The planned park-and-ride service for shoppers in Chaguanas may not materialise but empty lots along Ramsaran Street are being cleared for parking in anticipation of the rush of Christmas shoppers. President of the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce Richie Sookhai said a plan to allow shoppers to park at the Divali Nagar site and shuttle them to Chaguanas was not successful so far.
But the business community, in collaboration with the Chaguanas Borough Corporation and the Transport Ministry, was identifying vacant lots belonging to private citizens and the State along Ramsaran Street to be used as car parks. Sookhai said traffic congestion had eased significantly since police removed street vendors from the Chaguanas Main Road.
Sookhai said he had also asked business owners to make shopping in Chaguanas more attractive by providing better customer service and competitive prices. “We are inviting people to come and get great discounts on already discounted prices.”
Chaguanas mayor Gopaul Boodan said traffic wardens were out on the streets, even on weekends, to help deal with the traffic congestion. “We are ready for business,” Boodan said. “We are doing all we can to make shoppers comfortable, since this is what sustains the Chaguanas economy.” Boodan said Central Division police also had plans to deal with crime during the Christmas period.
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Surge yet to come
There was a medium but steady flow of shoppers moving in and out of stores on the Chaguanas Main Road on Monday. Store owners said the surge was yet to come. “There is always the last-minute rush in the final week before Christmas when the main street is so crowded you can hardly walk,” a store owner said. He said heavy rain during November hindered shoppers but as soon as the sun came out they appeared. People are buying everything: household items, curtains, decorations, toys.”
At Fair and Square shoppers were buying ready-made curtains, Christmas trees and decorations.
Couva expects good business
The Couva business community is also expecting shoppers to increase this year. But vice president of the Couva/Point Lisas Chamber of Commerce Ramchand Rajbal Maharaj said there were some challenges with parking for shoppers since the Couva carpark was now occupied by vendors. “We are working with the regional corporation to see how we can rectify the problem.”
