…M&CC swoops down on Alexander Street activity

CITY Constables are continuing to accept bribes from vendors, especially those in the retail business along Robb Street, thus adversely affecting the wholesalers’ business.
This is what one vendor, who preferred to remain anonymous, told Guyana Chronicle on Monday, days after the Mayor and City Council (M&CC) swooped down to remove vendors on Alexander Street.

While the City Council is claiming that the displaced vendors will first have to check with City Hall on the way forward, this publication was shown some of the vendors who were immediately granted permission to sell on Robb Street, thus joining the host of other wholesale vendors there.

The rules dictate that wholesale vending should only be done out of a vehicle. Hence, when retail vendors fit themselves in between the wholesale vendors, they can be easily recognized by the constables.

But because the retailers are allowed to continue in this practice, the wholesalers are the ones who must bear the brunt. “The constables get their money; what they care about us?” said the vendor, adding: “This put pressure on the wholesalers because people now see everyone as retailers.”

The wholesalers are supposed to vend between the hours of 7 am and 3:30 pm, while the retailers’ time starts from 4:30 pm and ends at 6 am the following day.

The wholesale vendors are required to have no more than two pieces (basins, bags, baskets) on the ground in front of their vehicles. But some wholesalers encourage the practice of the retailers by allowing them to place their items in front of their vehicles. This, however, can also be discerned by the constables, owing to the extra pieces that will be there.

According to one vendor, though, some constables insist that nothing should be on the ground in front their vehicles. “Everybody have different rules out here. That’s why I don’t allow any retailer to put their goods in front of me. But who goes with rules here? Once you pass your money; that’s how it goes,” the vendor indignantly expressed.

Meanwhile, last Friday, Town Clerk Royston King removed some 30 vendors along Alexander Street whose stalls were found to be impeding traffic and causing congestion.
Public Relations Officer at City Hall, Debra Lewis, told Chronicle on Monday that the vendors were also blocking business entrances. “Everyone must make a daily bread and not excluding the store owners. We cannot act in the interest of only one set of people,” Lewis said.

According to her, the vendors were warned again and again and were urged to visit the City Council to sort out the issue. “We spoke to them over and over again and they refused to stop the practice. The Council, with the help of its hydraulic machines, removed their tables and pallets.”

Lewis complained about the wholesalers accusing them of refusing to leave the area by the stipulated time. “They are supposed to remove at 4 daily but they don’t usually move on time and those vending in the ‘Bourda Green’ are suffering. It’s not fair for them to continue. We’ll have to lock them up when we find them there after hours.”

Lewis said the City Council workers cleared out the drains as they removed the structures. The drains were full of sand, filth and garbage, she disclosed.