OVER the last few years there has been a developing culture of “wholesale” vending along the roadsides, this is according to Transport Minister Robeson Benn who was addressing residents of Region 3 (Essequibo Islands/West Demerara) recently.

The minister pointed out that vending is creating a significant social problem for those persons who are licensed and pay their duties and taxes, mostly business operators who have to contend with persons vending in front of their place of business.
On the issue of persons vending along the reserves, roadways and other prohibited places he said there must be some deeper explanation.
According to Benn for persons to be able to perform the illegal acts of vending on reserves and other places without being removed and being able to produce receipts of payments for vending “somebody has to be winking and blinking.”
Benn said that it has to be some underhand businesses in operation as it relates to the provision for persons to be selling on the government reserves without being removed or whenever they are removed, find themselves back at the very spots.
Somebody has to be blinking at some stage the minister told a gathering. The minister stopped short of saying that persons are being paid to allow vending at prohibited locations.
He added that in some cases there are those who behave like the “village ram goats” that they are irremovable and cannot be touched by anyone.
Another reason for the presence of vendors on the reserves and in front of the business places of persons have to do with complicity it was also noted.
The business community of the region and the residents suggested that a committee should be established to deal with the issue of vending in Region3.
It was suggested that the composition of the committee should also have representatives from the Ministries of Local Government and Public Works, police, magistracy, business community and the regional administration. Benn gave the suggestion the nod.
The minister said that the issue of vending has been provoked to such a stage where persons who can do better and be involved in other activities to make money are taking advantage of the situation. He pointed out there are start up businesses which will appear from time to time and they are urging the operators of those businesses to tow the line with respect to the vending issues.
There was also the suggestion of persons paying to vend and paying for the litter that appear around their place of vending. In addition, there should be a system in place to ensure that those who vend do so in accordance with the guidelines and should not hamper the flow of pedestrians on pavements and traffic on the roadways.