THE EDITOR, Sir:I AM a resident of St. Ann and I travel each Friday into the town of Ocho Rios to purchase my necessary farming supplies and groceries. Access to the shops I visit is gained via the road which runs along the side of the vegetable market.
Last week I attempted to negotiate this road from the side of Mother's fast food establishment and was unable to make any progress as vendors had goods, ranging from shoes to underwear, spread all over the surface of the road. Their behaviour was surly and intimidating and several shouted to me that I "must drive de adder way". Reversing gingerly I drove to the other entrance which is across from the bus park and slowly proceeded down an equally cluttered road.
Within seconds I was stopped by a policeman who asked if I did not see the One Way sign which I was breaching. I admitted that I had not seen it and began to explain that I had tried to enter from the Main Street side, but the road was blocked by vendors and their wares. At this point he started to write me a ticket.
Fortunately, the owner of one of the stores with whom I do business saw what was happening and intervened. He pointed out to the policeman that access was impossible from the top of the One Way and although there were No Vending signs along the road, persons were doing a brisk business directly below the signs and even using them to display their goods! He further challenged the policeman to issue the illegal vendors with tickets along mine, to which the officer replied that "he alone could not deal with them" and that under the circumstances, he would use his better judgement, and not issue me a ticket.
Why must I and other law abiding, tax paying, members of the community give up my right of way, to rude, undisciplined, illegal, and I am sure, non-tax or rent payers?
The Mayor of Kingston did an excellent job of clearing the streets of downtown Kingston. Why can't the authorities do the same for the market area of Ocho Rios?
I am etc.,
DAISY LINDO
Confused motorist
Ocho Rios
