Maracas vendors accuse TIDCO of ‘Gestapo’ methods

Maracas vendors have accused contractors for the Tourism Industrial Development Company of using “Gestapo methods” by calling the police to remove them from the beach. They have been protesting in the past week for a new car park and improvements to their huts where they sell bake and shark to the public.

In a letter to President of TIDCO Brian Harry, the vendors claimed the police aggressively tried to remove them by advising contractors to wrap them in ticker tape if they did not move. “Contractors also blocked access to our booths from the road preventing customers from entering causing further financial losses.” The vendors are appealing for compensation for losses during the renovation period because this is one of the peak seasons for them. They complained that day after day it has been a struggle because most of the time they have to throw away their goods (flour, shark and vegetables) because they do not get enough sales. Conditions at the beach where their huts are located is a major concern for vendors. Heavy rainfall causes flooding, sand blows into drains causing them to back-up and cause more flooding, the sewerage system is poor. The booths are too small, have poor electrical wiring, leaky roofs, broken windows and doors and there is an improper water supply. Vendors said they cannot afford to do repairs and questioned how food can be served under these conditions.

Meanwhile, vendors at the car park “are making thousands of dollars a day selling approximately 1000 pounds of shark per week at an estimated value of $15,000.” These vendors were able to put up tents, tables and chairs which attract more customers and can offer a wide variety of salads and dressings because of constant sales in the car park. The beach vendors said their plight is not against these vendors but TIDCO. They renewed their call for TIDCO to erect more huts and sheds on the beach for people to have shelter from the sun and heavy rain. The vendors said more and better quality garbage bins should be placed on the beach “so people will not litter the beach and so dogs will not tear open the bags.” The stray dogs should be caught. Vendors said a new car park should be built because it would bring in more money for them and for TIDCO. “There are five regular rent-paying vendors in the car park and 18 vendors on the beach who cannot pay their rent. It is not fair that the majority of the vendors should be located so far away from parking facilities.” The vendors said TIDCO is letting money go down the drain by not helping them because they are unable to pay rents and this is a substantial loss to the company.