WESTERN BUREAU:

National pride has translated into major sales for Jamaican flags and apparel in Montego Bay, St James, following the record-breaking performances by Usain Bolt and Melaine Walker yesterday morning.

Flag sales in the Second City ballooned to unprecedented levels for one merchant, Egbert Donaldson, who operates The Cage in Sam Sharpe Square, downtown Montego Bay.

"We sold over 400 Jamaican flags in less than an hour, following the stellar performances of our two athletes. I had to order more, which is expected in shortly, but sales are doing well," Donaldson explained with much excitement.

Flying

He added that prior to the Beijing Olympics, sales of Jamaican items were very slow but are now "flying through the roof and we are happy with what we have seen".

Flags are not the only items reporting huge sales; apparel representing the national colours is also 'flying off' the shelves.

Donaldson noted that Jamaican shirts and blouses were also doing well but not as superbly as the flags.

However, Bhagwan Chuganey, who manages Payless Bargain Centre, revealed that his Jamaican clothing had not been able to stay on the shelves since the huge successes of the Jamaican athletes at the 2008 Olympics.

"Anything and everything that has Jamaica on it, persons are buying them."