Vendors Adjust to New Market Locations in St John’s

Vendors Adjust to New Market Locations in St John’s

Street vendors in St John’s are gradually adapting to new designated spaces introduced as part of a broader revitalisation effort aimed at improving the aesthetics, safety, and traffic flow in Antigua and Barbuda’s capital city.

The Cabinet reported during Thursday’s post-Cabinet media briefing that the recent reorganisation has led to “greater order” in central St John’s, where unregulated vending had previously contributed to congestion, sanitation concerns, and an increasingly chaotic urban landscape.

Chief of Staff Lionel Hurst said that, while the transition was initially met with apprehension, vendors have now expressed general satisfaction with the new arrangements. “They have not been displaced—not every single one of them—and they now operate from spaces where they have continued permission to occupy,” he explained.

The relocation forms part of a wider campaign by the St John’s Development Corporation (SJDC) to prepare the city for increasing cruise tourism and commercial activity. With over 750,000 cruise passengers arriving in the past year and numbers projected to exceed one million in the current period, government officials say the physical condition of the city must reflect its role as a national and regional gateway.

“We want a city that is not smelly, that is clean, secure, and attractive,” Hurst said, adding that efforts to clear derelict buildings, enforce sanitary regulations, and upgrade infrastructure are ongoing.

Previously, vendors had been permitted to set up stalls wherever space could be found—sometimes for indefinite periods. Officials say this practice undermined both pedestrian safety and the city’s visual appeal, particularly in high-traffic areas near the cruise port and bus terminals.

The new approach, according to Hurst, ensures that vendors can continue to earn a living while contributing to a more organised and welcoming urban environment. “This is superior to merely going into the city and planting a tent someplace and just leaving it there forever and ever,” he said.

While specific details about the vendor locations and infrastructure improvements were not outlined during the briefing, the SJDC is reportedly working in coordination with the Ministry of Tourism and Public Works to ensure proper sanitation, lighting, and access to utilities in the designated vending zones.

Business groups and some members of the public have praised the move, citing reduced foot traffic obstructions and a more pleasant shopping experience in central St John’s.

As part of the broader city improvement plan, 20 abandoned or unsafe properties have been identified for potential removal under eminent domain proceedings. The government hopes this, combined with better vendor regulation, will help transform the capital into a cleaner, safer, and more economically vibrant city.

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