With just two days to go before Christmas, vendors at various markets in Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam) are lamenting the fact that sales are very slow, and according to many, it could be the worst they have experienced in years. A walk around the Anna Regina Market area revealed that there were more window shoppers than buyers.
Empty isles at the Anna Regina Market
Interviews conducted with several vendors revealed that business was very slow and many persons are only buying what they need for the season, as opposed to buying extra. Many businesses reported a significant drop in sales as compared to last year. One fruit vendor, when asked to describe the flow, said that things are “very slow”, however, the vendor was optimistic that the last two days before Christmas will see a turnaround.
Clothes vendor Roy Singh said he noticed that persons are buying what they really need as opposed to extra: “This is really depressing, no sales, you sit all day, one, two person coming, they not buying anything much. The market is like a ghost area: just sellers, no shoppers.”
Another vendor related related that the situation is frightening and is driving fear into those who made investments in the season.
As to the reason for the situation, many blamed the decline in the rice industry, which they believe has really contributed to a drop in the region’s economy.
Meanwhile a stop at the various supermarkets on the Coast revealed that there has been a high influx of persons shopping. Most of their baskets were filled with groceries as opposed to confectionaries or goodies.
A drive along the various moneygrams and Western Union locations revealed long lines.
“This season is very black for me, I am here to collect some money my sister send from the US, my husband made huge investment in his rice land and cannot get his money yet, so I had to ask my relatives to send me a raise” a consumer related. Like her there were many others in the lines to uplift money sent by overseas relatives.
