Some vendors from the New Amsterdam Municipal Market are claiming that they are being victimised and treated unfairly by the Constabulary.
The vendors, who operate mostly outside of the market and into the evening, say that they are being targeted and penalised wrongfully.
Vendor Wiletta Rigby
On Saturday, members of the market Constabulary attempted to remove persons who were vending in positions which regional authorities had said was illegal.
However, the vendors, all of whom sells vegetables, showed this publication receipts which indicated that the Constabulary officers charge them a fee of $500 per day to sell in front of the market and along the pavement adjacent.
According to Wiletta Rigby, who has been occupying a spot along the pavement in front of the market for more than 10 years, on Saturday morning was told, along with other vendors that they were not going to be allowed to sell in their spots anymore. She related that four Constables approached her and informed her of the decision. “They could ah tell we since yesterday (Friday) that we wouldn’t be allowed to sell on Saturday, but they collect money and when we go to sell they come…”
According to the vendor, at the time none of her merchandise was on display when she was first approached at about 08:00h. At about 11:00h, the Constable returned with a cart to remove the tables which were placed in front of the market and on the pavement.
“I move all my things and put them over by the supermarket next door,” Rigby said. “The man son tell me to pack my things up in front there. When one of the Constables lift up the table, it knock me in my stomach,” the pregnant woman said.
Some vendors related that it was not all of them that were approached and told to remove.
According to her, the Constables went next door and removed the items which she had in bags in front of the supermarket situated next to the Municipal Market. Another vendor, Coleen Grovesnor, related that the Constables remover her goods from on the supermarket’s pave.
She was asked to pay a fine of $1000 sometime after 16:00h while Rigby was asked to pay a fine of $15,000.
The woman indicated that her property was returned to her sometime after 18:00h on Saturday. During the night they were in front of the market trying to make a decent day’s sale. Meanwhile, Mayor Kurt Winter in an invited comment explained that the vendors are reluctant to go into the market to sell. He said a new section of the market should become operational shortly and in about two weeks, all of the vendors will have to move from the street. (Andrew Carmichael)
