SHOPPERS AND vendors in Coronation Market, downtown Kingston, are expressing hope for the upcoming Christmas season, despite the turbulent economic times.

The market, which is one of the largest in the island, is normally the scene of a buzz of activity during the year. This activity is tripled during the holiday period as Jamaicans get supplies, such as sorrel, gungo peas and nutmeg to prepare traditional feasts associated with Christmas.

The Gleaner visited the area, which is marked by a web of tarpaulins, to find buyers engaged in the usual shopping.

Maria Beckford, a vendor, said the season had not been kind to her and her colleagues.

"Nutten na gwan right now, man. The season slow, slow. Right now the people dem na come out. You nuh see how the place look? You barely have anybody a come," she said.

She hopes that more people will go out to get produce as Christmas Day approaches.

vendor upbeat

A male vendor, who declined to give his name, was very upbeat as he assessed the season.

"Yeah, man! Everything cris, you kno. Everybody a gwan do dem ting and a hope seh the season work out. Everybody jus a do dem ting and a work in unity. Sum'n is there for everyone," he said.

He also said that Jamaicans should not be afraid of going to the heart of the city, as all persons were welcome.

"Town is a place where everybody can come - black, chiney and white," he said.

Some shoppers are looking forward to the Christmas season and shopping downtown, saying that they have no fear about travelling to the city.

regular rounds

Icilyn Clarke, a resident of Bull Bay, St Thomas, said that she was just making her regular rounds and while not overly excited about Christmas, said she would do most of her holiday shopping there.

"I'm a Christian, and the one thing I am excited about is my God keeping me alive and well. But this is just my normal shopping," she said.

Clarke, who was at a stall speaking to a friend, while looking at Irish potatoes, said she had no fear about going downtown.

She told The Gleaner that she would still be buying produce, such as sorrel and gungo peas, to make her traditional Christmas dinner.

Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

These little beauties watch the performances on stage at the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation's annual Municipal Christmas Tree-Lighting Ceremony at the St William Grant Park yesterday.

Hopeful Christmas!