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At the corner of Rose Lane and Pechon Street in downtown Kingston, a number of vendors tried to catch 'storm sales' on Thursday, but the buyers were few.

Despite the rush expected as Tropical Storm Melissa approaches, higglers say raw sewage has placed a damper on their sales as their customers refuse to purchase among the 'filth'.

"Ano just today things slow, a from about a month now because the place stink and a bare s**t a run. A day time, we stand up and, when the car dem pass, a inna we face the stinking water a flash up. Normally storm a come yuh would see everyone gallop down this side because we sell cheaper, but nobody nah buy nuh s**t food. Dung ya terrible, might as well mi just pack up and go prepare fi di rain," a woman told THE WEEKEND STAR.

Valerie, an elderly higgler, used a broom to push away the raw sewage from her small stall on the sidewalk. Like other vendors, she said she was anticipating a rise in sales because of the storm's approach, but, for her, this is just wishful thinking.

"The sewage down here a make everyone have bad market. A Old Harbour mi live so mi soon gone home because storm a come. Mi sell two little tings from morning but not like how mi expect, because the place nasty. Mi try sweep it away but rain a fall and the place just mucky. Mi a pray for them to fix it," she said.

But the atmosphere was the opposite for market vendors on Darling Street. Yellow yam and Irish potato were among the best sellers at $200 per pound. Tomato and cabbage were also popular, while kerosene and candle vendors had their hands full.

"Mi can't complain, mi nah go lie because tings a sell. People dem come out and a buy things for the hurricane. Dem a take it serious man, because more people a watch Weather Channel. Mi a gwan sell and then later mi go home go prepare," Mark said. Omar, whose stall was laden with items such hot peppers, cucumber and other vegetables, also gave thanks.

"Rain a fall but mi a make two little sale. Mi nah go be greedy and tell lie say nutten nah gwaan," he said.

However, there was no rush to purchase charcoal, which came as a surprise to one vendor.

"I don't know if it is because of the hurricane why mi nuh see dem (customers) but nothing nuh increase. We gonna be here for a little while, so we will see if people ago push out later," he said.