SEVERAL parents and guardians yesterday flocked downtown Kingston as they purchased various back-to-school items in a last-minute attempt to get their children ready for today’s start of the new school year.

Some of the parents who spoke with the Jamaica Observer, however, said they opted to do their shopping yesterday because of the large crowd downtown Kingston on Saturday.

One parent, Patricia Smith, said she went to the business district on Saturday but left without shopping after seeing the crowd. “I couldn’t manage that crowd,” said the single mother of four children, including a university student.

Smith, who was accompanied by all her children, was mainly purchasing textbooks and school shoes for her three young sons, all primary school students.

“I came to get $12,000 worth of text book for my son who is in Grade Five and got most of them,” she said, as they stood together mapping out their next move at Parade. “The price is high but you have to get them because you want the best for your children,” she added.

According to Smith, she was trying her best to get all their books this year as her children went to school without books last year because she did not have a job.

Shatawna Hyatt, who was seen on Beckford Street trying to negotiate a cheaper price for a HP bag that cost $4,000, also said the large crowd on Saturday was too much for her.

“I want a school bag for my 12-year-old son but me never want to come yesterday (Saturday) in a de rush,” she said as she scrutinised the colourful and pricey bags that were on display.

“Me caa tek off a dollar more,” said the vendor, who tried to convince Hyatt to buy a $4,000 bag, telling her that she must buy a strong bag that is going to last more than two weeks as schools required the children to carry more books these days.

Delroy Leachman, who travelled from Central Village in St Catherine, came out to buy a school shoes for his 10-year-old daughter, Janicia.

When asked about the cost of the item and whether or not he was getting any deals, Leachman said he was not that fortunate.

“The price dem wicked enuh, me nuh really get nuh deal cause me nuh see nobody in a de deal ting, so me jus afi go straight for it,” he said.

Meanwhile, the two major bookstores — Kingston Bookshop and Sangster’s Book Store — were opened yesterday to facilitate last minute shoppers in downtown Kingston.

At Kingston Bookshop, several people were seeing milling around in the store while others stood in a waiting to cash their items, which were mostly stationery.

Store manager, Ruel Matthie, said the shop was opened to give parents who did not get the opportunity to complete their shopping as a result of the crowd on Saturday, noting that the store saw record sales, based on the consistency and number of long lines on Saturday.

As for yesterday, he said business was going at a steady rate since they opened at 11:00 am and that most of the shoppers were people who had already visited and were there to complete their booklist.

Sangster’s on the other hand, which opened for the first time on Sunday since they started four year ago in downtown Kingston, saw periodic trickling in of shoppers.

Store manager Petal Roberts said, “People just come in one and two but it gives us a chance to do some work.”

In terms of prices, she said most people found the books a little more affordable this year since the increase was between 10 and 15 per cent, which in some cases amount to an additional $50 or $70. At the same time, she said parents were still challenged and as a result most bought only textbooks for the main subjects, including mathematics and English Language.

One father who was seeing buying primary textbooks for his daughter said the prices were basically what he expected, since the books would have increased over the previous year.