I am replying to you from the same Bridgetown where those stores are located. I can’t afford emeralds either but those stores are for tourists, not locals and all the happy smiling people are smiling because its in our nature to be happy, not because we want to stab you in the eye.

Those stores exist because they make a profit from tourists, locals don’t shop there because like every other country in the world there are other stores where prices are reasonable.

As a proud Barbadian, us locals are not a “poorer local people” and it insults my dignity to be referred to as such.

Note that I have been to Canada and its a beautiful place, but it also has very expensive stores where tourists like me could not afford to shop. When people smiled at me I did not assume that they wanted to stab me for being a tourist.

I have travelled throughout the world and it is the same over, I call it the “two street syndrome” there is the “front” street for tourists where prices are very expensive and the “back” street where you can buy the same product for a much lower price. The trick is in figuring out where the back street is.

My offer stands. I can continue to educate you about Barbados if you like.