By Michelle Joseph- Shopkeepers in the Agricola village are increasingly perturbed by the frequent establishment of Chinese supermarkets within a mile’s radius, whether in neighbouring Eccles or McDoom Village. For generations, villages have maintained a unique culture where residents regularly patronise their local neighborhood shops. This tradition, with shopkeepers serving the needs of their communities, has been a cornerstone of village life for more than a century.
However, with the advent of supermarkets, wholesalers, and cash-and-carry stores, village shops have experienced a significant decline in sales, losing customers to larger, more modern shopping facilities.
While the emergence of supermarkets and shopping malls offers a modern-day convenience that many appreciate, village shopkeepers provide a different, more personal experience. In the village, residents often know their shopkeepers well, having attended the same schools and churches, played together as children, and formed lifelong bonds that contribute to the social fabric of the community.
Rumours are circulating that a new Chinese supermarket will soon be erected on the Agricola Main Road, less than a mile from one that opened just last year on McDoom Public Road. This prospect has caused concern among Agricola’s shopkeepers, who voiced their apprehensions to Village Voice News.
While they emphasise that they have no issue with the Chinese themselves or Chinese businesses in general, their primary concern is the potential loss of customers and further decline in sales. Additionally, there is growing curiosity and concern about how these Chinese businesses are able to establish themselves so rapidly, leading some to question whether there is preferential treatment for Chinese over Guyanese citizens.
Through conversations with Village Voice, it became clear that there is significant anxiety among the shopkeepers. They expressed uncertainty about their future and questioned, “What can we do, and who are the relevant authorities we can contact?”
While acknowledging that, in a free country, one cannot legally prevent others from starting a business, they are pleading for attention to be paid to village shops. They argue that the experience of shopkeeping, with its personal touch, should be preserved.
One issue raised was the practice of buying groceries on credit, a common feature of village shops that fosters trust and community. This is something not typically offered by Chinese supermarkets. The shopkeepers believe that by saving the local shops, the essence of the entire village could be preserved.
Agricola village needs its shops. While they recognise the rapidly changing landscape of a developing country, they wish to maintain some aspects of village life. The plea is simple: Save the shops! Save the villages!
