At least the vendors are happy
Sour World Cup qualifier has silver lining
Published:Friday | November 19, 2021 | 12:07 AMDaniel Wheeler/Staff Reporter
The return of fans to the National Stadium for Tuesday’s home World Cup qualifier against the United States was not only a welcome sight for those who were able to attend, but for the vendors who have not had an opportunity to sell their wares at the venue during events for more than a year.
A maximum of 5,000 were allowed to attend Tuesday’s game, marking the first time that the National Stadium accommodated patrons for an event since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. In total 4,100 watched Jamaica draw 1-1 with the Americans to start the second half of their campaign.
While the vendors were not allowed to go inside the stadium to sell because of COVID-19 protocols, they were permitted to be placed outside of the stadium to continue selling their goods and return to making a living.
One of those vendors included Denton James, who has been selling for more than four decades at the stadium. James is relieved to be able to resume selling soup again after the year’s hiatus removed his source of income.
“I feel good, because it is my livelihood,” James told The Gleaner. When asked about how the pandemic has affected his business, James said he is in a better position now, having been vaccinated.
APPRECIATIVE
For vendor Ann Marie Lewis, while appreciative of the fact that the match allowed her to continue to sell her wares in front of the stadium entrance, it has been a difficult road for her because of the long absence of events.
“It has hit me very hard. Because a lot of things have slowed down. Not a lot was going on, but you cannot give up; you have to try to make ends meet,” Lewis said.
To that end, Lewis is hoping that the pilot programme is a success, so similar opportunities can become more regular occurrences.
“We want it to be more open, more facilities for the vendors, so that they can be able to sell something,” Lewis said. “Not necessarily for me, but for the ones inside, because it may be restricted for them.”
However, even with the limitations, Lewis believes that the event signified a small step for the country, with the hope of having fans return in the new year when the Reggae Boyz face Mexico in late Janauary.