FISH vendors at the Causeway Fishing Village in Portmore, St Catherine are still fuming over problems that plagued their operations, they said, and left many struggling to make ends meet last year.

However, they have expressed guarded optimism that their lot will improve in 2013, with the assistance of the authorities.

In a recent interview with the Jamaica Observer, the vendors reflected on the violent December 9 attack by gunmen on two of their colleagues.

In that incident, gunmen shot dead the two men in a brazen daylight attack at the village.

Just over a week later, on December 17, two more men were shot dead during a confrontation with the police at the fishing facility.

The Constabulary Communication Network reported then that one AK-47 rifle and nine rounds of .762 cartridges were recovered.

"Last year was a year filled with frustration; sales were low, nothing was happening," said Thelma Williams, one of several frustrated vendors.

The problems, she said, had reached a stage where vendors were running out of ideas as fewer customers were venturing to the village.

The location of the village, they added, was also a factor in their declining sales.

"Not even bus no run 'roun here," said Deboris Copeland.

She called on the authorities to engage in aggressive marketing of the facility to get more people interested in doing business there.

Corren Thomas, administrator of the village, said that since the concerns were raised, "officials have started a series of marketing activities to bring attention to the area".

Thomas added that there were also plans to host monthly customer appreciation events.

"We are aware that there is need for improvement and it is work in progress," said Thomas. "Already, officials at the complex have started discussions with a number of stakeholders to address some of the concerns."

She said she was aware of the vendors' plight, but urged them to use creative methods to attract more customers.