GST Free Weekends Curbs Christmas Eve Rush  

The final hours before Christmas are here, and as usual, the streets of Belize City are alive with bells, music, and shoppers grabbing those last-minute gifts. But this Christmas Eve is a bit quieter than usual. Over the past two weeks, Belizeans have flocked to stores for the government’s GST-free shopping weekends, leading to packed shops and long lines. Store owners say there are fewer last-minute shoppers this year. Andre Salgado, General Manager of Quality Poultry Products, mentioned that despite the lower numbers today, business has been good overall.

 

Andre Salgado, Manager, Quality Poultry Products

“ It’s been great. Sales has been good today. Of course you’ve seen better days. But I think that is associated with the no GST weekends because the last two weekends has been crazy chaotic, lovely at that. It has been good. So it’s been, it being Christmas Eve today. It’s really good.”

 

Britney Gordon

“And how has turkey sales been in specific?”

 

Andre Salgado

“Turkey sales has been great. We have seen better turkey sales as well. However, we do understand that a lot of people don’t do turkeys for Christmas. But for what it has been, the sales has been really superb.”

 

Britney Gordon

“What makes a good turkey and a perfect Christmas dinner turkey?’

 

Andre Salgado

“It depends who you ask. Some people are professional cooks. Some people brine their turkey in salt and sugar probably about two days before and then season. For us, What makes a good quality turkey dinner is as long as you have quality cultured turkey, premium butter turkey on your table. Then that is what makes it the best turkey in my opinion.”

 

 Britney Gordon

“For those Belizeans that waited until last minute to come and get something and perhaps not have purchased their turkey or their ham or whatever else yet, what would you say to them is available here for them to come and get?”

 

Andre Salgado

“Okay, so I know what you’re going through. I understand you. Maybe today was your PD. Maybe you just got your salary today. Whatever the circumstance may be. Maybe you’re just a dad who literally forgot to get a turkey today before, right? So we do have turkeys we do have sizes available for your specific need. If you’re a two household or if you’re a bigger household, of course, we have whatever size range turkeys. We still have them available here at Quality. We do have distributors throughout the entire country who also have quality premium turkeys. So that’s great. When you go to whatever store, it may be your favorite grocery store, your favorite supermarket, make sure it says quality premium on it. Then that’s how you know you get the best turkey. But yes, we do have for everybody come on down, come to all of our branches countrywide. Of course, by the time this year is hopefully it’s not too late, but we do have some branches closing until eight o’clock tonight.”