SOME VENDORS IN THE CHEAPSIDE MARKET are crying out for the market’s management and law enforcement officials to take steps against hawkers who illegally vend in front the market.
The vendors, most of whom are long-standing sellers, have complained to the WEEKEND NATION that while the market’s management and police have taken measures to stop the ongoing problem, “it is time to take stronger action because [the vendors on the outside] stopping we from making money”.
Vendor Angela Greene explained that business was slow in the market during the week. She attributed this to the fact that hawkers stopped buyers from entering the market to purchase their fruits and vegetables through encouraging them to buy on the outside.
“When you see just after 12 o’clock, we have to look to pack up and go home because nobody ain’t coming in the market.
If they weren’t out there and nobody wasn’t coming in the market, I would feel satisfied. But as long as them out there, I know that less people are going to come to the market,” said Greene.
Meanwhile, Doreen Browne said she was “sick and tired of coming to work and receiving so little sales”, particularly on weekdays. “Sometimes I would come in here all day and get only $37 and them would stay out there and sell and make $400 and $500 and then come and count how much money they make in front of you,” said Browne.
She added: “In here like Westbury Cemetery; you could bury people in here because it dead, dead, dead.”
The vendors admitted that while a joint effort by police and the market’s management had proven futile, they believed it was time for the hawkers who participated in the activity “to be charged if they don’t want to move”.
According to experienced vendor Marlene Moore: “We ain’t selling nothing in here, but we got to pay the market for our space.
They don’t have to pay nobody. The police running them and them coming back, but the police got to get serious and hold somebody. We want the real team from the force to come for them. Bring the sergeants and the Task Force.”
When contacted, Supervisor of Markets Gregory Payne indicated that the market has made continual efforts to halt the illegal selling.
He added that with the assistance of the Police Force, his management would consider charging the hawkers based on the Market And Slaughterhouse Act. (AH)