.. .mayor's logic questioned
published: Saturday | May 14, 2005

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I congratulate Mr. Desmond McKenzie for the diligence, vigour and fearlessness with which he has gone about his responsibility as Mayor of Kingston, especially in regards to the illegal establishment of business over the city. I notice too that some attempt has been made by the Mayor of Black River to emulate him. However, I question the logic and the honesty of the law under which they claim to be acting. If there is a law which says that people must pay a separate fee for advertising after they have a licence fee then several thousands of us have been deceived since no one told us that when we were being licensed.

Why should one have to pay to put up a sign to IDENTIFY one's business after paying a licence to operate? That is all that a business sign is all about - IDENTIFICATION. How will prospective patrons find a businessplace if it is not identified? There may be some justification in charging for or removing those signs which protrude over the road etc. but how do you explain charging a businessman for writing the name of his shop on the wall of the very shop or for installing an illuminated sign on the same wall so that patrons can find it easily in the night? ­ RIDICULOUS.

Pay separate fees

If this is fair and logical then people who operate transport and other service vehicles with their names and the type of business they operate should be made to pay a separate fee for advertising. Then what about the roving fast food vendors with big signs on their sophisticated hand carts, the hawker and peddlar, the ice cream and fish vendor, the town cryer, those who advertise in the press and on television and on the air waves? Maybe we should include even the little guy who runs about the streets of our towns advertising his six bags of oranges or boiled corn. They too seem to be in breach of this iniquitous law, so why
penalize only the settled business proprietor who identifies his or her shop? Mrs. Portia Simpson Miller, this comes under your portfolio ­ we want some answers ­ NOW'.

I am etc,

SYDNEY FLEMMING

Santa Cruz