Her eyes searched for customers, her patience immeasurable, as she glanced at the doorway of her small business.

But 27-year-old Nataliee Holness of Nain, St Elizabeth, knows it will get worse before there are better days. The closure of Alumina Partners of Jamaica Limited (Alpart) in the parish means fewer customers and reduced income for this self-employed woman.

With this harsh reality, she shared that she has had to employ cost-cutting strategies in order to ensure that her main source of income does not plunge into nothingness.

Holness is the bartender and shopkeeper at her establishment.

"Me have to buy fewer goods now that me customers not working. Before, me use to open from as early as 7 a.m. and go up to as late as 10 in the nights. But now that I don't have as many customers I open only when I have persons who want to buy," she said.

Not much to talk bout

Prior to the downturn in the local and international economy, which saw a reduced demand for bauxite internationally and the eventual demise of the industry, Holness said she never foresaw the day where each business day would be based on the hope that someone would buy even one drink.

"Mi nah lie, when Alpart did a run, money did a mek, but now there is not much to even talk bout. What I do now is to use less of everything in the shop and even at mi house," Holness explained.

"Less electricity, less water and buy less grocery for my household so I can save a little more because, as a single parent, it can be a bit stressful at times. I have to continue to live," she added.

This resilient businesswoman credits the support and under-standing of her family throughout this turbulent period.