Old Parham Road vendors were disheartened over the upcoming legislation that demands that they relocate or face fines.
Housing, Land and Urban Renewal Minister Maria Bird Browne had made the announcement, while speaking on State television on Monday, warning the vendors of Old Parham Road and other vendors.
According to Browne, persons who continue to vend in non-vending zones will face a fine after the passage of the relevant legislation in Parliament.
She also added that too many vendors are setting up shop in areas that have not been designated for such business.
However vendors along Old Parham Road are claiming that their current sidewalks spots are preferably because they are easily accessible to passersby.
“This is our livelihood. This is where we come to make our daily bread and it’s easily accessible. We are not blocking anybody. The sidewalk is still available. People can easily turn in, turn off the road and park comfortably. We like this spot,” one woman remarked.
A man shared similar sentiments. “We’ve been coming here for maybe a year now. It’s an ideal location for us. We don’t have a structure here, we just come with our tent and at the end of the day we leave but the point I am trying to make [is that] I don’t see any obstruction of no traffic,” he said.
Another vendor expressed that it is already difficult making a profit selling goods on the street.
“It breaks my heart to move because I don’t have somewhere else to sell and it’s really slow on the road still, but it gonna slow more,” she shared.
On the other hand, a snack seller claimed he could sell anywhere. “It doesn’t matter if they put us out on the water, we’ll sell. You put us on Boggy Peak, we’re gonna sell more,” he said.
Minister Browne also disclosed this week that failure by the vendors to relocate will result in fines, after legislation is passed.
She added that the penalties would not be “extortionate” but would be enough to deter trade in no-vending zones.
As part of the initiative to resolve the issue, the Government has plans to construct units around St. John’s from which vendors can ply their trade.
One location is at the East Bus Station, where a park will be built to accommodate those vendors who now operate along the Old Parham Road.
Browne says funding for the project has been approved and allocated and construction will commence shortly.
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Tourists love these little “shops”. They are “local”, and the tourists just love to buy there. It’s the local aspect that really entices them. It’s part of the culture here, and must be accommodated. This is not the USA, thank God. Not yet.
keep the local touch but enhance the displays,,,,tourists love them
All vending, and vendors, all around the Nation, MUST be categorized, analyzed, regulated in the best interest, of All.
Take vending/vendors and place them under, a private firm, with their own financial services(Credit Union/Investment firm, training, licensing!
It’s a business, and MUST be treated, as such.
The government would simple collect it revenue, as in the case of hotels, banks, sound systems, fete production companies.
…Life still needs, DECORUM! Our Nation is in need of some!
The market area is an eye sore. Fast becoming a shantytown. Relocate them urgently. It’s a mess and dangerous for predestrians.
smh when yall money sure and know where yall next meal coming form these are poor people trying to make a honest living. the whole a town done belongs to the Chinese and Syrians…development is good but please we the lower class muss nyam
Looks like that stand is in the street. I’m not in favor of the highhanded pressure to remove them, but they should not be allowed to encroach onto the street. How about the government building a proper vendors mail all the way up OPR?
I totally agree with this move by the Government. My reason, I really don’t want to see any other part of my beloved Antigua looking like market street. The thing about this is we in Antugua wait until things get out of hand to address it.
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