VENDORS LOOK FORWARD TO COOL DOWN

Vendors of the Maracas Bay community are hoping that fair weather and road conditions would prevail for the Ash Wednesday cool down next week. Despite unsafe conditions on the North Coast Road because of recent landslides, the vendors are looking forward to the large crowds. “That is the time of the year, when we make the most money, it must be, we don’t make any money all through the year, sometimes we are busy,” said Peter Jaganauth of Mom’s Bake and Shark. This came in light of a threat made by Senior Supt Waldron Bishop, who had said earlier that he was not sure the annual celebration would take place this year due to the landslides.

From the evidence on the road, there had been at least two landslides in the last week, and potential hazardous areas remain, even though some citizens may brave the dangerous road to participate in the cool down. The residents maintain that the weather has been good, and they are hoping to see a big crowd. The vendors said that sales are a little slow, and had other grievances, with TIDCO. There was also a notice near to the parking lot from the Ministry of Tourism stating that the required complement of lifeguards may not be available at the beaches on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays until further notice. Vilma Guerra, a bake and shark vendor, said that business had been slow and she had no other means of survival. “That is when foreigners and business come here — Ash Wednesday. I am not surprised if they do stop the Ash Wednesday cool down,” she commented.