‘We’re just looking to the future’

Despite weeks of public scepticism about whether Jamaicans would return to support vendors at Crab Circle, the reopening of the popular Kingston food joint on Thursday saw a sizeable turnout of patrons indulging in the offerings.

Abigail ‘Abbi’ Logan, one of the operators at Crab Circle who sells corn, crabs and soup, was not left disheartened.

She was one of the first vendors setting up at the spot on Thursday, hours ahead of the official reopening ceremony at 4 p.m.

At 3:30 p.m., Logan showed The Gleaner her nearly finished pots of food, explaining that the majority of her loyal clientèle had showed up to support her business.

“I wasn’t disappointed or in doubt of the crowd, or [at least] my crowd,” she said, adding that her expectations were more than met.

She said that the group of operators has become more united, and that the camaraderie has improved to the point where they have developed an online messaging group to have dialogue on issues.

Logan further stated that the operators at the Heroes Circle-based food spot agreed that, if there were matters which needed further redress, they would take them to the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC).

“The brand-new Heroes Circle ... [will not] entail anything that was in the past anymore. So, whether it is corruption, whether it is bad mind, whatever it is, ... that’s in the past. We’re just looking to the future,” Logan said.

In October, the establishment was ordered closed by the Kingston and St Andrew Public Health Department after a viral video emerged showing a vendor relieving herself at her food station.

This resulted in the vendors having to attend mandatory training sessions regarding public safety and food preparation, which were facilitated by HEART/NSTA Trust.

More recently, sanitary conveniences were installed at the location. The operators will be responsible for their daily cleaning under supervision of the KSAMC, which will undertake weekly general maintenance.

Kingston Mayor Delroy Williams had declared that the vendor seen in the viral video, Alice Waugh, would not be allowed to return to the location to operate and that her food handler’s permit would be revoked, as she did not attend the training sessions.

But, as the festivities got under way on Thursday, many patrons, as well as the operators, confirmed seeing Waugh passing by in a motor vehicle.

As Logan spoke with The Gleaner, passers-by protested that Waugh should be allowed to return to operate at Crab Circle.

“We want back Alice!” and “bring back Alice!” were some of the sentiments shouted.

Permanently stained

However, for some, the location has been permanently stained with a lingering bad reputation that the operators were unsanitary.

“Nah buy from the sh*tty circle,” one passer-by shouted.

“Right now, Crab Circle is a joke. It’s a place of business, but it’s actually a joke because people make fun [of us]. As you can hear, [it is] every second,” Logan explained.

But this was no deterrent for her and the other vendors. She said that, if the vendors did not return strong-willed, thick skinned and with an improvement in their customer service to fight to regain the public’s trust and restore the location’s reputation, they would not survive.

“I think I’ll be okay,” she added, expressing hope that the negativity would soon subside.

“After two months, we glad we out again and we only hope that the customers dem put back some trust in us and start come back,” said Claudette ‘Babsy’ Reid, a second-generation operator, as she stood at her daughter’s stall.

Randy Bucktoe, who identified himself as a public health inspector when he spoke with The Gleaner, called for the assistance of the public to bring to light operators who are in breach of protocols and health regulations.

“What Alice did, it really impact Jamaica in a bad way. There’s a lot of stuff that is going on that is not healthy and, with people coming forward, ... that’s a great help, and we need more people like that to collaborate [with],” he said.

Mayor Williams stated that the KSAMC was “confident that Crab Circle will return to normal and beyond” and would become a “story of success”.

He stated that the municipal corporation was not in support of the closure of small businesses, as they were a part of the economy of Kingston as they generate employment and foster development.

“We will do everything in the law to ensure that businesses flourish and that small business operators have the opportunity to grow their business,” he said.

Williams expressed the view that Jamaicans were “Christian at heart” and that “they believe that, when you fall, ... you get up and you rise and you push on”.

As such, Williams declared that Crab Circle had “gotten up” and was “pushing on”.

asha.wilks@gleanerjm.com