Name: George, 42:

How do you go about attracting customers?

"I try to advertise my goods the best way I can to attract customers. When it comes on to fruits and attracting customers, it really depends on whether or not it is in season. With a fruit that is in season, you realise that people buy it more so I stock up on them."

What qualities do you need to be a successful vendor?

"You have to learn how to deal with people, you have to learn to be calm because you will have customers with negative attitude. You have to be a good people-person if you want to get 'regulars' and eventually you will do well."

What is a day on the road like as a fruit vendor?

"Well, I wake up from 3:30 a.m. go to market to get goods and come here by 5/6 a.m. and leave around 11:30 p.m. and sometimes for the whole day I would only drink a cup of coffee - this is to reduce money spent. It is rough, yes, but I give thanks. If you cannot sacrifice certain things you will have it hard. A just God and strong faith keep me going."

If you were a part of the Government, what would you do to help vendors like yourself?

"Well, the only issue now is with the mayor, and if I were the mayor I would be more lenient with the vendors in regards to their selling location. We already have it hard in finding jobs and such, so if we are not bothering people, we should be left to earn our bread.

What do you think Jamaicans can do to survive the recession?

"We as Jamaicans have to look into ourselves and look at the little resources that we have and capitalise on that, and then maybe things could be at least a bit better. We can't capitalise on what we don't have."

- Laranzo Dacres