THE EDITOR, Sir:THIS IS an open letter to the Government of Jamaica, both Central and Local.
Commercialisation and vending have literally been taking over certain residential districts; specifically, Pembroke Hall, Patrick City, Duhaney Park, Arlene Gardens and Three-Oaks Gardens. I live in the vicinity (and write on behalf of the citizens) of Arlene and Three Oaks Gardens, where we are literally being consumed by vending activities. While we may have been subject to minor squatting before, there has recently been a surge of squatting activities on the gully bank, between Silverdene Avenue and Ken Hill Drive.
The most recent vending activities involve groups of men who have decided to set up two separate but unrelated stalls (dry goods and ground provisions) in the vicinity of 110 and 112 Molynes Road, close to the intersection of Ken Hill Drive and Molynes Road. Not only do these stalls make the place ugly and depressing, they continuously attract idle, suspicious-
looking young men who play loud and lewd music, both during the day and at nights. Furthermore, these squatters, regularly and habitually, deposit the garbage they have generated, in the gullies close by, which has negative
implications for both our health and flooding.
In addition, the current spectacle has the effect of devaluing our only and most valuable possession....our homes, for which we have toiled long and hard and should now be enjoying in our twilight years. Just imagine us senior citizens, who have saddled ourselves with 20-year or probably, 30-year mortgages, hoping that one day we would be able to enjoy some reasonable peace and quiet in our homes. Remember, also, that we retired persons do not have the means of relocating to other more desirable communities ... we are stuck!
Vending is not only ugly and disorderly, it is dangerous...it takes over the sidewalks and therefore exposes citizens to the danger of being hit by motor vehicles. This, by its very nature, should be illegal.
In an effort to have this matter (having the vendors removed) resolved, we have written or spoken (twice in some cases) to the relevant authorities: the Member of Parliament, the Mayor, the Councillor, the Ministry and the Town Clerk. Still, after many months, the state has failed to effectively reply and or deal with the matter.
Finally and very impor-tantly, what is the alternative course of action for law-abiding citizens? It is the law-abiding citizens who often suffer, "bad man" does not rely on the state for protection ... they provide their own "solutions". Would a "don" have been more effective, and is this one of the real and practical reasons why citizens tend to seek outside the agencies of the state? Do we, the citizens have a cause of action in the courts?
To what or whom must we turn? What is to be the future of our community and, indeed, the country with regards to vending/squatting?
We would appreciate an answer, especially from the relevant authorities and certainly before the next election is called. Again, we would like to have these vendors removed and the strip be properly declared a "no vending area".
Help!! Help!!
I am, etc.
JOHN BUSCAT
137 1/2 Molynes Road
Kingston 20
