There must be a vending policy

Jul 31, 2018 Letters

Dear Editor
In 2015, the citizens of Georgetown voted for change which includes change in systems, projects and programmes that would advance the interest of the City. It is a quite worrisome situation; no policy has been crafted to address a growing socio-economic situation that pervades the City for decades.
While some Councilors are infighting, vendors are languishing for a proper roof over their heads to conduct business. The fact is every person deserves an opportunity to earn a livelihood in an environment that is conducive.
It is unacceptable for the Chairman of the Markets Committee not to be able to come up with a policy document that would help the state of affairs in the City. For too long, street vending is being done in an ad hoc manner and without proper guidelines. A Street vending policy would bring order on the City streets.
During the festive season the streets evolve into a place of chaos and confusion. A policy would provide an opportunity for Council to exercise some measure of control and provide benefits to the vendors. The streets of the City are overcrowded and cluttered.
On a daily basis, the vending population is steadily increasing and legitimate store owners are complaining bitterly about blocking of entrances and slowing down of business. Also, the Municipal District Council Act is archaic and should be revised to address the social, economic and political dynamics of a developing City.
Hence, a vending policy would bridge the gap and provide some guidelines and rules for vendors to operate
In the near future, Georgetown would become the oil and gas capital of this nation. I would like to know if the incumbent Markets and Public Health Committee of the Council has considered the sociological, economical and environmental implication of the inevitable and has crafted environmental policies to address the these changes.
Further, if the honorable Deputy Mayor Gentleman lacks the knowledge to craft a vending policy, the least he can do is to seek some help from the experts within his own constituency.
In most instances the issues that Councilors gripe about would not facilitate the social, spiritual and economic upliftment of the City and its residents. The fact is, it is the minority Councilors AFC and PPP/C that are causing raucous and hindering progress in the City. Or maybe, it is strategy and a deliberate effort of the PPP/C to divide the APNU at the Local Government level and advance to the national level.
The political divide between the APU and AFC is obvious. The election for Mayor and Deputy is a clear indication of this already known fact. Further, I am of the view that there is subtle move by minority Councilors of the AFC and PPPC to stymie the progress of the City. My reasons are after two years The Deputy Mayor who is Chairman of the Markets Committee and who is a representative of the AFC has not submitted a policy on vending. This can be considered is a travesty and insult to local democracy.
Mortimer Thomside

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