Maracas vendors take TIDCO to task

Maracas vendors launched a protest outside Whitehall yesterday, led by Terrence Beddoe of the Fishermen and Friends of the Sea. The vendors claim that when it rains, their booths are flooded because of the leaking roofs. They say TIDCO’s relocation of the car park to the southern side of the beach has left them at a disadvantage as drivers (potential customers) no longer come to the northern side of the beach. “TIDCO knows nothing about tourism,” one vendor stated and went on to recount an incident when several tourists were unable to use the locked bathrooms and had to resort to nearby bushes. The vendors say that the booths are under water and sinking into the sand; there is sewage running into the booths and no security at the beach.

The vendors say they are unable to pay the $440 charged for rent because they have so few sales as a result of the conditions they are working under. “We are at a loss of earnings for the past seven years.” Although the vendors say they have been complaining to TIDCO for the past three months, there has been no action taken by the organisation. “We are going to protest until we get what we want,” said one woman who has been at Maracas for 43 years. The vendors intend to continue their demonstration on Maracas beach this Saturday and Sunday.