By Angelo Laurence, Gleaner WriterMANDEVILLE:
COUNCILLOR SALLY Porteous of the Mandeville division is coming under pressure from the town's municipal police, who have accused her of heavy-handedness.
At the monthly meeting of the Manchester Parish Council last Thursday, it was said that a municipal police officer had been barred by Mrs Porteous, who is also the Deputy Mayor, from carrying out his duties in the Mandeville Market. This, following complaints from vendors that they were being mistreated by the officer in question.
The municipal police are chiefly responsible for maintaining order in the market and for assisting with the collection of certain Parish Council fees. Also, they are responsible for restricting vendors to areas designated for vending and for the serving of summonses.
Hector Finlay, head of the municipal police, said the banning of the officer from the market sets 'a bad precedent' and may send the wrong message to the vendors.
DISCIPLINE
One officer, who asked not to be named, told The Gleaner that the vendors now feel they have the 'upper hand' and "nothing we tell them matters for all they have to do, if they don't like it, is run to Ms. Sally."
When this reporter visited the market, some vendors said that the officer was 'a very hard man' who believed in 'discipline'. They say that as a result, some vendors who wanted to do as they pleased, did not like him.
One food vendor said that while other officers would turn a blind eye or exercise discretion, "this officer goes by the book and will not bend".
Vending on the streets of the town has lessened to an unnoticeable level and the pile of garbage usually associated with vending, has also disappeared. The once cluttered streets are now passable to pedestrian traffic when compared to two or three years ago.
