Vendors hope for New Year’s Eve shopping boost

A number of vendors in downtown Kingston say last weekend's turnout at Grand Market night on Christmas Eve was below par, but they are cautiously optimistic that things will improve when buyers come to shop on New Year's Eve on Friday.

The vendors continue to feel the pinch of an economic fallout caused by the novel coronavirus due to several government-imposed lockdowns across the island since the first cases of the virus were announced in March 2020.

One vendor, who gave his name as Craig, said the low spending with the shopping seen during Grand Market was a result of the uncertainty with which persons have been living for the past two years.

"People no know if dem ago able fi go no weh inna di Christmas, so dem no inna di shopping spirits again from wah day... every minute is another set a lockdown from the year start. Mi only sell bout four pants and three man shirt di whole a [last] Friday. Nobody nah go no weh u seet mi general," said Craig, who vends on the popular Beckford Street.

It was a little better for Turbo Ras, who sells clothes on Orange Street.

"Well, it no so bad as mi did a expect it... mi figure say through wah gwan since year wid COVID-19 nuff people never did ago turn out. Mi never see most a my regular customers dem but mi get a few more new ones weh bring up the sales a likkle. Still not weh mi used to pon Grand Market night but mi affi give thanks given how times stay," said the vendor of six years.

However, there were some vendors who did not believe buyers would come out in their numbers despite a relaxation of the measures by the Government last month.

Joseph Hamilton's decision not to stock up on goods backfired early into Friday night.

"Mi never stock up pon my lil corner. Mi did just come out fi di sake of it because me a say it nah go be so hot. But mi nah lie, mi lose more than half a dozen sales because by time mi run go round di side fi items the customers dem cut pon mi iyah," he said.