Business

Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Business was slow in downtown Kingston on Thursday when The Gleaner visited the commercial district, and Friday's rains promised to continue putting a damper on buzzing trade that is the heartbeat of the capital.

The majority of stores in the area remained shuttered on Thursday, as the business zone - known for bustling crowds, discounted prices and streets awash with boisterous hawkers - was a shadow of itself.

But as fears about safety began to recede, shoppers were still involved in intriguing discussions about the gunfights between the security forces and thugs in Kingston.

On Thursday, there were more store attendants than customers, with employees milling around with little else to do but talk.

Worst slowdown ever

In Azan's Supercentre, located at South Parade, only two persons were on the hunt for houseware items when a Gleaner team was there.

Christopher Walker, store manager, said it would take some time before the shopping district would be back on its feet and at its best.

"It's the worst time that we have ever gone through. I'm trying to revive it to bring downtown back," he said.

While Walker expects weekend sales to be slow, he said downtown Kingston holds an iconic status in Jamaica's psyche. He was optimistic that the shopping district would regain its glory in another three or four months.

"I have been here for years and downtown is downtown. People come from all parts of the country to come here and shop, and people expect us to open, and we are trying our best," he said.

Joseph Matalon, president of the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, an umbrella group, acknowledged that some businesses remained closed out of concern about security. He said he was in the process of compiling data about the dollar damage of the business shutdown.

Jamaica Chamber of Commerce President Milton Samuda had initially estimated losses at $100 million, but that figure seems but a fraction of the money the merchandising zone would churn out had there been no lockdown.

"They are concerned about their staff and how they make their way to and from work," Matalon said of business people.

"We hope that tomorrow is better and we will see a better turnout tomorrow."

Wayney, the only shoe vendor with his wares out on South Parade on Thursday, concurred with Matalon, saying he was upbeat that sales would improve in the coming weeks.

"The excitement wha' you used to see a town, it a take some time before it get back. You nah go really see nobody down ya yet, but it a come," he said.

- mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com