lThe Barbados Association of Retailers, Vendors and Entrepreneurs (BARVEN) says it will stoutly resist any plans to force vendors off Marhill Street.
President Alister Alexander told the SATURDAY SUN yesterday that vending belonged on the streets and they did not appreciate any attempt to forcefully move street vendors to the newly opened Palmetto Square Mall in The City.
Alexander said,“I was contacted [by vendors] that police officers were telling them they could not continue to sell [but] we are not giving up these streets, it is too important a legacy to be taken away . . . we are going to fight.”
Alexander said the reason this was such a big issue was because the vendors at Marhill Street were licensed to be there.
A police officer in the area told the SATURDAY?SUN they were not forcing anyone to move as any vendor with a valid licence was free to stay put until word was heard from the Ministry of Agriculture.
Donna Callender, who said she had been selling on the street for more than 20 years, said people were more likely to buy on the street then a mall.
She said an enclosed area only meant they had to compete among themselves as space was limited. However, some mall vendors said they were happy there and the vendors who did not want to move should either move in or let someone else take their spot in the mall.
Sylvia Nicholls, another mall vendor said, “Sales are not 100 per cent but I love it here. I had to move a lot before I got an established place and the customers also find it easier to buy here.”
Elizabeth Rosemond described the refusal of vendors to move into the mall as “foolishness”.
“This is a nice place but they don’t want to come inside because they want to make more money outside while we stay in here.”
Representative for the City, Patrick Todd, in a telephone interview said he would consult with the necessary parties and hoped cooler heads would prevail.
“I will investigate the situation and liaise with Minister of Agriculture, Dr David Estwick as well as listen to the concerns of the vendors. I am confident Government will continue to act in the interest of all concerned to ensure there is a win-win situation for all,” he said.