Crab vendors at Heroes Circle. - Ian Allen

by Sanjae Sterling, Star Writer

Perhaps you have driven or walked along Heroes Circle and have seen the delectable crabs on display. The crab vendors are always on site and always seem to have crabs, but how long have they been at that location and where do they get their crabs?

Norma, the eldest of the group, pointed out that 'crab season' was from April to early September and that even if crabs were not in season they were always around but they have to be dug out of the ground when it isn't rainy.

When asked how long they had been at that location Norma said: "All mi life, cause mi grandmother used to sell right yah suh when mi did likkle and me come tek ova and mi love it. Dem days deh when yuh come out here, crab woulda deh pon wi fourth boil or crab woulda sell off, these days is just one boil wi boil."

Many customers

Pointing to Kay, another vendor, Norma also mentioned how they grew up together and played over Heroes Park, "All a wi out here a family, Munchy dem a cousin and Odette tek over from har mother, Kay tek ova from her mother, and me tek over from my grandparents, wi jus' a try fi keep the legacy."

When asked of any hardships that they may be going through the vendors replied that overall business was still good and that they were supported by many customers from various classes in the society, some of whom they said had their contact numbers and called whenever they were coming.

Jokingly, Munchy pointed to an ashen coloured cat some distance away and said: "Nutten bad cyaa happen to wi out here, si wi guard puss deh him name Spotlight."

Crab is not the only food these vendors sell, they also sell roasted yam ($250) and roasted corn ($100). The price of their crab ranges from $100 - $200. The vendors also commented that at the end of any given day the least that they may make is $3000 and that although this may not be much they have the sense to save a portion for the market on the weekends.

The vendors even admitted that although they had been selling crab for years they were still crab lovers.

"Oh god man, wi love it. Suh when it nuh sell off nuh we affi eat it. Kay love pure big claw and me love the egg and the likkle crab foot dem," Norma said.

One of the vendors also mentioned that after the renovation of Heroes' park they will be moved to a different and more developed area. Attempts to contact the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC) on this move were futile.