Dear Editor,
On Tuesday I visited big market, Stabroek Market, in Georgetown to purchase food items. Based on my financial situation, like many Guyanese, I cannot shop at large supermarkets and as such have to shop at the municipal markets where food items are marginally cheaper. It was mandatory to wash my hands with water and a cake of soap that was being used by everyone venturing into the market. Now I know you may be disgusted by the use of one cake of soap by hundreds of person at the gate of the market, however, even more alarming is that after entering the very crowded market there was very little social distancing being practiced between vendors and shoppers. The market administration should provide liquid hand soap and also rotate the number of vendors operating, whilst limiting the number of shoppers allowed to enter at any one time.
On my way out of the cramped greens section located a stone’s throw away from the fish section my eyes landed on a basket of oranges, I asked the vendor “how the oranges going?”, he smirked and said “that is Mr. Orange?”, not indicating the price. I pressed for the price again and the vendor responded “2 for $500”. Shocked by the response and ashamed that I couldn’t afford oranges at that price, I didn’t even respond but bent my head and headed out of the market.
At this time of global crisis I call upon all to be kind to each other and not seek to profit from the situation and exploit the vulnerable.
Yours faithfully,
Marcus Perry
