Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter

These policemen leave the premises of the Kingston Ice Factory on Harbour Street, downtown Kingston, after a rush on the company by persons purchasing ice, resulting in considerable traffic delays, yesterday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

While the country rebounds after being hit by Hurricane Dean, many persons are scouring supermarkets and hardware outlets for basic food and building items.

Speaking with The Gleaner yesterday, Wayne Chen, chief executive officer of Super Plus stores, one of the largest food chains across the island, said the sale of food items had seen a decrease this week.

Mr. Chen attributed this decrease to persons stocking up last week in anticipation of the hurricane.

He noted that there has been a shortage of rice on the island for at least two weeks now.

"But we have been assured that, by the second week of September, we should be OK," he said.

He said the outlet is not short of flour, but there was some concern regarding the commodity.

Jamaica Flour Mills was reportedly affected by the lack of electricity and could not package the commodity to pass on to the distributive sector. The factory reportedly received electricity yesterday.

In addition, over the past few days, the ice factory, downtown Kingston, has been bombarded by persons seeking the scarce commodity.

Several persons, under the watchful eyes of the security forces, were seen purchasinglarge quantities of ice from the factory.

There is seemingly a shortage of hardware items on the island.

No generators available

One hardware store manager told The Gleaner yesterday that no generators are currently available for sale. The blackout, which still exists in many parts of the island, has placed a demand on the item.

"All the dealers I know of have run out of generators since week," he said.

The store manager added: "There were about four or five at our store and they all went since Saturday."

The Gleaner visited Rapid Tru Value in Lane Plaza, St. Andrew - one of the largest hardware and household outlets in the Corporate Area - and was told that the demand on commodities had increased since Monday.

shelly-ann.thompson@gleanerjm.com