Over 17 local businesses showcase products at Co-op Market Day

In commemoration of the global observance of International Cooperative Day, the Labour Ministry on Saturday hosted a Market Day, offering some 17 local businesses the opportunity to showcase and sell their products and services.
This event saw the participation of cooperative societies and businesses from Regions Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara), Four (Demerara-Mahaica), Six (East Berbice-Corentyne) and 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice) displaying a number of products including organic produce, plantains, eggs, fish and beef.
During the event hosted at the Labour Ministry in Brickdam, Labour Minister Joseph Hamilton noted that this is an opportunity for these small businesses to enhance their operations by improving their manufacturing and marketing processes.
He further encouraged attendees and Labour Ministry officials to offer them maximum support.
“What we’re attempting to do here is all in keeping with the Government’s programme of food security – to ensure that we can become a nation that is secure as it regards food. And we now have to pay attention to how we eat and what we eat,” Hamilton said.
Market Day participant and co-owner of Maaliyah’s Kitchen, Mark Singh explained that his business offers traditional snacks such as chicken foot, mithai, milk fudge and black cake.
“The business was birthed during [the] COVID-19 [pandemic] in 2020. It forced us to venture out to different things. We went around to supermarkets and shops and we noticed that the quality was not there. So, we decided to offer our packaging and have quality authentic snacks,” Singh said.
Meanwhile, Radhika Basdeo of Basdeo’s Dynasty, another Market Day participant, highlighted her products and encouraged interested individuals to visit her establishment in Enmore, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
“Basdeo’s Dynasty is an agro-processing establishment that manufactures and processes mango achar, pepper sauce, tamarind achar, salt fish, and plantain sour, among other spices,” Basdeo said.
Other companies featured during the Market Day activities included Leisa’s Hair & Beauty Products, selling handmade soaps and botanical body oils, and Jofa Products, offering pepper stew and sweet pepper jelly.