Middle Quarters shrimp vendors look to rebound

Middle Quarters, a tiny village just outside of Black River, St Elizabeth, is famous for its peppered shrimp.

Before the pandemic, vendors raced to see how they could entice drivers and passers-by to purchase their sumptuous products. But due to the lockdown and other restrictions brought on by COVID-19, things slowed down drastically, making it harder for the vendors to make a profit and source shrimp.

Now that things have opened up a bit, they are hoping for brighter days. Princess Brown, a shrimp vendor for 40 years, told THE STAR that COVID-19 affected her business greatly. "Demand is slow now because shrimp get expensive. With the restrictions loosening, I just watch to see what will happen. I normally leave my house at 12 noon, and this is where demand is greater. Also, the curfew extended, so maybe better days are ahead," she said. Another vendor, Sonia Smith, says that she will "watch it to see what will happen".

Not much happening

"Not much happening and vehicles a pass and one and two a buy same way. We have to come out same way and hustle, because a we living," Smith said. "We need help with bathroom, sanitary station and water out here. We need something that if people should come, we can make them wash their hands and feel like they are in a clean environment."

Backkas, as he calls himself, who helps the vendors with their businesses, also called for improved facilities.

"COVID still a keep, so we have to obey di protocols. A woman them, so them need a place to wash their hands and sanitise themselves properly. When customers come, they have no bathroom to use. If the vendor them wah pee pee and customers see them do it, them nuh bada want the shrimp fi buy," he said.

Lashanna Loutin said she usually sourced sea shrimp from Rainforest Seafoods and river shrimp from fishermen, but said the delicacy is now expensive.

"But because a wi livelihood, we haffi just gwan with it and see if we can mek likkle profit out of it," she said. "Dust a kill wi out here and it nuh healthy for anybody, both vendor and customer. The road conditions bad and it a mash up people's cars." Floyd Green, member of parliament for St Elizabeth South West, said he is aware of the concerns.

"The concerns and frustration of the residents are understandable. The road was damaged as a result of a NWC (National Water Commission) project to lay a new six-inch pipeline from the Luana Well to New Holland. The NWC has selected a contractor to restore the road and work should commence at the end of July. The NWC pipeline project will significantly impact the provision of water to the area and solve some of the long-standing issues," Green said. "This is being complemented by a $600-million rural water project that is going to bring water to the communities of Middle Quarters, such as Lancewood, Ditingent, Bailey Ground. We have identified a spot for sanitation stations. and TPDCo (Tourism Product Development Company) is working well with the JSIF (Jamaica Social Investment Fund) and TEF (Tourism Enhancement Fund) to have them constructed this financial year."