NA Town Council intensifies operation to tackle illegal vending

The New Amsterdam Town Council has intensified its campaign to remove persons who have been illegally vending along the road shoulders of the main roads within the township.
The Council has been carrying out its operations in the evening.
Foreman of the Engineering Department of New Amsterdam Town Council, Charles Johnson had told the media last year that several notices were sent to persons who had structures illegally placed on the road shoulders. He added that despite the notices and warnings, the vendors failed to take the appropriate action.
On Friday the removal campaign commenced shortly before midnight with the targeted area being in the vicinity of the municipal market.

On Saturday, the results were welcomed by many vehicle operators, some of whom operate hire cars and had been finding it difficult to stop to let off passengers in the vicinity of the market. Some have also been charged with obstructing traffic when they stopped in the area, this newspaper was told.
On Friday, the campaign continued along Strand, where even established businesses were not spared.
In a gazetted order dated January 18, 2014, municipalities are given the authority to remove all structures that can be determined illegal from the road shoulders. The order, in part, says, “The Minister of Local Government and Regional Development is hereby notifying all the Regional Democratic Councils, the municipalities, and the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils that in respect of public roads and highways, no verbal or written permission should be given by any RDC or municipal or NDC official to anyone to occupy any reserve or roadside parapet or to erect structures thereon for any purpose whatsoever. The sole authority for so doing is the Minister of Public Works, applications must be in writing and the Minister’s decision is final.”
The Local Government Ministry had also stated that it was brought to the attention of Central Government, that there are persons who, without lawful authority or permission, are engaged in the occupation of Government and/or State reserves, erecting structures on the said reserves, covering over drains and in general, unlawfully encroaching on and occupying and encumbering public property.
These unlawful activities inhibit the movement of machinery to clear essential drainage canals and frustrate the development of roads and highways. They also pose a traffic hazard. Roadside stalls, shops, shacks, edifices, and other structures erected thereon impede drainage and prevent essential maintenance and development of highways.
Some perpetrators explained that they were ‘permitted’ by officials of a Town Council or a Neighbourhood Democratic Council but those officials categorically deny having given any such permission. The persons also have had difficulty producing alleged written permits.
Meanwhile, the Town Council had said once the structures or other encumbrances are removed, some will be destroyed.
The campaign will run until March of this year.
According to the Foreman of the Engineering Department, they will have a special team doing daily checks and inspections to ensure that persons do not have structures in places they are not supposed to and during the times that are not allotted.
The municipality is allowing persons to vend after 16:30h when the municipal market closes. (G4)