By Ainsley Walters, Staff ReporterWHILE most downtown Kingston businesses yesterday complied with the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce's (JCC) shutdown of the commercial district, protesting what has been described as lawlessness and disorder on the capital's streets, Angel's Fashion kept its doors wide open.
A small but loud establishment at the corner of Harbour and Orange Streets, Angel's Fashion stood out yesterday not for its bright red and yellow walls but instead its young proprietor's decision to defy the JCC.
Anas Alkhateeb, the 23-year-old Jordanian-born businessman who operates the wholesale clothing store, said he kept his business open in support of the sidewalk vendors, who the JCC have accused of taking over some streets, creating havoc for street traffic.
"Most of the people who sell on the roads, they're our biggest customers," said Alkhateeb, from whom the street vendors purchase clothing at wholesale prices.
"I stay open to support the higglers," he added. "If you lock one day to take off the higglers that won't make a difference."
SPECIAL PLACES
What should be implemented, Alkhateeb said, is for "special places" to be set up for the sidewalk vendors to sell their goods.
"The higglers must sell," he said. "They want money too. If they take the higglers off the road, they must find some other place for them."
The young businessman said it was a family decision not to go ahead with the JCC's move, which resulted in almost total shutdown of Church, King, Orange and Princess Streets.
"All my family make meeting and say we must open," said Alkhateeb, whose family members have other stores in the area. "All our stores remain open whether we sell or not."
Businesses similar to Alkhateeb's have sprung up rapidly in downtown Kingston alongside the previously established merchants, who specialise in haberdashery items. The lure of retailing affordable clothing led to the flood of vendors looking to turn a quick profit.
"We and the higglers are together," said Alkhateeb, whose shop was opened approximately 10 months ago. "Other businesses say they affect them, not us. Higglers come and buy wholesale from us."
His line of business enjoys good sales probably four months in a year - early summer, back-to-school during late August and the traditional Christmas sales.
"After school time you have to wait until Christmas," he said.
Doing business in downtown Kingston "is alright," Alkhateeb said. But like most merchants, he smiled and bypassed comment on what is said to be a thriving 'protection' racket run by hoodlums in the area.
