Dunstan Whittingham, president of the Jamaica Vendors, Higglers and Markets Association, in discussion with vendors yesterday before the meeting with Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie to discuss the halting of street selling in Half-Way Tree. - Norman Grindley/Acting Photography Editor

Mayor of Kingston Desmond McKenzie refused to back down from his recent decision to suspend all forms of vending in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew during a meeting with vendors yesterday afternoon.

The ban, he said, would remain in effect following an overall clean-up and revamping of the vending system in the St Andrew capital within the next two weeks.

In the meantime, the mayor said only newspaper vendors and individuals selling fabric on South Odeon Avenue would be allowed on the streets.

Hundreds of individuals crowded the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) headquarters on Church Street in downtown Kingston yesterday to plead with the mayor to give them until Christmas to clear their wares from the streets.

McKenzie was, however, in no mood for negotiations and was quick to point out that the collection of vending fees has been discontinued and all forms of vending considered illegal, pending the clean-up operation.

"You vend in Half-Way Tree now, you do so at your own risk," he warned. "It is not up for debate and I am not backing down."

66 up to date

He said, based on a recent count, there were 621 vendors in Half-Way Tree, of this number, only 150 were registered and just 66 who were up to date with their fees.

Following the two-week break McKenzie said vending in the city would resume under a standardised and well-organised fashion.

Some 130-150 vendors would be registered and licensed to operate in the area and would be equipped with specially ordered stalls on which to store their merchandise.

"We are advanced in discussions with a certain company that is going to manufacture one set of stalls," he said.

While there were those who were willing to abide by the Mayor's rules there were others who said two weeks was too long a time to go without working.

"I have to find $1,000 a day to give my two daughters to go to high school. I can't go without work for two weeks," said one woman who requested anonymity. "Mi wi run wid my likkle scandal bag or go to a next parish," she said.

No licence

McKenzie further said there would be no licence issued for the selling of cooked food in the town, as this was a violation of the country's public health regulations.

However, Caskell Erskine, who sells jerk pork in Half-Way Tree said he has been licensed to sell food in the area and has been doing so for several years. He said an officer from the KSAC has even visited his home to inspect the conditions.

But McKenzie said that a licence should not have been issued to Erskine in the first place and that the present licence would be revoked.