Robert Lalah, Staff Reporter
JAMAICANS HAVE always been a laid-back bunch, but playing football only minutes before a hurricane hits is a bit much!
Well that was the activity of choice for a large gathering of residents of Collie Smith Drive in west Kingston early yesterday morning. Forget the doomsday predictions and the ominous consortium of rain clouds. Teeth-exposing smiles were as plentiful as drops of rain, as the football players frolicked on a rain-drenched playing field in the community.
But, they were not the only ones taking it easy yesterday. As a Gleaner news team travelled across the soggy capital city, we came across scores of persons roaming the streets in a rather nonchalant fashion. The streets were not flooded, but several rum bars and 'corner shops' were - with people, that is.
Streetside 'hustlers' lost no time in making the most of the impending hurricane. From batteries to kerosene lanterns, everything was going fast - and cheap!
VENDORS' CALL
"Dozen battery fi $100! Six candle fi $50!" were among the one-day deals.
The scanty streets did however highlight the large number of street people who were left to brave the elements all on their own. Across the Corporate Area, the homeless were seen huddled in the corners of barricaded buildings. They used everything they could to keep the rain out. However, by midday, when the rains really started to beat down on Kingston, there was not much hope of the homeless staying dry.
