Dear Editor,
Clearly, the historical madness of “Black Friday” has hit Guyana. From my perch in Brooklyn, NY, I reviewed a video depiction of what was entitled “Guyana’s first Black Friday”; so, we have now copied the American economic idea of Black Friday; a day which falls after the American holiday, “Thanksgiving”; a holiday not observed in Guyana. However, the demonstration by the crowd at Courts last Friday, looms portentious for accidents, harm and even death, going forward.
There are two important events that caused critical and substantial changes in Black Friday retail activity. The first: On November 28, 1998, a worker at a Walmart Store was stampeded to death as huge crowds rushed into the store, seeking first advantage at the goodies advertised way below regular prices. The store was unprepared for such a rush and it cost store employee, Jdyamati Damour, his life. In the aftermath of this tragedy, there was swift governmental intervention: Walmart was charged by both the local District Attorney office and the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), accused of reckless endangerment Additionally, it was now required that all stores to set up crowd control barriers, limiting the flow of customers into the store and resulting in winding lines of single file, going around 3 or 4 corners. There have been other incidents on Black Friday but no deaths by stampede.
What I saw on the video last Friday, recalled the memory of 1998 as the media houses blasted footage of that horrendous event. I immediately imagined such an eventuality at Courts on November 28, 2022; and I hoped for the best. As I listened to the shouting and screaming of folk being squeezed, I hoped for the best. When I saw a woman with a child no more than 2 or 3 years old on her shoulder, I hoped for the best. When I witnessed the irony of folks who got into the building early but could hardly walk, seeking out seating and thereby losing the opportunity to buy first, I saw the potential danger of folk either knowingly or unknowingly with hypertension (pressure) problems passing out and requiring ambulance services; and I thought even if the ambulance arrived on time how would the medics get into the store? I heard several store employees muttering “we were not ready for this”, a post-facto truism, obvious and requiring no further detail.
General store employees should not be required to have crowd-control skills: That’s a matter for security staff and management; and even they should not be subject to the witnessed melee of Guyana’s first Black Friday, November 28, 2022. Clearly, here is a moment when the Government, City Council, Private Sector Commission, Chamber of Commerce, Police and Fire Departments and other relevant and interested parties should put heads together to develop and implement a Black Friday Shopping Safety protocol. Stores should be made to set up crowd-control barriers and use single-line, person by person access for entry. A very creative way to reduce customer attendance at the store, is to offer even better deals for online purchases with delivery or pick-up at a later date. Like in America, since we are already copying, start Black Friday sales earlier; for example, Wednesday and even offer better prices. Then make the actual Black Friday prices run through Saturday or Sunday.
In conclusion, let me assure readers that I am not totally against copying; this is a social practice as old as time immemorial. However, I remain concerned about copying without thinking; particularly with regard to safety and well-being. The intensity of Black Friday shopping requires that measures be taken for the safety of both sellers and buyers. Judging from its history, if Black Friday sales can propel merchants’ books from the despicable “red” to the always sought after “black” bottom line, go for it but do so with safety in mind for all. As the oil money may increase in flow into the hands of those who will essentially become the noveau-riche, there are going to be lots of pressure to spend it: To the merchants I say, Please help them spend it in safe environments; your stores.
Sincerely,
Wrickford A. Dalgetty BA, JD
Brooklyn, NY
