Crown Point warms to V'zuelan snow cone vendor

Aubrey Henderson, 33, arrived in TT just over two year ago from Venezuela with the primary goal of helping his family. His determined effort to acquire economic stability, which he was unable to attain in his country due to the socio-economic crisis, has not gone unnoticed and he has gained the affection of the people in Tobago.

Selling snow cone and cotton candy on a bicycle for the past year, Henderson has become Crown Point's favourite "amigo" as he pedals around in search of customers.

Henderson lives in Tobago with his parents and brother but his wife and children are stuck in Venezuela without passports.

Henderson said in Venezuela he worked as a Merchant Marine at PDVSA(Petroleum of Venezuela) in Zulia state, dealing with tugboats.

Henderson, like all Venezuelan refugees arriving in TT, grasped at any job opportunity to try and settle down quickly and help family back home.

"When I arrived in Tobago I worked in a supermarket helping in various areas, then I got a construction job where I could settle down a little better for eight months until the work was done and I was up in the air," Henderson recalled.

Desperate for employment as the bread-winner in his family, Henderson kept looking.

"A friend told me that a local cotton candy factory needed Venezuelan workers and I was able to enter. There, I met a person who suggested that I start the snow cone business and with some knowledge of welding, I could put together a special bicycle and thus start the new project.”

A year since launching the idea, Henderson said it has gone very well.

His customers can enjoy five flavours he offers daily: strawberry, pistachio, grape, blueberry and pineapple. He also has cotton candy for sale.

“I was able to buy a bicycle and put it together with the necessary equipment for the snow cone business and I decided to start my own work in which I have no bosses and in which I know many good people, for that I thank God. I owe Him my own well-being and that of my family.”

Although working the bustling Crown Point area frequented by locals and tourists heading to Store Bay, Pigeon Point or the Swallows Beach. Henderson said before the stay-at-home restrictions for covid19, he visited the Bon Accord Primary School from Monday to Friday, where his products are enjoyed.

"After classes are over I move to Canaan, Bon Accord and Crown Point with different days, while on Saturdays and Sundays I go to Swallows Beach where people already know me and I have a fixed clientèle."

Despite business slowing down considerably because of the pandemic, Henderson is staying positive.

"We are in difficult times, but it is something general, the few savings I had, I have spent these two months, but I have faith in God that TT will return to normal sooner than expected."

Henderson is looking forward to returning to work and moving closer to his goal of providing for and being reunited with his wife and children.