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Displacement continues for Stabroek Market Vendors

Jan 13, 2011 News

Yesterday afternoon all the vendors who operated across the road from the Stabroek Market at the side of Demico House, were ordered by the police to immediately vacate the premises.
In the wake of the explosion that occurred on January 5, that killed one and injured 19, outside the Stabroek Market; all persons who vend on the perimeter of the Stabroek Market bus park were removed.
However, last Sunday, following a series of meetings orchestrated by Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, the vendors were told that they can resume ‘work as usual’ from the next day. Further, officials demarcated boundary lines to guide the vendors so as not obstruct traffic.
President Bharrat Jagdeo also intervened in the eviction of the vendors in the wake of protest by vendors, following the wanton demolition campaign which was launched after the grenade explosion.
Jagdeo told the vendors that they will be allowed to vend since it is part if their culture, however, they must execute vending in a clean and orderly manner.
But there was a change in operational order. At 14:00 hours yesterday, the vendors were told by a traffic rank to “pack up and leave” because it is illegal to vend at that location. Around 31 stalls were yesterday ordered to remove.
Frustrated vendors told this publication that they cannot help feeling like their lives are falling apart. They expressed the concern that they have children to “provide for” in every aspect of the term and they vend to earn an honest dollar in order to live up to their responsibilities.
“Is poor people out here, but them ain’t care,” expressed one female vendor. According to the woman, 95 per cent of the cap vendors are single mothers. “We can’t jump ship. What dem want we to do?”
Benjamin Todd told this publication that he finds it hard to believe that they are once again being deterred from earning a daily dollar. According to the man, the order to move came as a shock to him because the “honorable president” told him that he can vend.
The man said that he does not believe that Jagdeo would renege on his word, thus, he is confused as to what next to do; but “I have to vend”.
One woman said that during the last protest, “I stay in me corner; I did not go and protest, but this time is different”. The woman said that this time she is really hurt since she thought that the worst had passed “but dem ain’t got no respect for poor people”.
On Sunday the Works Ministry relocated a majority of those who were affected by demolition. It was decided that the bread vendors’ position will not change; that they will continue to vend under the large elevated flat screen digital display.
But yesterday the bread vendors found that they had to remove from the allocated space. Many were frustrated.

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