Market Day to solve vendors problem

THE EDITOR: I have often watched the attempts of the authorities to deal with street vending without success. The more facilities we provide the worse the problem seems to get.

Obviously the provision of “Tent Cities” are part of the solution but until unemployment is reduced to five or six percent there will be an inexhaustible supply of vendors to take the place of those that are relocated. We must acknowledge that vendors are breaking the law and also obstructing legitimate business activity, not to mention harassing pedestrians. The society has enough “lawlessness” without officials condoning more. But having said that, one must also recognise and even applaud the attempts by individuals to “make a dollar” especially when the only other alternative is to turn to crime. What puzzles me is that we treat this problem as if we are the only country in the world that has to deal with it. Why can’t we learn from solutions adopted elsewhere? For example why not organise a “Market Day” in different parts of Port-of-Spain and San Fernando on each day of the week. For example, on Monday lower Frederick Street could be closed to traffic for the street vendors to fully exhibit their wares.

On Tuesday a car park or street in Maraval could become the authorised place for vending. On Wednesday the “Market Day” could be in St James and so on. Similarly in San Fernando, on Monday lower High Street could be closed to traffic for a Vendors Fair. On Tuesday the authorised area could be in Les Efforts, on Wednesday in the Gulf City car park etc. This would have several advantages:-
(1) Vendors would only disrupt legitimate business in any area for one day a week.
(2) The residents of a given area, who may not be able to afford the taxi fare or who may be unable to travel due to age etc, would be able to take advantage of the choice and prices offered by the vendors.
(3) Vendors could be justifiably moved by the police on days other than the appointed one because a alternative has been provided.
(4) Merchants would welcome the vendors one day a week as they would bring a class of business they would not normally see. Their other “clients” could come to patronise their establishments on the other five days without having to fight their way through the vendors.
(5) Plus we would have given the vendors a way to earn a living.
As a little boy, I used to look forward to the “Market Day” in the small town where I lived as the vendors brought a air of excitement to the town. Many were gypsies who moved from town to town just for the “Market Day.” My mother used to do her weekly shopping on that day because the vendors were there with all their bargains etc.
Just a thought.

PETER QUENTRALL-THOMAS
Maraval