FALMOUTH, Trelawny — As they tallied their earnings from the final Ben’ Dung Market before Christmas, vendors at the popular Falmouth bazaar on Wednesday blamed online shopping platforms for slow sales in what has traditionally been a lucrative time of the year for them.

Ben’ Dung is touted as the largest flea market in the Caribbean. Available every Wednesday, it offers a chance for vendors to ply their wares, and some shoppers travel to Trelawny from other parishes to take advantage of deals.

Shoes vendor Ras Isostrong was among those who told the Jamaica Observer that he was feeling the competition from purchases done digitally.

“The online kind a mash up the thing because once upon a time one could come to Falmouth and early, early everything sell out and you gone again. But now a lot of people gone buy online. But we still giving thanks because we sell for the poor people, so we are here giving prices to the people that are affordable. I’m having a sale-out,” he said.

A clothes vendor, who gave her name as Melissa, also complained that online shopping has taken a large chunk of the vending business this year.

“Nothing not selling. You don’t see everybody shop already online? The only selling now is curtain and little things for the house, but not much selling. Nothing not happening,” she whined.

Phillip, another shoe vendor, also groused that online shopping resulted in lower-than-expected transactions.

“We have to give thanks for what we do sell, but trust me, last year was much better. It is the online shopping that is cramping our style,” he insisted.

“And when they shop online sometimes they don’t get the right size and they have to come and ask us to exchange it for them,” Phillip added.

On Wednesday the town was bustling with vendors, local shoppers, and visitors from two cruise vessels that had called at the Falmouth port. There were also long lines of motor vehicle traffic snaking through the historic town.

Deep into the afternoon, commander of the Trelawny Police Division Superintendent Winston Milton assured reporters that a strong detachment of police was adequately handling the traffic situation as well as ensuring the safety of shoppers, vendors, and cruise passengers.

“There are actually two cruise ships in port now and a number of tourists are milling around in the township. Some have boarded public transportation carriage for attractions in and out of the parish. These we are able to facilitate because of strategic deployment within the township and along our major corridors. The deployment seems to be working effectively so far. So we are just out here observing the traffic flow and ensuring the safety of our shoppers and visitors,” Superintendent Milton said.

“We have adequate amount of deployment to see to the safety of shoppers and vendors alike in the marketplace,” he added.

The police, in collaboration with the Trelawny Municipal Corporation, have made a number of changes to ensure a smooth and safe flow of traffic within the town over the festive season. These changes took effect on December 18 and will run until Tuesday, December 24.

To access Ben’ Dung market vehicles must approach from the Martha Brae Bridge. Only northbound traffic are permitted to turn into the market and car park. Additionally, right turns into the market will be strictly prohibited. In addition, parking will be prohibited along Tharpe Street, Port Access Road, and Market Street. The authorities have warned that vehicles found parked in these areas will be towed.

“I must laud the police, headed by Superintendent Milton, that have been doing a great job of monitoring the heavy traffic in the town. From my observation there is a free flow of the heavy traffic into and out of the town,” said mayor of Falmouth Councillor C Junior Gager.

“I am also impressed with the strong presence of police deployed all around the town. Kudos to the police. Their good work has not gone unnoticed,” Gager added.

He also thanked members of the Trelawny Municipal Corporation team who worked for “a relatively seamless operation at the market”.