Vendors angry over increased prices for spots along Mash route

Feb 08, 2014 News

– Signals intention to pull out

Individuals and organizations from the business community are raising concerns regarding an increase in the rental fee for vending spots along this year’s Mashramani parade route.
Angry vendors have since registered their concerns with the Mayor and City Council (MCC).
“Several persons have since met with Officers of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council and signaled their intention to pull out of the venture” Deputy Mayor Patricia Chase -Greene stated yesterday.
She explained that the decision to raise the fee was made by Town Clerk, Carol Sooba without the Council’s consultation or approval.
“We weren’t even notified about this…It was after complaints started pouring into the Council that’s how we found out. One major company even wrote us a letter to inform us that they will not be setting up booths along the route this year because of the new charge.”
“The fee stood between $5000 to $20,000 for regular vendors, while commercial entities would pay at least $200,000-$400,000 per spot. However the new charge has doubled or in some cases tripled; regular vendors are asked to pay $15,000 per spot while commercial entities are required to pay as much as $800,000 per spot.”
“The money initially was meant for cleaning the grounds after the Mashramani celebrations.”
According to the Deputy Mayor, the allocation of spots for vending along the Mash Route, Merriman’s Mall, Church Street and Irving Streets, is the responsibility of the Social Development Committee within the Council.
She said that earlier this year, officials from the Ministry of Culture had expressed an interest in assisting to facilitate the venture.
“They met with the officers of the Council to discuss their plan… a proposal was brought to the attention of the Social Development Committee, and a letter was then forwarded to the Town Clerk, but we received no response, until we heard of this new development,” Chase Greene said.
When contacted by this newspaper, Sooba refused to comment on the issue.

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Vendors angry over increased prices for spots along Mash route

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