Market day

For the first time in nearly a month, the Cheapside Market resumed orderly operations under new measures aimed at enforcing social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19.

The sharp rise in the numbers of shoppers seeking fresh produce forced the market’s early closure Saturday. But the demand showed no sign of falling on Thursday.

Market-goers appeared to be returning to locally produced root crops like sweet potatoes and yam along with fruits traditionally high in vitamin C as well as foods known to boost immunity.

But some vendors said they’re concerned that without a heavy police presence on the most popular shopping days, the sprawling market could descend into last Saturday’s pandemonium that prompted the market’s closure.

“I expect a great rush on Friday and Saturday at the market. The changes won’t keep things in order because we as vendors will not be able to tell customers to form orderly lines,” longtime vendor Fizal Rahimatali told Barbados TODAY.

Fizal Rahimatali

“So some vendors might try, but I believe others will just allow people to shop in bunches and so we will see the same mess. Police officers will need to come down on Friday and Saturday because the people would respect the law much more than they respect us, vendors.”

Over the last few days, authorities instituted sweeping changes at the mostly informal public market. In an effort to maintain physical distancing, vendors have now been issued with clearly marked stall spaces, which are a minimum of 12 feet apart.

The hawkers were initially informed that they would be allowed to resume work on Wednesday. But after spending time and effort setting up, the vendors were abruptly ordered to pack their produce and leave.

Though disappointed, they were not deterred from arriving early on Thursday at Cheapside for the start of another working day.

New Government regulations allow people to conduct business at supermarkets, fish markets, hardware stores and banks for three hours on two specific days each week. But no mention has been made of Cheapside and other public markets.

In light of the restrictions on supermarkets, some vendors fear a rush on Saturday.

One vendor told Barbados TODAY: “I think people will feel compelled to abandon the alphabetical system. Some might be in privileged positions to get into the supermarkets but many people need to get their food and if they keep placing so many time limits, they will create chaos because not everybody will be able to get food.

“Why don’t they run the supermarkets with longer hours? If the Government doesn’t find better solutions, food will push people over the edge.”

Reminiscing on Wednesday’s mixup at the market, he added: “I don’t really think the authorities care about us, because yesterday they distributed the stall numbers, allowed us to set up and as soon as we did that, the police came and told us to close down. So there seems to be a lack of communication and care.”

Grenville Evelyn, another long-standing vendor, declared that he is “comfortable” with the changes, especially in light of the large crowds which turned up on Saturday.

He said: “Traffic has been reasonable especially for a day in the week and I think that this coming Saturday will be okay. I think the problem occurred because the supermarkets were closed and then re-opened.

Grenville Evelyn

“If you close down shopping for three weeks and people run out of food, that is when the panic starts and people come out in their numbers to purchase.”

Vendors also weighed in on tremendous losses which resulted from produce that spoiled during the shutdown.

Evelyn explained: “Vending is a continuous thing. We always have food to sell, so when there’s a situation where you have food but you can’t work, then the perishables would perish and that is always a problem.

“And with no finances coming, that becomes another issue. It all just depends on how much stock you had when the shutdown took place “

At a nearby stall, Rahimatali told Barbados TODAY that he initially feared similar challenges. He said he was eventually able to sell produce from his home. kareemsmith@barbadostoday.bb