#Champs2025: Grateful vendor hopes for increased sales as health department ensures compliance
KINGSTON Jamaica — As vendors at the National Stadium were assessed by the health department on Thursday, Cedric Scarlett told Observer Online he is hoping for good sales as the ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships progresses.
While maintaining he was grateful for the gains made on Wednesday and Thursday morning, Scarlett expressed that he was looking forward to bigger and better sales later this week.
“Boy it’s just started, so we hope for Friday and Saturday to turn out one of the best,” Scarlett, who runs Coco Spicy Restaurant and catering services, indicated.
Friday and Saturday are traditionally the busiest and biggest days on the Champs calendar.
People came out yesterday, but nothing really went on, but we are giving God thanks for what we make same way,” he added.
Sarlett was one of several food vendors who came out on Thursday morning and in the early afternoon in their numbers to capitalise on profits on day three of the 2025 Issa/ GraceKennedy Boys’ and Girls’ Athletics Championships at the National Stadium in Kingston, and a team of health inspectors was right there on their tails.
As the vendors prepared meals, health inspectors were on site making sure the food was fit for consumption.
Observer Online saw several of the brown and cream-clad inspectors making the rounds.
“Where is your hairnet? Where do you store your meat,” were some of the questions Observer Online overheard the inspectors asking some vendors.
Vendors who were wearing no hairnet, were assisted with a few by the inspectors who collected names and made notes as they carried out their duties.
Even as Scarlett flipped the traditional Jamaican ‘pan chicken’, his stall was well stocked with other options, including chicken soup, cow skin soup, brown stewed pork, rice and peas, roast breadfruit, ackee and saltfish and more.
The vendor said the breakfast he had prepared on Thursday had been a hit with attendees.
“It slap weh, I give God thanks same way, all is well right now. We are just hoping for Friday and Saturday to see if we get the turnout we expect,” he stated.
