Although there were signs that tensions were diminishing in the city, many businesses remained tightly shut yesterday even after the Guyana Elections Commission (Gecom) announced preliminary results of the general and regional elections.
The delay of the results has seen a significant slowdown of business in the city and many parents opted to keep their children away from schools.
When Stabroek News visited Regent Street yesterday around 11AM, before the announcement of preliminary results that signalled a win by APNU+AFC, it appeared to be moving to normalcy again as people were busying themselves with shopping and selling. However, by 1PM, after the announcement, grills were seen being lowered and doors were being shut.
Regent Plaza, Regent Multiplex Mall, the City Mall, Kirpalanis and M. Phagoo and Sons General Store were some of the major businesses which were closed.
A Regent Street business owner told Stabroek News that he was forced to close his store early because the day was moving slowly and few people were shopping. “This is how it has been for the last three days… I’m hoping that everything pass by Monday,” he stated.
Water Street, on the other hand, was a ghost town as the doors of businesses like Ravina’s, Giftland OfficeMax, Singers and N&S Mattai were closed by 2:30PM and store workers were seen hurrying along pavements to bus parks and the Stabroek Market.
Stabroek Market was the only commercial spot that was buzzing with life in the city. The market was crammed with shoppers as normal and some of people were seen dancing in front of market stalls after hearing the results of the elections.
‘Slow sales’
In sharp contrast, vendors at the Bourda Market complained bitterly about “slow sales” since elections day on Monday. They stated that the market, which is usually filled with customers and vendors, has been deserted since Tuesday.
“It normally have a lot of people and vendor in the market but people are afraid of what the results will be and who gon be the next government,” one vendor stated.
A woman indicated that everyone was waiting for the declaration of the next government for things to get back normal. “I can’t wait for my life to get back to normal. Things tense right now and I’m hoping that by the weekend things would get back to normal and people would shop,” she said.
Nigel George, a fruit vendor, told Stabroek News that a lot of the vendors were fearful and chose not to sell because “the small change” they would receive at the end of the day is not worth their lives. “This market is the biggest and now it looks like a funeral,” he stated.
APNU+AFC and Gecom have been imploring citizens to maintain calm and patience as they await the declaration of the final results. Elections in Guyana have in the past been marred by serious post-election violence.
