CitCo and Market Vendors might both get their way

kevin singh

During the exchange this morning Councilor Singh invited the vendors to meet with him at the Commercial Centre this afternoon.  That meeting did happen and he later informed the media of plans to revisit the issue with an eye to find a permanent solution.

Kevin Singh, Councilor for Markets

“They had a list of concerns—mostly about the time and the dates for their vending. Our time was Tuesdays Thursdays and Saturdays for market; for wholesalers to come in and sell their goods. But they are saying that Mondays are mostly one of their best days and Fridays. So actually we are having a miscommunication because according to them, on Mondays they have people that come from San Pedro and different places that come and buy their fruits and vegetables on those days. So that’s the reason why they want to sell on Monday and also on Fridays that the same problem they have. So they are asking us to give them Monday: they come in on Monday around nine in the morning and they sell from nine until five on Monday and they stay Monday night through to Tuesday when they start sell from five ‘til about one. And they are telling us that by one o’clock Tuesday the streets suppose to be clean because no vending will be done after one. They are agreeing to that. On Thursdays they will be back at the same time: nine to five. Go into the evening after five close down, open back Friday again from five to one and that would give them enough time to get rid of their fruits or whatever they come in and sell. If they don’t then they will just have to go and come back. On Saturdays they want the same time: five to one; and that will be enough time for them they are saying. So, what we are going to do is we’re going to take this up with the council and see how we could go ahead so that both of us could be acceptable—they can get what they want and we can get what we want.”

Singh says the pressure to relocate the vendors came after numerous complaints from residents of the area.  He said the Council should have a decision on the vendors’ requests by next week Friday.