Protests by Beetham residents on Thursday had a deleterious effect on vendors' sales at the Central Market and also a ripple effect up the Caribbean chain of islands.
When the Sunday Guardian visited the market on Friday only the gate at the northern entrance was opened.
All the other gates were locked as a security precaution in the aftermath of Thursday morning's protest along the Beetham Highway and the Priority Bus Route (PBR) where debris was thrown and burned in the roadways, missiles thrown at motorists and some were attacked in traffic.
Many customers who used the Abattoir Road entrance from the Beetham Highway thought the market was closed.
Flora Holder, a provision vendor said “We came here 11.30 pm Thursday and we're still here and didn't get much sales because of that Beetham incident. Customers are afraid to come in the market and worry about their vehicles.
“I have to sleep in the market to watch my goods overnight. There are foot patrols but the lawless don't care about police, they will time the police when they pass and then rob you.”
She said crime cannot be stopped but the Beetham upheaval can be controlled if police patrol cars were strategically placed on the highway.
John Lock, another provision vendor said the violent disturbance in the Beetham affected sales dramatically as both local and foreign people were afraid to come to the market. He said Caricom vendors who usually came to do import and export trade did not come out to purchase their usual amount of produce.
Lock said to better regulate what occurred in the Beetham there must be more police highway patrols in the area and the bus route.
Deo Rodney, a clothes vendor said most of his customers came from the highway and did not know the market was open.