THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is set to aggressively pursue relocation of roadside vendors this year to market tarmacs that were constructed and handed over last year.

Speaking on a recent edition of the National Communications Network Programme (NCN) Ministerial Forum, Minister within the Ministry, Norman Whittaker, said that the ministry will be pushing this issue in 2013 and could even seek support from the police.
“We have constructed, at much cost, several tarmacs in several regions in the country and we are disturbed that maximum use is not being made of these tarmacs,” the minister said.
He said that instead of utilising the tarmacs, the vendors have instead continued to vend on road sides, and in some instances, on reserves. Minister Whittaker said that the ministry is not prepared to allow this to continue, and with support from the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) will be putting much focus on the issue.
“We have started to engage the NDCs in some of these areas with respect to engaging these vendors and giving them a timeline,” he said.
He further said that if this avenue proves unsuccessful, “we will elicit the support of and the assistance of the police, if necessary, to have vendors relocated.”
During 2012, the ministry handed over about 10 market tarmacs in communities such as Diamond/Grove, Best Klien /Pouderoyen, Toevlugt/Patentia, Charity, Plaisance, Buxton and Haslington.
These significant investments by the ministry are part of Government’s aim to curb the practice of roadside vending, and to achieve the practice of selling in a healthy and conducive environment.