There are still two full shopping days left before Christmas and even though we are in the year when "life haad out yah" became a national refrain, you wouldn't know it judging by the trove of shoppers crowding stores and supermarkets. Ground zero for the shopping frenzy in Belize City is Albert Street and that's where Keith Swift went this evening to ask that ageless question, 'how dih Christmas di come?' He got a mixed bag: for some "life is haad out yah," others are making do with they have, and there were the lucky few who were ready for Christmas day.
Shopper #1: It's not coming good right now. No money no deh fi spend. The little I have I'll have to twist it and turn it.
Shopper #2: Ih noh di go at all, things bad.
Shopper #3: Its not coming too good you know but you have to be satisfied because Santa Clause is not here. Santa Clause is fake. Daddy is Santa Clause.
Shopper #4: We just have to try mek it right now. You know things gaan up so have to just do your best.
Shopper #5: Boy I think this Christmas is not coming no way at all because its work I am coming from right now.
Shopper #6: I am trying to get ready for Christmas. I need to buy some shoes and some clothes for my children. In the north we had our cane field and it was burnt and we are not going to sell no cane so it's hard. I am still making a Christmas for the family.
Shopper #7: So far so good you know. I am already finished buying my gifts. I made sure I started early this year, like a month in advance because I hate waiting for last minute shopping.
Shopper #8: So far I am seeing everything brightly. Business is going
well and everything is going well so far.
Kid Shoppers: We gaan do a little shopping.
KS: You didn't buy anything for me?
Kid Shoppers: 'Cause we went to go buy our toys for Christmas.
Vendor: People are walking but they are not buying. Life haad out
yah brother. Years ago business used to be good but nowadays money is kind of scarce.
Leopold Silva, Venus Store
"This year Christmas hasn't been as previous years. You see a lot of people on Albert Street and if you look carefully, you don't see too many carrying bags as previous years. Yes a lot of people are walking, a lot of people are looking, and a lot of people are looking for where the prices are better. People are not buying as carelessly as years before or maybe that confidence, in other words, you get the impression that there's not as much money as previous years. It is a lot slower than previous years."
Most stores like Venus are opened from 8 am in the morning to 9 at night. That schedule will continue through to Christmas Eve which is Saturday.
