Last minute shoppers flood markets
While Belize City is not expected to experience the worst hurricane force winds, the geography of the low lying old capital makes it especially vulnerable to rain and high tide, both of which accompany Dean in abundance. This afternoon, as city residents did their last minute shopping Ann-Marie Williams joined them at a popular discount supermarket.
Earlene Barrow
“Well you know how Belizeans stay, they wa move pan the appointed time.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“So as an older woman, you still move on the appointed time?”
Earlene Barrow
“Right!”
Ann-Marie Williams
“You don’t think the hurricane is coming though?”
Earlene Barrow
“Have no idea.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“What is it that you’ve purchased today?”
Earlene Barrow
“Food!”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Have you made any other preparations at home?”
Earlene Barrow
“No.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Do you know where you’re going if the hurricane should come?”
Earlene Barrow
“Right at home.”
Reeva Ellis
“I just run from work fih come come buy ca dey call me and tell me buy some stuff.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“You didn’t see the need to prepare over the weekend?”
Reeva Ellis
“No, not really.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“And you really think the hurricane is coming now?”
Reeva Ellis
“Well I sih everybody the buy. They call me an tell me seh buy, so I buy.”
Wayne Cadle
“We’re buying all kind ah things ina Publics; everything weh Publics have right now cause we’re preparing for hurricane.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Why did you wait until this last moment?”
Wayne Cadle
“Because dah they mek we got we pan the last moments. It look like the weather people they noh know weh the happen dah Belize, because they mek yoh deh pan the last moments, fih the spend out all yoh money.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Well they haven’t said the hurricane is actually coming to Belize City and you live in the city, so why are you spending your money as you say?”
Wayne Cadle
“Well I have to go with weh mih ma deal with, and yoh know they old folks have to deal with weh they deal with. We younger folks noh the worry but da the older folks.”
Florine Brackett
“When I buy I buy fu two weeks, because my husband get pay every two weeks.”
Ann-Marie Williams
“Have you made other preparations at home?”
Florine Brackett
“Yea, but I’m not going nowhere, I’ll stay in my house.”
Although a price freeze was declared by government, there were many reports of price gouging, particularly on food and construction items.
