Rayon Dyer, Freelance WriterBLACK RIVER:
IT'S NO secret that the St. Elizabeth Parish Council has been struggling to deal with the problem of illegal street vending in the major towns of the parish. The problem, councillors admit, is most prevalent in Black River and Santa Cruz.
Speaking in an interview with The Gleaner yesterday, Deputy Mayor of Black River, Donald Horne, said he was very concerned as to whether or not the Council wants to solve the problem in the major towns.
"Illegal vending is definitely a problem in St. Elizabeth, however, I don't think the Council is seriously addressing the matter," Councillor Horne said.
Secretary/manager of the Council, Opal Beharie, told The Gleaner on June 18 that the effort which was started by the agency some five months ago to rid the streets of illegal vendors will resume later this year, "because we are not going to tolerate illegal vending taking over the streets of the parish."
But, according to former Mayor of Black River and the president of the Black River Citizens Association, J.A.G. Myers, "Until the Government can provide employment for the people, they should be allowed to do what they are doing to make a living."
Mr. Myers said that the Council should try and find a suitable alternative venue for the vendors to sell their wares. He also noted that lip service alone would not solve the problem.
llegal vending has been a long-standing problem in St. Elizabeth and if the authorities fail to address it, it could get worse.
