Despite a few challenges, entrepreneurs from across Guyana said this year, like any other, offered a major opportunity for their businesses, as they look forward to what is in place for the rest of the month. For Leomie Willis, a vendor from Mabaruma in Region 1, the Amerindian village is more than just a marketplace; she sees it as a vital avenue for her business. “I’ve been coming since 2017. Every year, I’m normally here. Coming from Region One (Barima-Waini), my purpose in being here has always been to sell and showcase our products, because we don’t have a market in Mabaruma. Every September, we come down here to showcase and do business,” she said.

Leomie explained that the work she and her team do is demanding, but the event provides an essential platform for their craft. “The work we do is very hard. Not all of it I can do myself, but I have skilled people working with me.” Although she would have liked to see the Amerindian village extended, Leomie said she is excited about the other business opportunities the month has to offer, adding: “We wish we had a few more days, but I understand that Main Street will have a few extra days, which will help even more.”

Sharon Stanton, a craftswoman from Leguan, Region Three, has been participating in exhibitions for over 20 years and continues to see the event as important to both her business and culture. Over the more than two decades she has been participating, Sharon noted that the event has grown significantly. “I’ve been an exhibitionist for over 20 years, since I was 29. The first time I worked at the Expo, it was just a few other vendors and exhibits. The next year, we got more exhibitions, and people started coming; it’s been picking up ever since,” she said. Sharon emphasised the importance of sharing Amerindian culture with the public, adding that events like the Amerindian village are a chance to highlight her culture and craft to Guyanese and tourists alike. (Guyana Chronicle)