MARKET vendors and grocers did brisk business in downtown Kingston yesterday, despite mounting tension over the United States' extradition request for Christopher 'Dudus' Coke who is wanted in that country on drug- and gun-running charges.

The economic hub of the capital city has been uneasy since last Monday's announcement by Prime Minister Bruce Golding that an authority to proceed with the extradition of Coke would be signed by Justice Minister and Attorney General Dorothy Lightbourne.

The usual congestion on Orange Street in downtown Kingston was noticeably reduced yesterday as tension mounted surrounding the extradition of Tivoli Gardens strongman Christopher Dudus Coke. (Photos: Bryan Cummings) 1/6

"But nothing not going on today man, everything all right; you don't see the market full same way," said one vendor who was selling ground provision from a handcart inside the Coronation Market. He was standing a few metres from where residents of Tivoli Gardens had mounted a metal blockade on a road leading into that community, which serves as Coke's base.

The vendor, who was placing cuts of water melon into a shopping bag for a female customer, said the percentage of customer turn-out at the Coronation Market was in its "high eighties".

"You know some people are going to be afraid to come out, but everybody know how town run. People just a try get what them want and move," the vendor continued.

The customer agreed.

"People who know the place will chance it and come town, but not everybody," the woman said. "Monday is holiday, so you know them (police) not going to come for 'Dudus' until 'bout Tuesday, plus people have to get them food for the holiday."

A fruit vendor, who did not wish to be named, said he had received phone calls from several of his regular customers enquiring about safety in the area.

"My people them a call me from morning, and I have been telling them that nothing is going on. Most of them come buy what they need and leave already," the man said.

Asked about his own safety, he replied: "Me? No man not troubling me, after is not me them a war with."

Outside the market, on Spanish Town Road and Darling Street, vendors shouted the prices of their goods into megaphones, as traffic snarled.

One vendor, who was selling red peas along Spanish Town Road, utilised the looming tension around the extradition affair into his sales pitch.

"Come get yuh rice and peas, only $50 a pound. Anything can happen a town today, get it now and mind yu have to run leave it," he sang, sparking laughter from passers-by.

But while the areas close to the market were almost as busy as usual, not that many shoppers were observed at other shopping areas further away, such as at Beckford, King, Orange, and Princess streets.

Most store owners in these locations told the Sunday Observer yesterday that business was not as brisk as usual.

"Customers are here; not in the numbers that we would like though," said one storeowner on Orange Street, who asked not to be named.

"It was almost expected, really. We knew this was going to happen, but we still had to be here for our customers," the businessman said.

Another store operator on Orange Street joked about the tension. "I wouldn't mind if the people them just come buy and stock up their homes for the entire week, 'cause nobody know how town is going to stay next week," he said.