Nedburn Thaffe, Gleaner Writer

This vendor walks away with her goods after a tussle with one of St Mary's municipal officers. Vendors and the parish council are on a collision course over a refusal to use the market. - Photo by Nedburn Thaffe

PORT MARIA, St Mary:

Some vendors who sell in the town of Port Maria are complaining that municipal police recently assigned to the area have been creating havoc. The vendors say they are being forced into the capital's market, where clientele numbers are far lower than on the streets.

However, Mayor of Port Maria, Richard Creary, said the local authority was declaring war on illegal vending.

"Law and order will be maintained in Port Maria, as in other towns. I will not allow this chaos to continue," Creary declared.

In response to complaints by vendors that the market was unfit for business, he said, "Anytime you go on a drive such as this, people have a lot of reasons as to why they don't want to sell in the market.

"While all our markets in St Mary might not be up to the standard we want them to be, it is much better than on the roadside," added the mayor.

Creary argued that there was adequate space in the market, but most sellers were determined not to use the designated area.

"On any given market day, go inside the market and you see how much of them are inside. This is just not fair for the few who sell there," he explained.

Vendors disregarded

One irate vendor, who said her goods were confiscated two days before discussions with The Gleaner, described the mayor as having no regard for their livelihood.

"Dem nuh business bout wi. Wi have wi pickney fi feed and a dis dem a do wi," said the vendor. "A dis wi vote fa? Fi dem come tek wi goods when wi work fi wi honest bread?"

Another higgler indicated that she was willing to sell inside the market but customers hardly go in because of streetside vending.

"Until everybody cooperate and go inna the market, mi haffi stay pon di streetside," she said.

While the mayor agrees that municipal policing is somewhat new to the town, he implored vendors to cooperate in the best interest of the parish.

"The municipal police are not here to harass vendors only. They have a number of other roles to carry out, including dealing with traffic matters, littering in public places, among other duties," said the mayor.