MANY ITEMS with “Made in China” tags were left on racks for the duration of the just-ended Holetown Festival.
PATRONS passing through the stalls on the final day of the Holetown Festival.
“I prefer the self-made products – they’re special. They belong to the country, while all the other stuff I can buy anywhere,” Jilli said. “Yes, I prefer to see the craft. I like the pottery, the pictures and I also like that they do a lot for the children with the play area. But I see everybody from the youngest to the oldest can find something, which is good,” Osbourne added. On the lawns at Sunset Crest and the Chattel Village, there was a mixture of artisans who offered their paintings, wooden sculptures, hand-made leather want to be named said she was contemplating not returning. “I didn’t do it two years ago but I came back because I had some stock and I figure I could get it out . . . .
“I’ll wait and see how it goes tonight [Sunday], but if it does not improve, I will not come back next year because I don’t like wasting my time,” she added. (TG) can’t sell toys, but why not get a minibus? Or you could take a banana leaf and make a dolly that says ‘Barbados’, because the tourists want to see something that says ‘Barbados’,” she added.
Her comments were echoed by German visitors Elske Jilli and Verena Osbourne.
Vendors reported sales were not good.
“This ain’t a festival to speak about. This is just like a walk in the park . . . . I was just here contemplating taking up my things and leaving,” leather craftsman Binghi said.
He however did not criticise organisers but said sales were related to ongoing layoffs.
That was because both tourists and locals wanted to see authentic Barbadian works.
“Most of the things that sell in this festival are things that people make and are hand-crafted, and not things that you buy from China,” one vendor, who gave her name as Wendy, said.
She was speaking to the MIDWEEK NATION on Sunday on the final day of the festival, which many agreed had seen better days.
“I’m not saying you “People got children to send school tomorrow, so it doesn’t make sense coming down here to buy rubbish. Some of it is plastic, so people are spending where they get mileage,” he added.
Paul Yearwood, on the other hand, said vendors needed to change with the times if they wanted to see improvements. Rather than craft, which he said was not as requested, he sold Nike slides and clothing with African prints.
“I made a couple sales but it’s not the same as it was in the past, but that’s because a lot of changes are taking place in the community,” he said.
One vendor who did not
ARTISAN BINGHI (left) assisting customers who were intrigued by his leather shoes.
GERMAN VISITOR Elske Jilli commented on the number of products she said she could find anywhere.
and shoes, as well as toys, books and food.
PAUL YEARWOOD said he had to switch what he offered customers.
