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No major incident reported in Mash Spot sale confusion
…Vendors could seek reimbursements
From the looks of things most of the persons who conducted vending activities for the Mashramani celebrations yesterday did not pay for the spots they utilized. At least many of the persons Kaieteur News questioned about purchasing Mash spots replied that they had occupied the spot free of cost since that is what the Mayor and City Council was insisting on.
Some of the Mashramani spots that remained vacant yesterday (photo Phylicia Richardson)
Outside of this, it appears that many persons also stayed away from vending activities this year.
According to City Hall’s Public Relations Officer (PRO) Royston King, no major issue was reported in relation to the spot sales controversy. By late afternoon, there were also no reports of anyone being arrested or detained for failing to pay for Mash spots as stipulated by acting Town Clerk Carol Sooba.
Many of the vendors along Vlissengen Road and Merriman Mall were relieved to have conducted their business incident free despite the recent disagreement between the agency’s authorities. Some people opted to “be on the safe side” and purchased spots, while others simply occupied vacant spaces or those designated.
A male vendor who did not give his name said he paid for his spot on Merriman Mall and he felt relieved when he saw City Council agents going around asking questions.
However those persons never came to his tent, he said, and he started to think twice about paying for his spot. He then contemplated seeking a reimbursement since he claimed that he should have had the same privilege as those who did not pay for spots.
Many of the designated locations remained empty yesterday and some persons suspected that it was the bickering between the Mayor and Councillors and the Town Clerk (Ag) Carol Sooba that caused the decline. One vendor opined that many persons opted out of the vending activity this year to avoid possible “trouble”.
It would not be farfetched to think that persons might be returning to City Hall seeking reimbursements, a City Councillor told the publication. “That is the real trouble.”
The two sides of the Council have been bumping heads with the Town Clerk demanding payment for Mash spots and the City Councillors ruling that it would be given for free. On Sunday a few vendors had glitches in prime vending spots when they had similar location numbers. The one who paid for the spot was given priority in the cases observed.
Kaieteur News was unable to contact the Town Clerk yesterday to get an update on the issue. She had told the publication that persons who did not pay for spots would have to do so or remove.
King told Kaieteur News that in other matters, the cleanup process has already been resolved. With Mash spots being offered free of cost there was concern as to how the Council would handle after Mash cleanup activities.
King said that Cevons Waste collection agency was already on the job.
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