By Angelo Laurence, Freelance Writer
MANCHESTER:
WITH ONLY days left before Christmas, the towns avenues and shopping centres with their colourful decorations and flashing lights, have become almost like picturesque post cards. The stores in the shopping malls are well stocked, including those in the plazas that have sprung up during the year, with the latest to open to the public three weeks ago being Midwest Shopping Centre on Caledonia Road. If these stores are indicators of the times, then one would be tempted to dismiss any notion of hard economic times in the town as claimed by many.
Georgia Bent, a household helper form Newport and a mother of four, said on Saturday that she was only shopping for her children as there is not enough money to buy any gifts for her and her husband.
"I am glad it's Christmas time," she said "because the people are much nicer and this lifts my spirits".
She added that she could manage on her present income if it were not for the high utility bills.
Like a well rehearsed play, shoppers all complained of the high bills they are receiving from the Jamaica Public Service.
Christine Taylor, a clerk in a dress store said she is the mother of two boys and could easily support her family on her present income if the utility bills were not so "oppressive".
"You can believe that the children are in school and all we have is a small television a fridge and a small radio and my electricity bills are over $3,000 per month. "They are sending out mystery bills" which only they can understand claimed Miss Taylor.
Benjamin Thomnas of Fairbanks district also had similar sentiments claiming it cost him $1,300 and $3,000 deposit to have his electricity supply restored after it was disconnected for an overdue sum of $600.00. Christmas he said takes his mind off all the other hardships he has.
Operator of Fontana pharmacy, Brian Chang said the season looks bright although he does not expect consumer spending to exceed that of last year. Mr. Chang speaking from his Manchester Shopping Centre store said the bulk of this year's spending will be done within the last three days before Christmas.
A spokesman at the Singer appliance store in the James Plaza said consumers were buying appliances at about the same rate as last year. However this year he is seeing a much more informed and selective buyer. Singer he said has stepped up consumer after-sales service to meet the expectations of today's shoppers.
Stanley Motta stores' employees in the Midway Mall are also expecting that actual spending by consumers will pick up as the days before Christmas wind down. They too said that consumers coming to their store this year are more prudent in their spending.
In the meantime the streets of the town are giving testimony that Christmas is just around the corner with massive traffic jams and potential buyers flocking the plazas.
