Linstead vendors looking forward to grand market buzz
Published:Friday | December 23, 2022 | 1:41 AMAsha Wilks/Gleaner Writer
Expectations from Linstead Market vendors are high for the return of traditional grand market celebrations without the restrictions of the last two years.
Linstead is looking forward to joining other major tows across the island for the popular Christmas Eve shopping fare at which bargain hunters normally turn out in droves to make last-minute purchases.
Wayne Taylor, a vendor operating in the market for two decades, is eager to have a busy sales night.
“Me expect a better support [this year]. Me a look fi da one ya from long time,” he said in an interview with The Gleaner on Thursday.
Taylor said that with the restrictions lifted this year, he is anticipating that many people will be out to take advantage of the sales and to be a part of the generally festive atmosphere in the St Catherine town.
Vendors, he said, would often sleep overnight in their vehicles after securing their goods going up to Christmas Day instead of returning home.
“Apart from sales, me look for the fun of it and the enjoyment of Christmas. The carnival part of it is what me really like,” he added.
This year, Taylor’s Christmas wish is for love and happiness within the community and more peace islandwide.
In a similar fashion, Howard Carr told The Gleaner that with all the merriment of the season, especially during grand market, he is hoping that crime will not put a damper on the spirit of Christmas.
“A just last night we lose a youth from up the road deh, ... so we have to look out for certain things because we a do business,” he said in reference to the killing incident of Leon ‘Furry’ English, a handcart salesman who was killed early Thursday morning after arriving at his gate in a taxi.
English’s girlfriend, who was also inside the cab, was killed.
Carr stated that vendors usually have to grapple with criminals days before Christmas.
He wants to sell most – if not all – of his merchandise with bumper sales going into the new year.
George Nichol, a vendor of over 30 years who also sells in the Linstead Market, said that locals traditionally turn out at the last minute to purchase clothes and shoes after awaiting their last pay cheque.
As a result, he reasoned, grand market is usually jam-packed with shoppers and is the best time for vendors, who make most of their sales on that night into Christmas morning.
“Hopefully, we get a good grand market,” he said.
Although her plans to go abroad to get new stock for the Christmas were disrupted, Sharon Hyatt told The Gleaner that she has not been deterred and is still hoping for a good period of sales in the days ahead.