A male vendor who was, among others, peddling his wares outside the Hazard Primary School gate in Clarendon, received a scolding yesterday from an education officer.

Director for Region 6 of the Ministry of Education, Mary Nichols, who was visiting the school to participate in a function there, reprimanded the man on hearing that he was selling the much-talked about Vybz Kartel pins to children.

These pins, depicting a gun-toting Vybz Kartel and glorifying violence, have recently come under scrutiny from police and the Ministry of Education.

No longer selling

When Nichols spoke to the vendor, he admitted he was selling the items but claimed he had stopped and would not be selling them again.

She proceeded to give him a lecture, asking what good he saw in some of the things he was selling to the students, as she pointed to a number of bootleg DVDs which formed part of his stock in trade.

The pedlar, who sported a handkerchief on his head, listened attentively as Nichols explained to him the need to sell items that would uplift the students.

When The Gleaner checked back at the vendor's spot some time later the area was empty. It appeared the vendor decided to call it a day.