By mid-morning yesterday, dozens of stall owners and shoppers were going about their respective business at Bourda Market in Georgetown. Many vendors were calling to customers in hopes of making a sale. “$200 a pack fuh the carrot! Please for a sale, nah?” one appealed, while others just stood behind their stands.
Many were seen with masks but some without or wearing them improperly, such as under their chins, although face masks are now mandatory for both vendors as well as anyone in a public space as part of measures that have been implemented to curb the spread of COVID-19.
Amesha Hardatt, who has been a vendor for 12 years, noted that it is a requirement for vendors to use face masks and that they can face fines of $5,000 if caught without one.
She added that most customers are playing their part and pointed out that some would walk away from a stand if the vendor is not wearing a mask.
Hardatt also said that a barricade is usually put in place at Robb and Alexander streets in order to manage the overcrowding of the market.
The woman said when the marketplace starts to get busy, a barricade is placed in order to control the buildup of the crowd.
Hardatt said the vendors usually alert the city constabulary to the growing crowd, since the buildup is usually hard to manage. Roshanna Dickson, another vendor, told this newspaper that many shoppers are shopping from the comfort of their vehicles so as to avoid crowds.
Dickson further said there are city constables who carry out routine checks daily to ensure that everyone is in the habit of adhering to the guidelines.
The woman, who also attested to the barricade that is usually placed to avoid a buildup in crowd, mentioned that she frequently reminds customers to use their face masks.
There is also a sink available outside the pharmacy at Robb and Alexander streets.
A stall owner, who gave his name as Anthony, highlighted markings in front of his stall that he uses to guide customers on where to stand.The businessman explained that the markings were placed there to ensure that his customers were adhering to physical distancing.
He noted that he plays his part by reminding a few customers who might have forgotten to fix their mask correctly to do so, even though some persons are not happy about doing it. He also frequently uses hand sanitizer and he noted that he is more than willing to offer to customers who are without and in immediate need of sanitizing.
Another vendor, who asked not to be named, explained that she sometimes faces challenges with customers who are not using their face masks correctly.
She said it does not discourage her from continuing to do her part in keeping herself and others safe.
She explained that she tries to practice physical distancing with customers as much as she can.It was observed that stalls were relatively close to each other but no overcrowding was seen while this newspaper visited, although some persons were seen gathered in groups.
Markets have been allowed to operate between the hours of 6 am and 5 pm under the COVID-19 measures. (Readawne Henery)
