By Julette Bryan, Freelance WriterST. THOMAS:
CHAOS REIGNED in Morant Bay, St. Thomas on Friday, as members of the Island's Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) went about the business of removing illegal vendors from the streets.
An angry crowd converged on the steps of the Morant Bay Police Station and numerous persons lined the streets of the town, as they voiced their anger and disgust at, what they said, was the inhumane way their fellow citizens were being treated.
In an interview with Commander Handel Grant, who is in charge of the St. Thomas Division of the ISCF, and Commander Selvyn Thomas, The Gleaner was informed that for the past two weeks, vendors on the street side were told that March seventh would have been the deadline for coming off the side walks. He said some of the vendors complied but others did not.
When asked about alternative locations, Commander Thomas said that the arcade, the market and the Jackass Hill area were the designated areas recommended by the St. Thomas Parish Council. The vendors, however, say that these areas cannot hold all of them and the conveniences are not proper.
In response to the removal of the vendors, Parish Development Committee Chairman, Frankly Holness, said that they were two issues relating to street vending. He said it must be recognised that it is going to take place, but it must take place in an organised manner. He said that vendors must be made to feel that they are respected for what they are doing and the designated areas for vending in St. Thomas did not confer that respect.
He said the arcade was an hopeless fiasco and, while the market was marginally better, the Jackass Hill area was not worth mentioning. He said also that it was unfair and impractical to ask all vendors to come off the streets without somewhere being prepared for them to go. He concluded by saying that at a time when Local Government Reform is being proposed, "this kind of haphazard autocratic environment which exist is unwelcome."
The general atmosphere in the town was one of outrage and anger.
