Venezuelan food vendors allege police harassment for money

Oct 10, 2021 News

Kaieteur News – It was brought to Kaieteur News’ attention yesterday that police officers would frequently harass Venezuelan food vendors plying their trade along Robb and Light Streets, Georgetown for money.
This newspaper was told that when the foreigners refuse to hand over cash the ranks would threaten to lock them up or stop them from vending in the area.
One of the Venezuelan vendors reached out to this media to share her story. The young woman explained that she had recently set up a tent on the corner of Robb and Light Streets where she sells roasted meats from 15:00hrs to 22:00hrs. Working along with her at the location is her father and another individual she employed.
The woman said that she had obtained and paid for her permit to use the spot to operate her food business. Additionally, claimed the Venezuelan woman, they obtained their food handling certificates and were vaccinated against COVID-19.
Despite having her permit to vend, along with the other required documents, the woman said that police ranks on patrol would still harass her and her employee for money and if they refuse the cops would intimidate them with threats of locking them up.
“Sometimes they would come in a grey bus and on other occasions they pull up in pick-ups,” said the woman. She continued, “They would ask for us to give them $5000 or sometimes $10,000 for them to leave us alone.” The woman added that sometimes they would argue with the officers and plead with them to accept $1000 or $2000.
The ranks, she alleged, would accept but would return again and again to fleece them.
On one occasion they had thrown her employee into their pick-up and threatened to lock him up if they didn’t pay-up.
On Friday evening, she recalled an armed man appeared and showed them a badge identifying himself as a police officer. That individual reportedly told them that Saturday will be the last day they will be allowed to sell at the location. The woman alleged that the officer said if they continue to sell there he will have no choice but to lock them up.
The only alternative to avoid this, according to the woman, is to pay-up.
The woman told Kaieteur News that it is very difficult for her to pay the lawmen every day because she has a family to take care of. According to the woman, she sells roast meats with fried cassava (Parilla con Yuca) just to make a living.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News