reduce expenses. While she previously bought meals during the workday, she now prepares and carries her own food because she said meal in the market costs about $2,000 nowadays.

She also reflected on the days she travelled to Suriname and Panama to buy stocks, but noted that business conditions have changed so much that trips are no longer profitable as Chinese-owned stores now dominate the market with a wide range of goods. According to her, many consumers no longer have extra spending money and are only purchasing necessities, observing that in the past, customers would frequently buy new bags to match uniforms or keep up with changing styles and patterns, but that now most people wait until their bags are damaged before replacing them because of the high cost of living.

Gibbons said that rising fuel prices continue to drive up the cost of goods and suggested that authorities reduce gas prices. She recalled that in 2020, she could take $5,000 to purchase greens and fruits at the back of the market, but that is no longer possible because prices have increased so sharply. She also complained about “unfair competition” from Chinese-owned stores.

Satesh Ramessar of Canal Number Two, West Bank Demerara, has been vending provisions, fruits and vegetables for the past 15 years and noted that the market has not been showing any improvements over the past few years. He said most people are moving towards shopping at supermarkets because of parking and security issues at the market.

“From 2016 to now, business has been going downhill drastically. We are now doing half of the business we used to do then. So due to the pressure, we diverted and started other businesses. We do a little farming, some business at home and some wholesaling. Before, we solely depended on the market.”

Ramessar said it makes little sense to complain, but that finding alternative sources of income might work out better. “I think the (authorities) should do some more ground work and come and listen to the smaller guys. To me, they are just focusing on the companies and the bigger rich people. To me, the smaller guys are not having their voices heard.”

---

• cost-of-living, decline in business, Stabroek Market, vendors

---