THE RELOCATION of vendors from the streets of downtown Kingston into arcades has been progressing with eerie smoothness. The Government wants the public to believe that the vendors have seen the light and have quietly agreed to comply in their own best interest. Stalls have been smashed, reportedly by MPM workers, in preparation for the planned clearance of the streets this past weekend, with no resistance or protest by their owners as in times past.
This unusual state of affairs prompted our own investigation which has revealed that the removal of the street vendors is actually being supervised by the two ranking area leaders or dons of the downtown Kingston area. Area leaders from across the political divide have publicly and jointly endorsed the removal of the vendors and are apparently enforcing the decision of the Government.
In an earlier incident some years ago, when vendors protested their removal from the streets, men from Matthews Lane roughed up the protesters and advised the Mobile Reserve police who were on the scene that they could leave and the enforcers would take care of things. After the Gas Riots of 1999, the Head of Government found it necessary to thank personally the leadership of that same area for keeping the peace.
In a watershed incident of the surrender of the authority of the state to area leaders, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps was called upon by the police to restore law and order by addressing his rioting followers from the balcony of Kingston Central Police station where he was under arrest.
The alliance of area leaders with each other, and apparently with public authorities, for the removal of street vendors is not out of any altruistic interest in law and order on their part. Repeatedly, the leadership of inner-city communities, and many residents as well, have demonstrated their commitment to alternative private justice.
Don enforcement of clearing the streets of vendors represents a craven withdrawal by the state from its most basic function of maintaining law and order. Having captured the heart of the city without firing a shot, we can expect these forces to push for greater power and influence. The scope of that influence and power now may be already more considerable than we think. Their growing legitimisation by the state and government is alarming.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner.
