By Omar Anderson
and Claude Mills, Staff Reporters 
Angry higglers on Beckford Street in downtown Kingston shouting "no sellers, no store" yesterday morning after members of the security forces prevented them from off-loading their goods to sell in prohibited areas in the business district. - Rudolph Brown
STREET VENDORS yesterday forced several businesses in the busy hub of downtown Kingston to pull down their shutters, choking off all commercial activity in the area.
And although the vendors themselves did not sell yesterday, it was unclear the extent to which they have been affected by the continued violent upheavals between warring gangs.
Bearing placards and chanting, "no seller, no store," the vendors marched past members of the security forces on Beckford and Princess Streets, then went onto Orange and King Streets and swore at business owners who dared to remain open.
National Security Minister, Dr. Peter Phillips, and Local Government Minister, Arnold Bertram, met with a delegation representing protesting vendors late yesterday.
"We nah go a 'shooting valley'," said a female higgler, referring to Oxford Mall.
Said another vendor: "If police are running from Oxford Mall, why we should go there?"
Some men 'strong-armed' the shutters of several businesses, forcing them to close, in order to drive home their point. At the Juici Beef establishment, a man just escaped injury as he was one of several customers who were forced to scurry outside as the metal shutters came slamming down unexpectedly.
Armed private security guards were despatched to protect Courts Jamaica.
"I'm closed because of the demonstration," said Pedro Rodriquez, owner of the Little Shalimar store on King Street. He and several company officials and members of staff stood outside the store and watched as the vendors protested.
"They were going around shouting 'no higgler, no store', and that means if they don't get to sell, they are not going to allow any other store to remain open," he noted.
The security forces, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Hector 'Bingi' Whyte, who is in charge of Mobile Reserve, were present at the restricted downtown selling areas from as early as 3 o'clock yesterday morning, to prevent the vendors from unloading their wares.
The police and soldiers, with help from Special District Constables from Metropolitan Parks and Markets, stood guard along King Street, South and West Parade, Peter's Lane, Orange, Beckford and Princess Streets.
"I was here early and that was why the people were unable to put out their goods," SSP Whyte said, explaining that, despite the vendors' protest, the police were able to maintain law and order, through dialogue.
Dunstan Whittingam, general secretary of the Jamaica Vendors, Higglers and Markets Association, said his organisation was still behind the relocation, despite the vendors' protest.
Late last month, business people, some of whom are on the Jamaica Chamber of Chamber's urban renewal committee, had threatened to lock down the area's business district if action was not taken to clear the streets. The move was averted after Prime Minister P.J. Patterson gave an assurance that the November 4 deadline would be met, and announced that a new company would be in place to oversee the markets. The Chamber had asked the Government to allow vendors to continue selling on some downtown streets until after Christmas.
