PoS shoppers: Prices too high

Shoppers in Port of Spain today lamented the high price of produce. The capital city was a bee-hive of activity as shoppers hoped to find last-minute deals.

Heather Smith, of Belmont, intends to go all-out for Christmas, but she is doing so with major cut-backs in her spending.

She intends to buy less ingredients for her traditional dishes. Smith said the cost of vegetables was extremely high this year.

“I am looking around and comparing prices because I cannot afford to pick and buy just like that. Image a pound of tomatoes is $20 to $25 and dasheen is 'Mr Dasheen'. At some vendors you can get some deals, but you have to do a lot of walking around to get the best price.”

Joanne Williams said the same thing while her friend, Alicia said she believe the reason for the high cost in food prices was because of the bad flooding in October.

“I am buying what I need only because I have learnt to eat little and live longer. I feel it not only for us the customers but for the vendors as well because they are out here for long hours trying to get their goods sold.

"I have a friend who sells vegetables wholesale and they have the same complaint: People are not buying because the prices are too high.”

Charlotte Street vendor Heywood Sylvester said 2018 Christmas sales were the worse.