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La Penitence street vendors moved from vending spots
– cry foul as City Constabulary threatens to do it again
A group of Middle Road, East La Penitence vendors are crying foul after they were forced to vacate road stall positions they had held for the past five years, apparently as a result of a crackdown by the city constabulary.
The exercise was reported to have been conducted at 4:00AM, as the vendors were putting out their produce. While some were taken completely by surprise, vendor Patricia Bharrat is contending that the exercise resulted in an actual scuffle between her and one of the constables that caused her to be detained.
According to one vendor, Rishi Roopnarine of Canal No. Two, approximately 12 ranks from the City Constabulary came and ordered them to relocate around the corner, where he was adamant no one shops. The group of vendors all revealed that they made no sales for the period of time they sold yesterday – 5:00AM to 12:00 noon.
The group related that they just represented a section of the vendors affected by the move. They related that some 50 other vendors were forced to relocate, but the blow of having their livelihood in limbo had caused them to go home and contemplate their next move.
The group of vendors after they related their concerns
Roopnarine stated that by 12:00 hrs there was a large amount of perishables that were left back as the day’s sales were unprofitable.
Bibi Nafeeza, another vendor, related that after demanding an explanation from the city constables for their actions, the constables informed them that their instructions came from the higher authorities.
“I would like them to give me a day, because on Sunday’s I have my children to look after. I have two little boys, plus I am pregnant and I would like this market to help me out,” the frustrated vendor implored.
“It is not whole day market. It starts from 4:00 am and we finish selling at twelve o’clock and we go home. And we all clean up our spaces; we pay (vagrants) to do so,” she said.
The woman related after having to move, there was less space for her to put out her goods than before. In addition, her regular customers could not find her and thus sales were dramatically reduced.
“I have to find money to pay my suppliers when they come with their bills, as much as $200,000. Right now I have all my goods on my table. I am pleading with them to give us back our normal spot.”
Nafeeza, who did admit that she was forewarned by revenue collection a week back of the need to relocate, also related that she was warned yesterday by a constable not to put back her load as she would pay a $10,000 fine and her goods would be seized.
Meanwhile, another vendor stated that a little while after they would have moved their items, other persons came and occupied the previously coveted spots until the close of the market day.
Loaknauth Chand of Marupa, East Bank Essequibo declared the move as an unjust one. A farmer for 30 years, he pointed out that many vendors had perishable goods they bought but would not be able to sell now.
“What do they want us to do, thief? Because you buy your load and you can’t sell it. I have 12 tubs of ripe banana getting black,” he said.
Patricia Bharrat, who has also been a vendor at that spot for some five years, related that the Constabulary came in their pickups to first order them to move. When vendors were deemed slow in obeying these instructions, the ranks would reportedly return and load the produce into the back of their trucks themselves to be transported to the new spot.
A few weeks ago vendors at the Bourda Market had their stalls demolished by the City Council. This came after years of being warned to improve their stalls or remove. These vendors, some of whom occupied their spots for 40 years, were left almost unprepared.
The Mayor and City Council is currently involved in a cleanup campaign aimed at improving the scenery of Georgetown.
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