Joyce Tyrell tending her goods at Papine market. - Carlington WilmotON the average day, this pleasant woman can be seen smiling and waiting patiently for customers at the market. She is Joyce Tyrell, a vendor at the Papine Market.
Joyce has been selling in the market for 15 years. When THE STAR visited Joyce, she was busy shelling peas for sale the following day. She was very eager to share her market life experiences.
"I sell ground provisions , vegetables, fruits, some coconut oil, molasses and honey," she said.
She explained how she came to be in the business.
"I was working out, and the family I used to work with, migrate. Not seeing anything else to do, I started selling," she said.
For Joyce, the earlier days when she just started selling were better.
"It wasn't bad at first, but since redundancy, and more people start selling it has been bad," she said.
"It pays the bills, though. Also, some days I don't sell anything. Business not as vibrant as in the 80's and early 90's," she told THE STAR.
She speaks with pride when it comes to her customers.
"Most of my customers have migrated. Only a few are left. Sometimes I call out to people and they stop and buy. But that's about it. Fridays and Saturdays are my best days while Wednesdays are slow," she said.
She points to the spirit of unity that exists among the vendors at Papine Market that makes her job more enjoyable.
"The market is alright. We all cooperate to keep it clean. We don't wait on the ancillary staff to do it we do it ourselves sometimes," she said.
For Joyce, the worst time at the market is when the sales are not high.
"Some days we are here and don't sell a thing and all our food spoil and we have to find money to purchase new supplies for the following week," she said.
Joyce has plans for the new year which will see her offering more variety at her stall.
"I promised myself that for the new year I will sell some soap and other toiletries. But in terms of sugar and flour and other dry food I wont be selling those," she said.
