'I am not under pressure'
published: Wednesday | June 23, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

THE ARTICLE published on June 14 under the caption 'Porteous under pressure' is interesting. First let me assure you that I am not under pressure. The only person/s who are 'under pressure' are those who are attempting to intimidate and mistreat persons who are not able to stand up for themselves.

The Mandeville market has continued to be a place where honest, hardworking women are abused, threatened and have their goods confiscated on a daily basis by some people in authority who think that it is all right to act and do as they please. This they do under the guise of keeping 'discipline'. This unacceptable mode of behaviour is not going to be tolerated by me, as long as I am the representative of the people. I will not allow the vendors to be treated like this. A lot of time and effort has gone into trying to solve the problems of the Mandeville market and each time that the market settles down and business starts to look up for the vendors, certain persons from the Municipal Police and the regular police, swoop down on the vendors, confiscate their goods, threaten them, mishandle them, abuse them and in some instances, drag them off to the police station.

The Mandeville market has the potential of making a good living for the vendors and in turn, a good return for the Parish Council, but this need to bully and lord it over people by certain members of the Municipal Police and the regular police force keeps spoiling the entire atmosphere of the market. We now hear that members of the public no longer want to shop there, because they are so frightened of the police (both regular and Municipal) and that some vendors have moved to other markets where they won't 'be harassed and threatened by police'. This backward way of dealing with people is only breeding discontent and hatred amongst the people in the market and at some point it is going to explode.

I am, etc.,

COUNCILLOR

SALLY PORTEOUS,

Deputy Mayor of Mandeville