THE Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development is set to, assertively, pursue relocation of roadside vendors to market tarmacs that were constructed and handed over last year. This is according to minister within the Ministry of Local Government, Mr. Norman Whittaker, who said they will be dealing with this issue in 2013 and would even seek support from the police.
He said the ministry has erected several tarmacs at much cost, in several Regions of the country and is very disturbed that maximum use is not being made of them.
Whittaker observed that, instead of utilising the facilities, sellers have continued to vend on roadsides and, in some instances, reserves.
He said the ministry is not prepared to allow this to continue and, with support from the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs), will be putting much heart into the issue.
Whittaker said the ministry has already started to engage the NDCs in some areas and gave them a timeline but, if that proves unsuccessful, it would elicit the assistance of the Police once that is necessary.
In the year 2012, the ministry handed over some 10 market tarmacs to communities, including Diamond/Grove, Best Klien /Pouderoyen, Toevlugt/Patentia, Charity, Plaisance, Buxton and Haslington.
These considerable investments, by the ministry, are part of government’s aim to curb the practice of roadside vending and encourage selling in healthy and conducive environments.