With only four days before Christmas, the streets of Georgetown were yesterday jammed with thousands of people who flocked to city stores to complete their shopping for the festive season.

Stabroek News toured the city yesterday and the atmosphere was one of celebration and festivity. The masquerade bands valiantly competed with the popular tunes resounding from Jack's music carts.

On Regent Street where most of the action was, the stores were seen richly stocked with all of the traditional items and goodies. Parents and children, husbands and wives, itinerant vendors, bystanders and window shoppers - they were all there.

This newspaper caught up with Odellie DeSantos, who described his feelings and experiences while shopping. The Guyana Defence Force recruit said that though everyone was in search of Christmas gifts and other things, he was also using his shopping time to meet friends and observe the busy scene into which the city has been transformed.

He noted that the streets would obviously get busier, since many people were yet to be paid and others will join in the shopping as Christmas day draws closer.

"Christmas is a very joyous occasion and everyone looks forward to it, so that you must expect this sort of fun and excitement," DeSantos noted.

One vendor informed that most of the shoppers were in search of household items like curtains, wall mats, and floral arrangements and other items used for decorating and enhancing the home.

The vendor, who declined to give her name and occupies one of the burnt-out structures on Regent Street, said that since the onset of the season, business has been good. She noted that many people were shopping and there was the prospect of business improving.

The owner of one of Regent Street's busy stores, Sachi's, told this newspaper that his store had some of the basic everyday items and it catered for the entire population. He pointed out that that was one reason why it was so crowded.

"Our prices are reasonable, the sales staff are very hard working and customers usually feel at ease coming here to shop," Mr Sachi said.

He said that he had observed that customers were shopping later because of the heat and to facilitate this he had extended his store hours from 8 am to 9.30 pm. The store, which has over five sections, contains items ranging from over-the-counter medicines to baby products, home appliances, cosmetics and groceries.

"We have over five armed guards and others to deal with shoplifters and bandits, but so far we have had no major incidents of theft or robbery," the man said.

On Water Street, the scene was less frenetic. Many people were seen checking out items, looking at styles and buying footwear. Fogarty's was busy and well stocked. Guyana Stores attracted a small-sized crowd of mainly shoppers in search of curtain materials.

Meanwhile, many people were in high praise of the Guyana Police Force for the increased presence around the city. This is aimed at ensuring that the traffic flows smoothly and shoppers feel secure knowing that police ranks are on the look out for them.