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A shopper; Sampar's Manager Judith Johnson; JUTC Deputy Managing Director Owen Smith; and vendors in Manchester
Thousands of Jamaicans swarmed supermarkets and wholesale establishments Friday afternoon to get supplies as the country prepared for the first of three weekend lockdowns.
In keeping with a directive from Prime Minister Andrew Holness, workplaces that do not provide essential services closed at noon.
Shoppers converged outside supermarkets across the island while others waited in queue to cash their items.
A shopper who spoke with Radio Jamaica News inside Sampars Cash and Carry in Cross Roads, St. Andrew, said she had no choice but to join the crowd because her usual shopping times would fall within curfew hours.
Sampar's Manager Judith Johnson said traffic inside the supermarket was higher than the usual month-end shopping.
"Even though we are open until 6:00 p.m., we still have the crowd in here," said told Radio Jamaica News early Friday afternoon.
JUTC affected
The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) said the company experienced a significant increase in the number people using its service after noon.
JUTC Deputy Managing Director Owen Smith said the company anticipated having more passengers and added more buses to boost operations.
However, he said its operations were slowed down by the increased traffic created by motorists rushing to stock up on supplies.
Manchester
Some vendors in the Mandeville market in Manchester have complained that their earnings will be affected by the early start of the curfew on Saturday.
The curfew will begin at noon.
A vendor who spoke with Radio Jamaica News said she will suffer losses if her goods are not sold by the 11 o'clock cut off time.
"It's a hard road for us because we nuh know weh tomorrow going be, half day weh we going do wid di rest a load weh wi have. So we wah fi ask di Prime Minister wah gwaan... We cyah come back a market tomorrow," she lamented.
Another vendor said Friday's sales were low. But while he is skeptical, he is hoping things will pick up Saturday.
"Come out early and come get unuh orange and get unuh food cau' you know seh by 11 o'clock we affi lockdown. So just come out early. Put on unuh mask and do di right thing," he urged shoppers.