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Struggling to 'craft' a living
Published: Saturday | February 26, 2011 3 Comments
Ocho Rios craft vendor 'Galala' wants the town to be cleaned up.
Ocho Rios craft vendor Susan says enough cruise-ship passengers are not visiting the craft market.- Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
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Ocho Rios craft vendors hurting as tourists avoid the market
OCHO RIOS, St Ann: FOR YEARS, vendors in the Ocho Rios Craft Market have struggled to make a living despite the thousands of visitors to the north coast resort town each month. But the vendors say business has been getting worse over the last four years, leaving many of them almost destitute.
"We (Ocho Rios) getting cruise ships up to four times for the week, sometimes two each day, and you still can't go home with US$100 in your pocket.
"Then what you working for? This only a turn you wutless," said a craft vendor who identified herself only as Susan.
"Edmund Bartlett (minister of tourism) nah do nothing fi we poor people and a we start craft vending," Susan charged.
She argued that while the opening of the Falmouth Port could be a problem for the Ocho Rios craft vendors, that is not a major concern for them.
"When the ship them come in, two bus loads of tourist not coming in here. By the time them tour Dolphin Cove, Mystic Mountain, Bamboo Beach and other places, a time for them to go back to the ship. The only time we benefit off the ship is when we pay we money to go sell on the pier.
"It is the hotel tourist them who save we life. Hotels like Couples, Sandals, Jamaica Grande and RIU that have craft days help we, and when the hotel guest them go to the mall, them will come in here," added Susan.
Business bad
She was supported by other craft vendors who agreed that for a long time, business has been bad in the Ocho Rios Craft Market.
The vendors said while they would be willing to move to an area where business could be better, there is nowhere for them to go.
"If we move from here, where would we go? We have to stay here because this is our place," said the popular Ocho Rios craft vendor known as 'Galala'.
He was quick to reject claims that the items on offer in the craft market are stale and similar.
"Everything in here develop and kind of new. You usually get one style of giraffe. You are getting different styles now," Galala said, as he added the finishing touches to a giraffe figurine.
clean-up needed
He argued that the craft market would enjoy better business if the authorities clean up Ocho Rios and make walking more pleasurable for visitors.
"Get all of the pimps, the drugs man dem and all of the idlers off main street, from Jamaica Grande gate right down to the ship pier, that is what them need to do," declared Galala.
Other vendors pointed to their well-stocked stalls with no buyers as they pleaded for assistance from the authorities.
"The minister of tourism must do something for people like us. All you hear him talk about is hoteliers and hotels and nothing about the small craft-trading people," said one obviously irate vendor.
Bartlett has repeatedly voiced his support for the craft vendors and has promised that they will not be left out of the plan to improve Jamaica's offerings to its visitors.
arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com
Published: Saturday | February 26, 2011 3 Comments
Ocho Rios craft vendor 'Galala' wants the town to be cleaned up.
Ocho Rios craft vendor Susan says enough cruise-ship passengers are not visiting the craft market.- Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
1 2 >
Ocho Rios craft vendors hurting as tourists avoid the market
OCHO RIOS, St Ann: FOR YEARS, vendors in the Ocho Rios Craft Market have struggled to make a living despite the thousands of visitors to the north coast resort town each month. But the vendors say business has been getting worse over the last four years, leaving many of them almost destitute.
"We (Ocho Rios) getting cruise ships up to four times for the week, sometimes two each day, and you still can't go home with US$100 in your pocket.
"Then what you working for? This only a turn you wutless," said a craft vendor who identified herself only as Susan.
"Edmund Bartlett (minister of tourism) nah do nothing fi we poor people and a we start craft vending," Susan charged.
She argued that while the opening of the Falmouth Port could be a problem for the Ocho Rios craft vendors, that is not a major concern for them.
"When the ship them come in, two bus loads of tourist not coming in here. By the time them tour Dolphin Cove, Mystic Mountain, Bamboo Beach and other places, a time for them to go back to the ship. The only time we benefit off the ship is when we pay we money to go sell on the pier.
"It is the hotel tourist them who save we life. Hotels like Couples, Sandals, Jamaica Grande and RIU that have craft days help we, and when the hotel guest them go to the mall, them will come in here," added Susan.
Business bad
She was supported by other craft vendors who agreed that for a long time, business has been bad in the Ocho Rios Craft Market.
The vendors said while they would be willing to move to an area where business could be better, there is nowhere for them to go.
"If we move from here, where would we go? We have to stay here because this is our place," said the popular Ocho Rios craft vendor known as 'Galala'.
He was quick to reject claims that the items on offer in the craft market are stale and similar.
"Everything in here develop and kind of new. You usually get one style of giraffe. You are getting different styles now," Galala said, as he added the finishing touches to a giraffe figurine.
clean-up needed
He argued that the craft market would enjoy better business if the authorities clean up Ocho Rios and make walking more pleasurable for visitors.
"Get all of the pimps, the drugs man dem and all of the idlers off main street, from Jamaica Grande gate right down to the ship pier, that is what them need to do," declared Galala.
Other vendors pointed to their well-stocked stalls with no buyers as they pleaded for assistance from the authorities.
"The minister of tourism must do something for people like us. All you hear him talk about is hoteliers and hotels and nothing about the small craft-trading people," said one obviously irate vendor.
Bartlett has repeatedly voiced his support for the craft vendors and has promised that they will not be left out of the plan to improve Jamaica's offerings to its visitors.
arthur.hall@gleanerjm.com
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