Several city businesses and vendors are dissatisfied with the recent back to school sales, saying Chinese businesses and talks of general elections have had a major effect on profits.

Devon McCartney, a shoe vendor who operates in the Shoppers’ Arcade, said yesterday although back to school sales were “alright,” he is convinced that persons were holding back because of talks of general elections.

“People holding back because of the elections and thing. Is not like them nah got money, dem got. But people smart, you know…? Same thing happen for Christmas. Plus, we got the Chinese… they don’t pay tax, they don’t bless (contribute) nothing, from food to clothes they selling… next thing them opening is a rice factory. Guyanese people like buy cheap stuff and them buy the expensive ones online, so the struggle is real man. Dem boys in parliament living large and we scraping pots…,” McCartney said.

Robert Chand, a pavement vendor who sells stationery, said yesterday that the New Year’s back to school sales are always poor due to the holiday season. Asked how this year’s sales were compared to last year’s, he replied, “You for real? I don’t know what to say.

The Chinese mashing up things, man… too much mack (inferior) things them selling. Guyanese people need to support one another.

Then ‘daddy’ talk about election and got everybody stashing them money… I punishing, budday. I didn’t mek no money…,” he lamented.

A Regent Street businessman, Brian Shah, who sells backpacks and clothing in large quantities, said yesterday that he was sickened at the back to school sales, while also accusing the Chinese stores of dominating the market with “cheap stuff,” which he blamed for major losses to many businessmen like himself.

“Business not like before. Everybody knows that. Since the Chinese take over Regent and Robb (streets) with them cheap stuff, we, the Guyanese businessmen, losing. We can’t afford to keep our staff. Guyanese businessmen bank their money. We help build this country. But the Chinese change their money to US [and] send it to back to China. We have to pay rent and one set of taxes. We fighting but how long more can we…?” Shah asked.

The manager of the Discount Store on Regent Street, Ridwan Khan, said sales were not too bad but indicated that it could have been better, while noting intense competition from both the local and foreign business entities.

A tailor, who asked not to be named, said he has been plying his trade at the Stabroek Market for more than 10 years and expectations for this back to school sales were shattered. “Back in the day,” he recalled, clients would usually await his arrival at his stall. However, this time around, he had to call clients to remind them that he was alive and still carrying out his trade.

“People use to line up for me to sew their children uniform. Now, I calling them and telling them that I still alive,” he said, chuckling.

“I don’t know what really going on. I don’t know if people stop sewing school uniforms or they buying ready made one. Is the election too, you know man. People don’t want to be bruks because they don’t know what will play out yet…. I still got to work, though, rent and bills to pay, children going to school…,” he added.

Sales during the recent Christmas season were also not satisfactory as several representatives of key businesses in Georgetown complained about the Chinese businesses dominating the market.

While some chose to accept their takings, others resorted to expanding their options by reducing wholesale price requirements and limiting incentive packages for workers.