A policeman stands watch after irate vendors yesterday pulled down the shutters of businesses on Beckford Street, downtown Kingston, in protest against new vending regulations implemented by the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation (KSAC).
-Ricardo Makyn photoJohn Myers, Jr., Staff Reporter
A MEETING last night between officials of the Kingston and St. Andrew Corporation and Portia Simpson Miller, Local Government Minister, ended with an agreement that there would be no backing down from the new vending regime adopted by the KSAC.
The KSAC has taken a hard-line decision not give up any additional space in the downtown Kingston commercial district for the Christmas season.
Errol Greene, the Town Clerk, told The Gleaner that the corporation would not be yielding to vendors' request to give up extra selling space beyond that already stipulated in the designated vending zone.
However, he said the KSAC would examine other possibilities with regard to extra space within the area specified.
The meeting last night was attended also by the police, represented by Assistant Commisioner Keith Gardner.
Mr. Greene said the KSAC would extend the registration deadline for vendors until Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. for persons seeking spots for the Christmas season. However, he said, registration would continue after the cut-off point.
The meeting followed disruption of formal business in sections of downtown Kingston yesterday by vendors who stormed several stores, dragging down their shutters, to vent opposition to the drive by the KSAC to have them licensed to vend their wares in certain areas.
Vendors who ply their trade on Beckford Street and on Luke and Peter's lanes invaded the entrances of stores at South Parade and Beckford Street pulling down shutters and closing doors as they shouted: "If we cyan sell, no store can sell!," having earlier marched down to the KSAC's offices on Church Street and got no response.
This went on for about 20 minutes as customers and store owners watched warily while the vendors ranted and raved in the presence of scores of police dressed in blue overalls and armed with batons and rifles.
The discontent started to spread when members of the Island Special Constabulary Force began confiscating goods belonging to vendors who were selling on the sidewalks.
A cat-and-mouse game ensued as vendors tried to evade the police, running around with their wares each time they spotted the law officers. Others left their goods at strategic locations while they walked around soliciting customers.
"From mawning mi haffi a run up and dung cause de police dem a tek weh wi goods," said a vendor walking with her box of items on Barry Street.
Rita Bowland, one of the disgruntled vendors who led the protest yesterday, told The Gleaner that they were angry with the authorities for destroying their stalls on Luke and Peter's lanes on Sunday.
According to her, "Dis morning when wi come, wi stalls was taken out a di lane and de police come and seh wi nuffi put out anything (to sell)," she said.
"Dem come two weeks before Christmas and a pay $2,500 to register to sell in de lane and now dem a seh wi can't do dis so we decide to demonstrate."
The tension subsided when Mr. Greene and ACP Gardner met with the vendors in the Oxford Mall arcade in the early afternoon.
Mr. Greene repeated to the restless gathering the council's stance that there must be order and control in the way vending activities are done in downtown Kingston. However, he indicated that the KSAC might be willing to consider giving the vendors the spots they were demanding.
"If you get to sell (on Luke and Peter's lanes) you have to pack up your goods and leave every night; you have to make arrangements so that the business people can have their deliveries," he told the sellers.
