SCORES of vendors yesterday accused officers of the City Constabulary Department of the Georgetown Mayor and City Council (M&CC) of making their lives miserable when they refuse to pay them a bribe.
The City Council had extended an invitation to all vendors in order to solicit their support on the municipality’s efforts to maintain the works being done around Georgetown.
Heading the meeting were Mayor Hamilton Green, his deputy Patricia Chase-Green, Town Clerk Royston King and Councillors Oscar Clarke, Ranwell Jordan and Junior Garrett.
City Hall’s compound was filled to capacity as the vendors turned out to voice their concerns.
Topping the list of their worries was the alleged harassment vendors experience at the hands of Constabulary officers, who reportedly are always looking for bribes.
Other concerns raised included, inter alia, ‘junkies’ who go through garbage bins and make a mess of the environment, selling on the Merriman Mall, parking spots for trucks whose owners sell around the markets early in the mornings, and uncovered holes on the road which may prove fatal.
The names of several officers, who create problems for vendors who do not want to pay them,were called.
In fact, one vendor complained that the stall-owners are not able to open their businesses on occasion if they have no money to pay on that day.
But Mrs Chase-Green chided those vendors who pay bribes, but complain only when they experience a problem.
“The constables don’t push their hands in your pocket,” Chase-Green said to loud applause.
She also urged the vendors to be respectful to the constabulary officers on other occasions.
“Not because you know the Chief Constable or some other officer in authority, it means you will disrespect the constables in uniform. Don’t be no big boy or big girl and jump on your phone.”
Chase-Green also noted that it is equally important for the constabulary officers to be respectful to the vendors and not just break up their stalls and carry away their items without a proper explanation.
NO NEW VENDORS
The Town Clerk announced that for 2016, there will be no new vendors. For the Christmas season, persons who do not usually vend were allowed to do so, but authorities will be monitoring them to ensure that they do not remain on the streets now that the said period is over.
Furthermore, vendors are to decide before this month ends, which one of the Sundays for the month they will close their businesses to facilitate cleaning.
The City Council will have to choose that Sunday should the vendors fail to make a decision.
Vendors are required to pay a fee of $1000 and they have an option whether to go in and pay at City Hall or to pay when the Markets’ Revenue Clerks visit the stalls. This, according to the Deputy Mayor, is a means of generating revenue for City Hall.
Councillor Oscar Clarke told the vendors that he was particularly interested in the food handlers and called attention to how persons who sold food in the past were clean and tidy and hygienic.
Food vendors should be equipped with gloves and hair nets, he observed.
According to Clarke, food vendors ought to be licensed.
“If officers come and ask to see your licence and you can’t produce it, you will be closed down,” he cautioned.
As for the barbers who ply their trade on the road corners, Clarke warned that they too are being watched.
“Hair doesn’t disintegrate, so hair swept into the gutters and drains block up the system and result in flooding.” He encouraged the vendors to put such hair in a place where it can be disposed of properly.
Clarke urged the vendors not to litter and to go further by ensuring that people around them do not litter as well. “When you see people littering, tell them about it.”
By Telesha Ramnarine
guyanachronicle
