Kingston craft vendors hoping for better business in 2015...."You no see say craft is dead. Nothing not happening for us vendors and for the year 2015 we are hoping Government will do more to attract more tourists to downtown (Kingston)," added the craft vendor.

BY KIMMO MATTHEWS Observer staff reporter matthewsk@jamaicaobserver.com  Friday, January 02, 2015    

VENDORS who operate in the Kingston Craft Market are hoping that 2015 will bring about a change in fortune for their business, which they say is slowly dying.

The vendors told the Jamaica Observer that in addition to a decline in customers visiting the facility, located on Ocean Boulevard, they did not feel Government was doing enough to attract tourists to the craft market, which she said has been promoting Brand Jamaica.

"The year 2014 has ended and we are hoping that the New Year will bring about a change for us vendors," said Winston Graham, a 54-year-old Rastarafian who had a worried look on his face while speaking with the Observer.

"You no see say craft is dead. Nothing not happening for us vendors and for the year 2015 we are hoping Government will do more to attract more tourists to downtown (Kingston)," added the craft vendor.

"Things can't continue like this as 2014 was a very slow period for craft vendors," said 85-year-old vendor Ruby Toques, who has been operating at the craft market for more than 30 years.

"We are calling on the Government to speed up [development] plans to get the Kingston Harbour up and running so we can see more tourists coming to downtown [Kingston}," said Toques. more